Opinion ID: 1329980
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the aider and abettor question

Text: The appellant contends that the trial court should have quashed the indictment or directed a verdict in his favor, in that the evidence showed him to have been an aider and abettor who could not be convicted upon an indictment charging him solely as a principal in the first degree. State v. Bennett, 157 W.Va. 702, 203 S.E.2d 699 (1974). [7] Although he was charged, tried and convicted as a principal in the first degree, appellant contends that the evidence showed Thurman Franklin Dye was the primary actor, and that appellant was an unwilling participant who was coerced into assisting Dye. The trial testimony showed that Audia drove Dye to Cowgar's store, went inside the store with him, tripped Mr. Cowgar while Dye was holding him, and tied him up. Aside from the appellant's testimony, there was no evidence that Dye forced the appellant to assist him in any way. Although the evidence did show that Dye initiated the robbery, struck the victims, and took the money, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, it also established that appellant was an active and willing participant in the crime. His actions went further than those of a mere companion [8] or lookout, [9] but were those of a principal actor in the robbery. We conclude that the State did present evidence which would sustain a conviction under the indictment. See, e.g., State v. Crockett, W.Va., 265 S.E.2d 268 (1979). Therefore, the trial court did not err in refusing to quash the indictment or direct a verdict of acquittal on the charge of principal in the first degree to armed robbery.