Opinion ID: 1111580
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Evidence of Accessory Liability.

Text: {18} Baca argues that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, shows at most that he shared an intent to shoot at the tires and that shooting at the tires was not an act greatly dangerous to the lives of others, indicating a depraved mind heedless of the lives of others. He reasons that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to support his conviction for depraved-mind murder and, thus, also was insufficient to support his conviction of conspiracy to commit depraved-mind murder. We disagree with Baca's analysis of the evidence and, therefore, need not reach Baca's analysis of the law. {19} This Court must ensure that a rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt the essential facts required for a conviction. Garcia, 1992 NMSC 046, 114 N.M. at 274, 837 P.2d at 867. Here, the State had the burden to prove that Baca and Eccleston intended to shoot at Comingo's car, thereby sharing the general purpose to commit an act greatly dangerous to the lives of others. Larry Betancourt testified that the car driven by Baca veered to the left as if the driver attempted to line up the passenger side of his car with Comingo's driver's side. Baca testified that he did not do this. Additionally, John Bacon testified that after Eccleston fired the shots, Baca laughed and said, I thought you were shooting for the tires. The jury might have believed Baca's testimony and rejected Betancourt's testimony. A jury therefore might have found that Baca realized only after the shots were fired that Eccleston intended to shoot at the driver. However, a reasonable jury also might have rejected Baca's testimony. {20} Baca testified that earlier in the evening he had seen Eccleston playing with his forty-five-caliber handgun, showing it off like he always does, and saying he loved his gun. Baca testified further that, although he did not actually see the gun inside the pool hall, he was aware Eccleston had it with him, around his waist on an elastic strap. Similarly, he testified that he did not actually see Eccleston holding the gun as he got into Baca's car to leave the pool hall, but he was aware that Eccleston still had it strapped around like his [waist] where he had that strap. While they were driving around after leaving the pool hall, and at the intersection, as Baca started chasing Comingo's car, Baca knew Eccleston had the gun with him. Baca testified, however, that he did not know Eccleston was going to shoot the gun. {21} If the jury rejected Baca's testimony, the jury was entitled to infer that Baca positioned the car because he knew that Eccleston was aiming his gun at the driver. If the jury was willing to draw that inference, then the jury was entitled to find that Baca shared Eccleston's purpose in firing into the interior of the car. See Brown, 1996 NMSC 073, ¶ 31, 122 N.M. at 731, 931 P.2d at 76 ([I]t is for the jury to weigh the credibility of the witnesses....). Such a finding would justify a conclusion that Eccleston committed an act greatly dangerous to the lives of others, indicating a depraved mind regardless of the lives of others, that Baca helped him commit that act, and that Baca shared Eccleston's purpose. In addition, the court instructed the jury that in order to convict Baca of depraved-mind murder, it would need to find that he knew that the acts were greatly dangerous to the lives of others. Eccleston was the shooter; the jury might have viewed Baca, in effect, as providing necessary equipment. {22} We hold that sufficient evidence exists to affirm Baca's conviction of aiding and abetting first-degree, depraved-mind murder. In view of our holding, we do not reach Baca's argument that shooting at the tires of Comingo's car was not a sufficient basis for a conviction of depraved-mind murder. We also do not reach Baca's argument that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of conspiracy to commit depraved-mind murder. We subsequently address Baca's other argument about his conviction of conspiracy. We next address his argument that he was denied effective assistance of counsel.