Court Opinion

ID: 9515192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:54:29.076373+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:26.060086
License: Public Domain

GILBERTSON, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 45.] I respectfully dissent. I would affirm the circuit court.
[¶ 46.] SDCL 22-4-1 defines what constitutes an attempt:
Any person who attempts to commit a crime and in the attempt does any act toward the commission of the crime, but fails or is prevented or intercepted in the perpetration thereof,....
[¶ 47.] Herein the Defendant was convicted of three counts of attempted murder. The issue before us is whether he committed a direct act toward the commission of the intended crime. See State v. Olson, 408 N.W.2d 748, 754 (S.D.1987); State v. Martinez, 88 S.D. 369, 372, 220 N.W.2d 530, 531 (1974); State v. Judge, 81 S.D. 128, 133, 131 N.W.2d 573, 575-76 (1964).
[¶ 48.] In State v. Miskimins, 435 N.W.2d 217, 222-23 (S.D.1989) we analyzed the nature of the requirement that a direct act be committed:
In drawing a distinction between preparation and attempt, this court has held that it is not necessary that the last further act necessary to the actual accomplishment of the crime be taken to be a requisite to make an attempt. The statutes clearly require only that “any” act towards the commission of the crime *214be done. State v. Martinez, 88 S.D. 369, 220 N.W.2d 530 (1974). Any unequivocal act by defendant to insure that the intended result was a crime and not another innocent act constitutes an attempt. “The line between preparation and attempt is drawn at that point where the accused’s acts no longer strike the jury as being equivocal but unequivocally demonstrate that a crime is about to be committed.” Martinez, 88 S.D. at 372, 220 N.W.2d at 531.
We also have previously defined preparation as “devising or arranging the means or measures necessary for the commission of the offense” and attempt as “the direct movement toward the commission after the preparations are made.” Judge, 81 S.D. at 133, 131 N.W.2d at 575 (quoting State v. Wood, 19 S.D. 260, 261, 103 N.W. 25, 26 (1905)). Once “it becomes clear what the actor’s intention is and when the acts done show that the perpetrator is actually putting his plan into action,” the attempt is complete. People v. Dillon, 34 Cal.3d 441, 194 Cal.Rptr. 390, 668 P.2d 697, 702 (1983) (citations omitted). Thus, we must examine the evidence to see whether there was evidence which would allow a jury to find such an act did occur.
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal in a criminal case, the issue before this [Cjourt is whether there is evidence in the record which, if believed by the jury, is sufficient to sustain a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt ... In making our determination, this Court will accept the evidence and the most favorable inferences fairly drawn therefrom, which still support the verdict.
State v. Augustine, 2000 SD 93, ¶ 26, 614 N.W.2d 796, 800 (quoting State v. Davi, 504 N.W.2d 844, 856 (S.D.1993) (citations omitted)). As pointed out by the Court, the jury was properly instructed on the difference between mere preparation and acts needed to constitute an attempt.
[¶ 49.] Herein the Defendant hired McCabe, a hit man, gave him instructions on how to kill the intended victims, provided the hit man with a photo of Olson, showed him the location of Olson’s home and personally pointed Olson out to the “hit man.” All these acts constitute devising or arranging the murder for hire scheme. The Defendant’s acts of arriving at a concrete payment arrangement for the “hit man’s” services and issuing the final kill order “[i]t’s a go,” were direct movements that served to actually put Defendant’s plan into action. The consummation of the contract and final kill order were “immediate step[s] in the present commission of the criminal design” as required by the jury instructions used in Defendant’s trial. This is far more than mere verbal solicitation of a hit man to accomplish the murders. See State v. Mandel, 78 Ariz. 226, 278 P.2d 413, 416 (1954) (holding that after defendant did everything she was supposed to do to accomplish the purpose of the murder for hire contract by making partial payment and advising of when and where murder should be conducted, she was beyond the sphere of mere solicitation or preparation) (emphasis added); State v. Gay, 4 Wash.App. 834, 486 P.2d 341, 346 (1971) (holding defendant beyond the preparation stage after making final payment arrangements and down payment, furnishing pictures of intended victim to hit man, issuing final order without means to contact hit man in order to halt the murder sufficient to sustain a conviction for attempt) (emphasis added).
[¶ 50.] This evidence, if believed by the jury, was well in excess of the “any act” requirement. It showed Defendant had done everything he could do to carry out his intent to have the killings occur. Defendant had set in motion a course of *215action that would have resulted in the deaths of two or three individuals “but for” the fact the hit man was in reality an undercover police officer. It appears the only act left was the actual killings themselves. “In analyzing the facts, the jury was well justified in finding defendant’s actions had gone ‘so far that they would result in the accomplishment of the crime unless frustrated by extraneous circumstances.’ ” Miskimins, 435 N.W.2d at 223 (citing Martinez, 88 S.D. at 372, 220 N.W.2d at 531 (quoting Judge, 81 S.D. at 133, 131 N.W.2d at 575)).
[¶ 51.] Defendant argues that the evidence clearly demonstrates that Defendant’s actions in June 2002 did not go beyond mere preparation. Defendant cites the police’s failure to arrest Defendant after the June 11, 2002 meeting as proof of this proposition. Defendant also notes that his phone call to Rynders “clearly shows the Defendant put a halt to the attempted commission of the crime ... but chose to do so by remaining friendly and cooperative with the hitman.”
[¶ 52.] Two distinct theories can be drawn from Defendant’s telephone conversation. The first, posited by Defendant, is that Defendant wished to extricate himself from an agreed upon murder, but leave the “hit man” with the perception that the deal remained in place. However, there is a second equally plausible theory which was presented by the State. That is, Defendant merely wanted to delay the previously planned murder, but leave the “hit man” with the knoivledge that the deal remained in place.
[¶ 53.] Both theories were thoroughly argued to the jury. However, the jury chose to believe the State’s theory. Therefore, the jury could have properly concluded Defendant’s actions were “done toward the commission of the crime ... the progress of which would be completed unless interrupted by some circumstances not intended in the original design” and not simply mere preparation. {Supra at ¶ 17).
[¶ 54.] Although we do not have any South Dakota cases directly on point, State v. Kaiser, 504 N.W.2d 96 (S.D.1993) and State v. Kaiser, 526 N.W.2d 722 (S.D.1995) are factually and legally close. Therein Kaiser was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit murder on his ex-wife and her new boyfriend under SDCL 22-3-8. Like the case at bar, Kaiser sought to have a hit-man commit the murders with a pistol. .The murders were to be disguised so as to appear the result of a robbery for illegal drugs. The murders were halted at the last minute when the hit-man revealed the plot to law enforcement. The hit-man now working with law enforcement was able to obtain admissions by Kaiser over the telephone. On appeal Kaiser argued that there was insufficient evidence to uphold his conviction as he failed to commit an overt act in South Dakota. Based on Kaiser’ assisting the hit-man by guiding him to the location of the proposed murder and providing the gun for the murders and other information, we affirmed concluding that Kaiser had committed overt acts required for a conviction of a conspiracy charge.
[¶ 55.] The Court today enters a lengthy analysis whether the acts constituted preparation or acts in the attempt to commit murder. I find the “majority” position now taken by the Court to be at odds with this Court’s prior interpretation of SDCL 22-4-1.
The authorities and texts generally agree that it is often difficult to determine when mere preparation to commit a crime ends, and when the act toward the commission of the crime begins. Each case must be determined by its own facts and circumstances. We are in *216accord with the view that where the design is shown “courts should not destroy the practical and common sense administration of the law with subtleties as to what constitutes preparation and what an act done toward the commission of a crime.”
State v. Pepka, 72 S.D. 503, 508, 37 N.W.2d 189, 191 (1949) (citations omitted). Minute examination between majority and minority views and “preparation” and “perpetration” conflict with the command of SDCL 22-1-1:
The rule of the common law that penal statutes are to be strictly construed has no application to this title. All its criminal and penal provisions and all penal statutes are to be construed according to the fair import of their terms, with a view to effect their objects and promote justice.
[¶ 56.] Here there was evidence that all that was left was to pull the trigger. As the Court acknowledges “the law of attempts would be largely without function if it could not be invoked until the trigger was pulled.” Citing Dillon, 194 Cal.Rptr. 390, 668 P.2d at 703.
[¶ 57.] I also conclude that the two remaining issues raised by the Defendant are without merit and thus would affirm the trial court. Thus, I respectfully dissent.