Opinion ID: 1792208
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: This Tallahatchie County case involves three appellants: Johnny Wayne King and his parents, James Albert and Hattie Ray King. All three were indicted for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and bribery  charges which stemmed from unsuccessful attempts to influence jurors in a drug trial in which Johnny was the defendant. [1] James is appealing his conviction of all three charges. Hattie is appealing her conviction of the conspiracy charge. And Johnny is appealing his conviction of conspiracy and bribery. This Court affirms James and Johnny's convictions and reverses Hattie's conviction.
The facts of this case are disputed but uncomplicated; they are presented in this opinion as they were presented by the State at trial. The Kings did not present their own version; they simply denied guilt. In the fall of 1986, Johnny Wayne King was indicted for sale of a controlled substance. Soon after empanelment of the jury, Johnny, James, and Hattie King decided to fix the trial. They hired their friends, William Taylor and L.B. Govan, to contact several jurors and offer them incentives in exchange for their agreement to cast a not guilty vote or hang up the jury. [2] Taylor contacted jurors, Charlotte Truly and Gwendolyn Harris, in person at their homes and insisted that they vote not guilty at Johnny's trial. [3] Both Truly and Harris refused Taylor's request and ordered him to leave. Meanwhile, Govan contacted another juror, Irene Edwards, in person at her home. Edwards testified that Govan promised her that the Kings would make it worth her while if she hung up the jury by casting a not guilty vote. Finally, Minnie Smith testified that James and Johnny one night entered the Mr. Jiffy Convenience Food Store where she works. The Kings did not say anything to her; they simply purchased a coke and some cigarettes and then left. Smith noted that the store manager and another employee were present at the time and that, over the past ten years, she had never before seen the Kings in the store. The three jurors  Truly, Edwards, and Harris  immediately informed the bailiff that they had been contacted by Taylor and Govan. Judge Carlson immediately held a hearing in chambers and declared a mistrial. After an investigation, the Kings were indicted for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and bribery. On July 21, 1987, Judge Carlson held a trial. After four days of testimony, the jury found James guilty of all three charges; it found Hattie guilty of conspiracy; and it found Johnny guilty of conspiracy and bribery. Judge Carlson subsequently sentenced: (1) James as an habitual offender to a total of 14 years' imprisonment and fined him $6,500; (2) Hattie as an habitual offender to 5 years' imprisonment and fined her $5,000; and (3) Johnny as an habitual offender to a total of 10 years' imprisonment and fined him $6,000.
The appellants presented numerous issues. These issues are addressed in the following section and, for the sake of brevity and clarity, some issues have been consolidated and some paraphrased.