Opinion ID: 2067600
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Hampton first claims that the evidence was insufficient to convict her of both murder and robbery. When this Court reviews a conviction for sufficiency of the evidence, we look to the evidence most favorable to the State and all of the reasonable inferences to be drawn from such evidence. See Blanche v. State, 690 N.E.2d 709, 712 (Ind.1998) (citing Deckard v. State, 670 N.E.2d 1, 3 (Ind.1996)). We do not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses, but merely look to the evidence and determine whether there was substantive probative evidence to support the judgment. See id. at 712. Hampton claims that the evidence was insufficient to support her convictions because there is no evidence she committed either crime. She argues that the evidence establishes only her presence at the crime scene, and mere presence is insufficient to sustain a conviction. Hampton's characterization of the evidence is incomplete, however. While the murder of Joseph Randle was proved in part by the use of circumstantial evidence, a verdict may be sustained based on circumstantial evidence alone if that circumstantial evidence supports a reasonable inference of guilt. See Taylor v. State, 676 N.E.2d 1044, 1047 (Ind.1997) (citing Green v. State, 587 N.E.2d 1314, 1315 (Ind.1992)). Presence at the crime scene alone cannot sustain a conviction, but presence when combined with other facts and circumstances, such as companionship with the one engaged in the crime, and the course of conduct of the defendant before, during, and after the offense, may raise a reasonable inference of guilt. See Wright v. State, 690 N.E.2d 1098, 1106 (Ind.1997). Furthermore, this conviction could also be sustained on the theory of accessory liability. Under this theory, one who aids, abets, or assists in a crime is equally as culpable as the one who commits the actual crime. See Johnson v. State, 687 N.E.2d 345, 349 (Ind.1997). The State argued accessory liability and the jury was instructed as to accessory liability. Hampton argues that she cannot be convicted on a theory of accomplice liability because she was not charged as an accomplice. However, the Indiana statute governing accomplice liability does not establish it as a separate crime, but merely as a separate basis of liability for the crime charged. See Ind.Code § 35-41-2-4 (1998); Voss v. State, 469 N.E.2d 788 (Ind. Ct.App.1984) (citing Hoskins v. State, 441 N.E.2d 419, 425 (Ind.1982)). Where the facts in the case raise a reasonable inference that the crime was carried out with an accomplice, it is appropriate for the judge to give such an instruction. See Wright, 690 N.E.2d at 1104. The facts in this case support a reasonable inference that Carolyn Hampton either murdered and robbed Randle or aided her boyfriend Ratcliff in robbing and murdering Randle. Hampton's bloody palmprint was found on the wall above Randle's body. Her fingerprints were found on several items in the house, including a drinking glass in the bedroom, and a health care card usually kept in Randle's missing money pouch. Further, Hampton herself admitted to being at the crime scene at the time one neighbor heard loud noises from Randle's house, and another neighbor saw someone leave the house carrying items which looked like the items stolen from Randle's house. Further, the jury heard testimony that Hampton, like other home health care providers, would be familiar with the habits of Randle, including where he kept his money. This information included the fact that Randle kept money in a file cabinet, and the location of the key to the file cabinet. This key was later found on the living room floor. The jury also heard testimony that only those areas in which Randle regularly kept money were ransacked. Finally, the jury heard testimony that it would have been impossible to wrap blankets around Randle in the manner in which he was found without the help of at least one other person. Based on this information, the jury could have reasonably believed that the crime was committed by someone familiar with Randle's habits and that this person was Hampton.