Opinion ID: 1999277
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: issues

Text: The defendant's final assignment is that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the verdict. In support thereof, he claims that the sole inculpatory evidence was supplied by accomplice-Edmonds and that, in view of that witness' interest in the case, no reasonable jury could have relied upon his testimony. Squarely meeting the defendant's submission is our recent decision in Bentley v. State, (1981) Ind., 414 N.E.2d 573. There, as here, the only person who connected the defendant to the crime was an accomplice. In finding the evidence against Bentley to be sufficient, we stated: The defendant's claim of insufficient evidence is a challenge to the credibility of the witness, Craig, without whose testimony the defendant could not be connected to the crimes. He contends that because of Craig's prior convictions and that his testimony was bargained for, it was unworthy of belief. The credibility of witnesses, however, is to be judged by the trier of facts, not by courts of review. Although we have, in a few instances determined that the evidence was insufficient because the only incriminating evidence was inherently unbelievable, we do not find this to be such a case. The jury was aware of the witness' prior criminal record and of the benefits flowing to him in exchange for his testimony. Unquestionably, those elements rendered his veracity suspect, but they are in a better position than are we to make the credibility determination. We cannot say that a reasonable man could not believe the witness' testimony to be true. Id. at 574 (citations omitted). We can discern no difference between this case and Bentley. Defendant was sentenced as follows: The Court having heretofore entered judgments of conviction on the verdicts of the jury in this cause now sentences the defendant to the care and custody of the Indiana Department of Corrections as follows: Count 1, Robbery, a B Felony, ten (10) years; Count 2, Felony Murder, fifty years (50); Count 3, Robbery, a B Felony ten (10) years; Count 4, Robbery, a B Felony, ten (10) years; County 5, Robbery, a B Felony, ten (10) years; and Count 6, Attempted Robbery, an A Felony, forty (40) years. The Court further finds, adjudges and decrees that the defendant shall serve the sentences for Counts 1, 3, 4 and 5 in this cause concurrently with one another and that he shall serve the sentences for Counts 2 and 6 consecutively. It is clear from the above that the four sentences for robbery are to be served concurrently with each other. It is not clear, however, whether the sentences for murder and attempted robbery are to be served consecutively, one to the other, or consecutively, to the robbery sentences, or if they are to be served concurrently with each other but consecutively to the robbery sentences. The cause is therefore remanded for clarification of the sentence. In all other respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. GIVAN, C.J., and DeBRULER, HUNTER and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.