Opinion ID: 853331
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Motion for Directed Verdict and Sufficiency of Evidence

Text: Farris argues that the trial court erred when it denied Farris' motion for a directed verdict. When a defendant moves for judgment on the evidence, the court is required to withdraw the issues from the jury if: (1) the record is devoid of evidence on one or more elements of the offense; or (2) the evidence presented is without conflict and subject to only one inference, which is favorable to the defendant. Ind. Trial Rule 50(A); Cutter v. State, 725 N.E.2d 401, 407 (Ind.2000). Farris contends that there was no substantive evidence to support the findings by the jury that Farris, by his threat, caused Littlepage to commit the shootings or that Farris supplied Littlepage with the handgun used in the crime. After the trial court denied Farris' motion for a directed verdict, Farris introduced two defense exhibits into evidence and read a portion of Littlepage's testimony from the January 31, 2000, hearing in which Littlepage stated that he was revoking all prior statements implicating Farris. Farris then rested his case. Because the defendant presented evidence on his own behalf following the trial court's denial of his motion for judgment on the evidence at the close of the State's case-in-chief, we will not review that ruling but rather will treat the issue as one of general insufficiency of the evidence. Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d 44, 47 (Ind.1994); Kuchel v. State, 570 N.E.2d 910, 915 (Ind.1991). Our standard of review for sufficiency claims is well settled. We will not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Rather, we look to the evidence and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom that support the verdict and will affirm the conviction if there is probative evidence from which a reasonable jury could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Taylor v. State, 681 N.E.2d 1105, 1110 (Ind.1997). Littlepage testified in his deposition that Farris gave him the gun and instructed Littlepage to shoot the adults at the Foreman house. Additionally, Littlepage testified in his deposition that Farris told him that if Littlepage did not carry out this task, Farris would shoot Littlepage. Other evidence is consistent with Littlepage's claim that Farris supplied the gun used in the shooting. Farris' videotaped statement to the investigating detective was admitted into evidence. On that tape, Farris admitted that he gave a handgun to Littlepage just before the shootings occurred, but denied that he knew what Littlepage planned to do with the gun. A firearms examiner with the Indiana State Police testified that the bullet casings found at the scene were consistent with the ammunition that would be fired from the handgun. Farris points out that both Woods and Dorothy gave testimony at trial that conflicted with their earlier statements to investigating officers. Additionally, Farris points to Littlepage's testimony at the January 31 hearing that attempted to revoke all statements that he had previously given in the case. These inconsistencies in testimony were before the jury. The credibility of these witnesses was for the jury to determine. There was sufficient evidence to support Farris' convictions.