Opinion ID: 6337986
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Smith first argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict on the capital-murder, kidnapping, and aggravated-robbery charges.1 Although Smith admits that he 1 Although Smith asserts that none of his convictions are supported by substantial evidence, he fails to develop any argument challenging his theft conviction. We do not address arguments that are not supported by authority or convincing argument. See Sweet v. State, 2011 Ark. 20, at 18, 370 6 drove to and from the crime scene with Mackrell, he contends that there was no evidence he “did anything with the purpose of promoting or facilitating the crimes.” We treat a motion for directed verdict as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. McClendon v. State, 2019 Ark. 88, at 3, 570 S.W.3d 450, 452. In reviewing this challenge, we view the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, considering only the evidence that supports the verdict. Id., 570 S.W.3d at 452. We will affirm the verdict if substantial evidence supports it. Id., 570 S.W.3d at 452. Substantial evidence is evidence of sufficient force and character that it will, with reasonable certainty, compel a conclusion one way or the other without resorting to speculation or conjecture. Id., 570 S.W.3d at 452. Circumstantial evidence may constitute substantial evidence to support a conviction. Finley v. State, 2019 Ark. 336, at 2, 587 S.W.3d 223, 226. For circumstantial evidence to be substantial, the evidence must exclude every other reasonable hypothesis than that of the guilt of the accused. Id. at 3, 587 S.W.3d at 226. Upon review, this court must determine whether the jury resorted to speculation and conjecture in reaching its verdict. Id., 587 S.W.3d at 226. Smith committed capital-felony murder if, acting alone or with another person, he committed or attempted to commit the offense of robbery or kidnapping, and, in the course of and in furtherance of the felony or in immediate flight therefrom, he or a person acting with him, caused the death of a person under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-101(a)(1)(A)(iii), (v) & (B) (Supp. 2017 reprint). Smith committed aggravated robbery if, with the purpose of committing a felony or misdemeanor theft, he employed or threatened to employ physical force upon another person and was “armed with a deadly weapon” S.W.3d 510, 523. 7 or inflicted death upon another person. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-12-103 (Repl. 2013). Finally, Smith committed kidnapping if, without consent, he restrained another person so as to interfere substantially with the other person’s liberty with the purpose of facilitating the commission of any felony or flight after the felony, inflicting physical injury upon the other person, or terrorizing the other person. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-11-102(a)(3), (4) & (6) (Repl. 2013). In cases implicating a theory of accomplice liability, we will affirm if substantial evidence exists that the defendant acted as an accomplice in the commission of the alleged offense. Finley, 2019 Ark. 336, at 2, 587 S.W.3d at 226. A person acts as an accomplice of another person if, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating the commission of the offense, the person aids, agrees to aid, or attempts to aid in planning or committing the offense. See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-403(a)(2) (Repl. 2013). When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, a person is an accomplice of another in the commission of an offense if “acting with respect to that particular result with the kind of culpable mental state sufficient for the commission of the offense, the person . . . [a]ids, agrees to aid, or attempts to aid the other person in committing it.” Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-403(b)(2) (Repl. 2013). Relevant factors in determining the connection of an accomplice to a crime are the presence of the accused in proximity to a crime, the opportunity to commit the crime, and an association with a person involved in a manner suggestive of joint participation. Gilcrease v. State, 2009 Ark. 298, at 12, 318 S.W.3d 70, 79. A defendant is an accomplice if he or she renders the requisite aid or encouragement to the principal with regard to the offense at issue, irrespective of the fact that the defendant was not present at the murder scene and did not directly commit the murder. Id., 318 S.W.3d at 79. 8 Here, with regard to his aggravated-robbery conviction, Smith contends that the State failed to present substantial evidence that he had the purpose to commit a theft or that he employed physical force against Fragstein. On his kidnapping conviction, Smith contends that Fragstein was already dead while he got into her CR-V, so the State failed to prove that he restrained her at any point when she was alive. Finally, on the capital-felony-murder conviction, Smith again argues that Fragstein was already dead when he got into her vehicle and that the State presented insufficient evidence of the underlying felonies of either kidnapping or robbery. The State presented evidence that Smith participated in the kidnapping and aggravated robbery. On July 7, Smith and Mackrell walked the same direction as Fragstein about a minute before she exited TJ Maxx, and just before her Honda CR-V was seen being driven erratically at a high rate of speed. Mackrell sent his girlfriend a text message telling her that Smith “snatched the purse,” after which he and Mackrell divided up the $60 that was in the purse. Smith drove Fragstein’s stolen CR-V from Conway to Pine Bluff with Fragstein inside. She was found murdered four days later. Smith also went with Mackrell to the Bullards’ house to move Fragstein’s stolen CR-V after someone requested that Mackrell move it. The State also presented evidence that Smith participated in the capital-felony murder. Dr. Erickson testified that Fragstein suffered a “severe, prolonged and multi-factorial” assault and that her injuries were consistent with someone “stomping” on her. Smith admitted that he is in a music group that has songs about killing people and stomping someone to death. And Fragstein’s blood was found at multiple locations on Smith’s shoes. Although Smith testified that he did not injure Fragstein and that she appeared to be dead when he got into her CR-V, the jury was not required to believe Smith’s testimony. See Price v. State, 2019 Ark. 323, at 6, 588 S.W.3d 1, 5. Finally, he lied to 9 police multiple times about his involvement in the crimes, which could be considered by the jury as circumstances tending to establish guilt. See Hyatt v. State, 2018 Ark. 85, at 12–13, 540 S.W.3d 673, 680. We hold that the evidence above, viewed in the light most favorable to the State, constitutes substantial evidence of Smith’s participation as an accomplice in the capital-felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery of Fragstein. See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-101(a)(1)(A)(iii), (v) & (B) (capital-felony murder); Ark. Code Ann. § 5-11-102(a)(3), (4), and (6) (kidnapping); Ark. Code Ann. § 5-12-103 (aggravated robbery). Thus, we affirm on this point.