Court Opinion

ID: 3007310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-06 13:06:40.001661+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:45:52.608661
License: Public Domain

An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute
controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance with
the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedu re.

               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                      No. COA15-82

                                  Filed: 6 October 2015

Wake County, No. 13 CRS 226535

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,

              v.

XAVIER HACKNEY, Defendant.

        Appeal by defendant from Judgment entered 29 July 2014 by Judge Thomas

H. Lock in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 12 August

2015.

        Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Teresa L.
        Townsend, for the State,

        Paul F. Herzog, for defendant.

        ELMORE, Judge.

        On 29 July 2014, a jury found Xavier Hackney (defendant) guilty of: (1)

conspiracy to deliver cocaine; (2) conspiracy to sell cocaine; and (3) possession with

intent to sell or deliver cocaine. The trial court arrested judgment on the conspiracy

to deliver cocaine count, and it entered judgment on the conspiracy to sell cocaine and

possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine counts, sentencing defendant to a
                                  STATE V. HACKNEY

                                   Opinion of the Court

term of 15 to 27 months’ imprisonment. The trial court recommended substance

abuse treatment and vocational training. Defendant gave notice of appeal in open

court. After careful consideration, we hold that defendant received a trial free from

error.

                                       I. Background

         On 29 October 2013, Officer Trybulski and Sergeant Hodge were attempting

to serve an arrest warrant on Andre Williams, a.k.a. “Drizzy,” for selling cocaine. The

officers were dressed in plain-clothes and were sitting in a covert van in front of a

house on Maple Street in southeast Raleigh where they believed Drizzy may be

located. Alonza Foster (Foster) approached the van waiving his hand and asked

Officer Trybulski who they were looking for. Officer Trybulski told Foster that they

were looking for Drizzy. Foster then stated, “Drizzy’s not here but I have someone

else for you. Are ya’ll looking for crack? Let me get in your car.” Officer Trybulski

did not allow Foster to get in the van but told Foster to go get him—the someone

else—and he would “circle the block” and “come right back to the same spot.”

         Officer Trybulski and Sergeant Hodge called uniformed Officers Sirianna and

Krans who were on patrol around the corner. Officer Trybulski and Sergeant Hodge

drove a couple blocks off Maple Street so that the uniformed officers could get in the

van to assist in detaining Foster and the “someone else,” who was later identified as

defendant. Officer Trybulski told the uniformed officers to “duck down” in the back

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of the van, and Officer Trybulski drove back to the same spot where he met Foster.

At the intersection of Boyer Street and Culver Street Officer Trybulski saw Foster

and defendant walking toward the van, and Foster “began to wave his hands to signal

. . . right here; we’re good to go.” At this point, Officer Sirianna and Officer Krans got

out of the van, and defendant “turn[ed] the opposite direction and continue[d] to

sprint away.” Officer Krans detained Foster, and Officer Sirianna chased defendant

on foot, with Officer Trybulski following behind in the van. As they were running,

defendant threw a plastic bag containing a white substance into a bush before being

detained.   The City-County Bureau of Investigation later determined that the

substance was crack cocaine.

      Defendant was indicted on 27 January 2014 on three counts: conspiring to

deliver cocaine; conspiring to sell cocaine; and possession with intent to sell and

deliver cocaine. On 28 July 2014, defendant filed a motion in limine to exclude from

evidence the following statements made by Foster: “Drizzy is not here, but I can get

someone else for you” and “are you looking for crack.” After a voir dire examination

of Officer Trybulski, the trial court concluded that the statements were admissible

under Rule 801(d)(E) “as a statement by a co-conspirator during the course of and in

furtherance of the conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine.” Alternatively, assuming

arguendo the statements were not admissible under Rule 801(d)(E), the trial court

stated that they were “admissible under Rule 804, subsection (b)(3) as a statement

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against the declarant’s penal interest.” Moreover, the trial court found that the

statements were “admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule under Rule 803,

subsection (3) in that they are statements of the declarant’s then-existing state of

mind, specifically statements concerning his intent, planning, or motive.” The trial

court did not acknowledge the State’s additional argument that the statements were

admissible for the non-hearsay purpose of showing the effect on the listeners. The

trial court overruled defendant’s objection and denied his motion in limine.

      At the trial, the following colloquy took place during direct examination of

Officer Trybulski:

             Q. Is there anybody you spoke with as you were looking for
             Drizzy?

             A. As we were sitting in front of the house a gentleman
             named Alonza Foster was walking towards us and we were
             kind of looking at the house where the last time we saw
             Drizzy was and it happened pretty quick when we got
             there. Mr. Foster was walking ahead of us and he’s kind of
             waving his hand at us, and I put the window down and he
             says who are y’all looking for, and I said we’re looking for
             Drizzy, and he said Drizzy’s not here but I have someone
             else for you. Are y’all looking for crack? Just so you don’t
             get confused, at that point in time we realized we’re on a
             warrant service here but this guy is offering us crack
             cocaine not knowing we’re police officers.

             MR. HIGH: Objection.

             THE COURT: Sustained.

             THE WITNESS: Of course we’re going to take him up on
             that and begin a new investigation. Mr. Foster says I have

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                                   Opinion of the Court

             somebody else for you, let me get in your car.

             MR. HIGH: Objection.

             THE COURT: Overruled.

At the close of the State’s evidence, defendant moved to dismiss for insufficient

evidence. Defendant did not present any evidence and renewed his motion to dismiss.

The trial court denied both motions.

                                         II. Analysis

A. Foster’s Out-of-Court Statements

      Defendant argues that Foster’s statements were “inadmissible under the

hearsay exceptions cited by the trial court, and/or . . . they were highly prejudicial to

[defendant].” We disagree.

      “When preserved by an objection, a trial court’s decision with regard to the

admission of evidence alleged to be hearsay is reviewed de novo.” State v. Johnson,

209 N.C. App. 682, 692, 706 S.E.2d 790, 797 (2011). “Erroneous admission of hearsay,

like erroneous admission of other evidence, is not always so prejudicial as to require

a new trial.” State v. Sills, 311 N.C. 370, 378, 317 S.E.2d 379, 384 (1984). “Unless

such error infringes upon a criminal defendant’s constitutional rights, the defendant

has the burden of showing that he was prejudiced by the error and that there was a

reasonable possibility that a different result would have been reached at trial if the

error had not been committed.” Id.; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443 (2013).

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                                     Opinion of the Court

       Under Rule 801, “ ‘Hearsay’ is a statement, other than one made by the

declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth

of the matter asserted.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 801(c) (2013). “Hearsay is not

admissible except as provided by statute or by these rules.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1,

Rule 802 (2013).

                            1. Rule 801(d)(E) Co-Conspirator

       Defendant first argues that the statements were inadmissible under the co-

conspirator exception contained in Rule 801(d)(E) because “[t]he record of this case is

devoid of any information whatsoever that a conspiracy to possess, deliver or sell

cocaine existed between Alonza Foster and [defendant] at the time Mr. Foster made

the complained of statement.” We disagree.

       Rule 801(d) provides an exception to the rule against hearsay if the admissions

were made by a party opponent. Relevant here, “A statement is admissible as an

exception to the hearsay rule if it is offered against a party and it is . . . (E) a statement

by a coconspirator of such party during the course and in furtherance of the

conspiracy.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 801(d)(E). “A criminal conspiracy is an

express or implied agreement between two or more persons to do an unlawful act[.]”

State v. Barnes, 345 N.C. 184, 216, 481 S.E.2d 44, 61 (1997) (citing State v. Gibbs, 335
N.C. 1, 47, 436 S.E.2d 321, 347 (1993)). “It is not necessary for the prosecution to

establish the existence of the conspiracy before the admission of a hearsay statement

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                                  Opinion of the Court

falling within this exception as long as the existence of the conspiracy is eventually

established.” Id. (citing State v. Polk, 309 N.C. 559, 565–66, 308 S.E.2d 296, 299

(1983)).

      Our Supreme Court has stated, “[T]here must be a showing that (1) a

conspiracy existed; (2) the acts or declarations were made by a party to it and in

pursuance of its objectives; and (3) while it was active, that is, after it was formed

and before it ended.” State v. Tilley, 292 N.C. 132, 138, 232 S.E.2d 433, 438 (1977)

(citing State v. Lee, 277 N.C. 205, 213, 176 S.E.2d 765, 769 (1970)). Moreover,

“[S]tatements of conspirators are admissible against other members of the conspiracy

so long as a prima facie case of conspiracy is established independently of the

statements sought to be admitted.” State v. Fink, 92 N.C. App. 523, 530, 375 S.E.2d
303, 307 (1989) (citing Tilley, 292 N.C. at 138, 232 S.E.2d at 438). “Direct proof of

conspiracy is rarely available, so the crime must generally be proved by

circumstantial evidence.” State v. Clark, 137 N.C. App. 90, 95, 527 S.E.2d 319, 322

(2000) (quoting State v. Aleem, 49 N.C. App. 359, 363, 271 S.E.2d 575, 578 (1980)).

“A conspiracy ‘may be, and generally is, established by a number of indefinite acts,

each of which, standing alone, might have little weight, but, taken collectively, they

point unerringly to the existence of a conspiracy.’ ” Id. (quoting State v. Whiteside,

204 N.C. 710, 712, 169 S.E. 711, 712 (1933)). “[I]n determining the sufficiency of the

evidence of conspiracy, the evidence is considered in the light most favorable to the

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                                   Opinion of the Court

State.” State v. Williams, 345 N.C. 137, 142, 478 S.E.2d 782, 784 (1996) (citing State

v. Withers, 111 N.C. App. 340, 344, 432 S.E.2d 692, 695 (1993)). “The State’s burden

of proof is to produce evidence sufficient to permit the jury to find the existence of a

conspiracy, but the State is not required to produce evidence sufficient to compel the

jury to find a conspiracy.” Id. (citing State v. Morris, 102 N.C. App. 541, 544, 402
S.E.2d 845, 847 (1991)).

      Defendant argues that “if a conspiracy existed, it came into being only after

Mr. Foster made the complained of statements.” Further, defendant states, “[I]t is

interesting to note that Officer Trybulski did not testify that he saw Mr. Foster and

[defendant] talking together as they walked toward the undercover van . . . nor did

he testify whether they walked side-by-side or whether one lagged behind the other.”

      To the contrary, the following discussion took place during direct examination

of Officer Trybulski:

             Q. And Officer Trybulski, were you under the impression
             that the defendant was the individual that Mr. Foster went
             and retrieved to then sell you crack cocaine?

             A. Yeah. They were the only two walking together next to
             each other, and they were the only two walking at us.

Additionally, here, Officer Trybulski told Foster that he was looking for Drizzy,

someone Officer Trybulski knew to sell cocaine. When Foster heard this, Foster asked

if the undercover officers were looking for cocaine, and Foster told them he had

someone for them. Moments later, Foster returned with defendant, who was carrying

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                                  Opinion of the Court

cocaine, later ran from the uniformed police officers, and tried to discard the cocaine

during the pursuit. Arguably, a mutual, implied understanding of a conspiracy

between Foster and defendant to sell cocaine was already in place prior to Foster’s

conversation with Officer Trybulski or Foster would not have offered that he “had

someone” for him.

      Defendant goes into great detail in his brief pointing out that Officer Trybulski

did not “even know [defendant] before October 29, 2013.” Defendant also emphasizes

that the State produced no evidence showing Officer Trybulski saw Foster and

defendant together before; knew Foster and defendant were friends; saw Foster and

defendant handing money to each other; saw Foster and defendant handing small

bags/packages to each other; or that Foster or defendant was carrying money. The

lack of such evidence, however, is not dispositive as to whether a conspiracy existed.

As stated above, a conspiracy may be proved by a number of facts and circumstances

showing an implied agreement, and it is not necessary to prove an express agreement

evidenced by money and narcotics exchanging hands. See Clark, 137 N.C. App. at 95,

527 S.E.2d at 322.

      Defendant cites to State v. Stephens, 175 N.C. App. 328, 623 S.E.2d 610 (2006),

in support of his argument that if a conspiracy existed, it came into being only after

Mr. Foster made the complained of statements. In Stephens, “Dennis Smith testified

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                                  Opinion of the Court

for the State that on the night of the robbery he received a telephone call from Mr.

Loftin[.]” Id. at 333, 623 S.E.2d at 614. The following occurred at trial:

             Q: What did Mr. Loftin say to you when you picked up your
             cell phone?

             A: He was like, “Man, I just got robbed for five thousand
             dollars. Some Mexicans just robbed me.”

             Q: And did he say anything after that?

             A: Yes, sir. He said, he was like, “I’m going to make me a
             lick.” He was like, “Where Antwan at?” I was like, “He’s
             outside in my car.”

             Q: Now he told you he was going to go make a lick. What
             does that mean, to make a lick?

             A: Rob somebody. Rob something.

Id. at 333–34, 623 S.E.2d at 614. This Court concluded, “While the independent

evidence presented at trial tended to show that Mr. Loftin and Defendant conspired

to rob the Pep Mart on 22 March 2004, there is no evidence that suggests that the

conspiracy was in existence at the time Mr. Loftin made the statements to Mr.

Smith.” Id. at 334, 623 S.E.2d at 614. The facts of this case are markedly different

than the facts in Stephens. In Stephens, the declarant-Loftin told Smith he wanted

to rob someone, and then he asked Smith if he knew where the defendant was located.

Here, the declarant-Foster asked Officer Trybulski if he was looking for crack and

then offered a supplier.

      We find State v. Morris, 102 N.C. App. 541, 402 S.E.2d 845 (1991), to be

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                                   Opinion of the Court

analogous to the case at bar. In Morris, the defendant argued that “the State failed

to establish a prima facie case of conspiracy independent of [the] statements, and

therefore the out-of-court statements [were] hearsay and inadmissible.” Id. at 543,

402 S.E.2d at 846. This Court disagreed, concluding,

             The State’s evidence tended to demonstrate that on 2 May
             1989 defendant was parked on the side of a dirt road in a
             rural area at approximately 11:00 p.m. No houses or
             buildings were within .1 to .2 of a mile of this location.
             Taylor, who was accompanied by two undercover officers
             purchasing marijuana, pulled in behind defendant’s car
             and parked. Taylor left his car and spoke with defendant.
             Defendant gestured in a hitchhiking motion toward the
             side of the road between the two cars. Taylor then climbed
             a ditch embankment in the general area where defendant
             had indicated and retrieved a large bag containing fifteen
             pounds of marijuana. Defendant fled when the undercover
             officers attempted to arrest him. We believe that this
             evidence is sufficient to establish a prima facie conspiracy
             between Taylor and defendant. Therefore the trial court
             did not err in admitting Taylor’s out-of-court statements.

Id. at 544, 402 S.E.2d at 847.

      Here, like in Morris, an implied agreement was established through

defendant’s own actions of carrying narcotics to the meeting site arranged by Foster.

Furthermore, the evidence is considered in the light most favorable to the State, and

the State need only set forth evidence sufficient to permit, not compel, the jury to find

the existence of a conspiracy. Williams, 345 N.C. at 142, 478 S.E.2d at 784. In sum,

the State established a prima facie case of conspiracy, the declarations were made by

a party to it and in pursuance of its objectives, and while the conspiracy was active.

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                                   Opinion of the Court

Tilley, 292 N.C. at 138, 232 S.E.2d at 438.

                     2. Rule 803(3) Then Existing State of Mind

      Defendant initially states that the out-of-court statements were inadmissible

pursuant to Rule 803(3). However, after reciting the rule, he then states, “While

Foster’s statements may have been admissible pursuant to this hearsay exception,

the prejudice [defendant] suffered was extremely high . . . and Rule 403 provides for

the exclusion of evidence on grounds of prejudice[.]” We disagree.

      Because defendant sets forth no argument regarding Rule 803(3), we take this

issue as abandoned. N.C.R. App. P. 28(b)(6) (“Issues not presented in a party’s brief,

or in support of which no reason or argument is stated, will be taken as abandoned.”).

Assuming arguendo that defendant preserved this issue, the out-of-court statements

are admissible under Rule 803(3) and need not be excluded under Rule 403.

      Rule 803(3) provides:

             The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even
             though the declarant is available as a witness:
             ....
             (3) Then Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical
             Condition.—A statement of the declarant’s then existing
             state of mind, emotion, sensation, or physical condition
             (such as intent, plan, motive, design, mental feeling, pain,
             and bodily health), but not including a statement of
             memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed
             unless it relates to the execution, revocation, identification,
             or terms of declarant’s will.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 803(3) (2013). Our Supreme Court has held that “Rule

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                                  Opinion of the Court

803(3) allows the admission of a hearsay statement of a then-existing intent to engage

in a future act.” State v. McElrath, 322 N.C. 1, 17–18, 366 S.E.2d 442, 451 (1988).

“Evidence tending to show the state of mind of the [declarant] is admissible as long

as the declarant’s state of mind is relevant to the case.” State v. Meekins, 326 N.C.
689, 695, 392 S.E.2d 346, 349 (1990) (citing State v. Cummings, 326 N.C. 298, 313,

389 S.E.2d 66, 74 (1990)).

      Here, Foster—the declarant—stated, “Drizzy’s not here but I have someone

else for you. Are ya’ll looking for crack? I have somebody else for you, let me get in

your car.” The statements show Foster’s intent to “engage in a future act,” that is, to

go get someone who has crack cocaine. See McElrath, 322 N.C. at 17–18, 366 S.E.2d

at 451. Moreover, Foster’s state of mind is relevant here because the conspiracy to

sell cocaine charge involves an agreement between Foster and defendant, where

Foster communicated with a potential buyer and then informed defendant, the

supplier, to complete the sale. The statements show Foster’s intent and plan at the

time he made the statements, and thus, the trial court did not err in admitting the

statements under Rule 803(3).

      Additionally, defendant’s argument under Rule 403 is without merit as

defendant fails to address the appropriate standard. Defendant argues that “there

was a likelihood, indeed a probability, that the jurors would improperly use Mr.

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                                   Opinion of the Court

Foster’s out-of-court statements to conclude that [defendant] was guilty.”           We

disagree.

      “The exclusion of evidence under Rule 403 is a matter left to the sound

discretion of the trial judge, and we will reverse a Rule 403 decision of the trial court

only when the decision is arbitrary or unsupported by reason.” State v. Brockett, 185
N.C. App. 18, 23, 647 S.E.2d 628, 633 (2007) (citing State v. Hyatt, 355 N.C. 642, 662,

566 S.E.2d 61, 74 (2002)).

      The standard articulated in Rule 403 provides, “Although relevant, evidence

may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of

unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations

of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” N.C.

Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 403 (2013). “ ‘Unfair prejudice,’ as used in Rule 403, means

an undue tendency to suggest decision on an improper basis, commonly, though not

necessarily, as an emotional one.” State v. France, 94 N.C. App. 72, 76, 379 S.E.2d
701, 703 (1989) (quoting State v. DeLeonardo, 315 N.C. 762, 772, 340 S.E.2d 350, 357

(1986)) (quotation marks omitted). “Rule 403 calls for a balancing of the proffered

evidence’s probative value against its prejudicial effect. Necessarily, evidence which

is probative in the State’s case will have a prejudicial effect on the defendant; the

question, then, is one of degree.” Id. (quoting State v. Mercer, 317 N.C. 87, 93–94, 343
S.E.2d 885, 889 (1986)) (quotation marks omitted).

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                                   Opinion of the Court

      Defendant compares the facts in his case to the facts in Bruton v. United States,

391 U.S. 123, 20 L. Ed. 2d 476 (1968), where he states the Supreme Court held, “[A]

defendant’s confrontation clause rights are violated when a non-testifying co-

defendant’s confession naming the defendant as a participant in the crime is

introduced at their joint trial, even if the jury is instructed to consider the confession

only against the defendant.”

      Here, however, the out-of-court statements that were admitted were not from

a confession of a co-defendant. Rather, they were statements made to an undercover

officer and failed to name the defendant as a participant in the crime. Although

defendant contends that the jurors would improperly use the statements to find

defendant guilty, there was an abundance of other evidence indicating defendant’s

guilt. For example: defendant was carrying crack cocaine on his person, defendant

was walking to meet a potential buyer of crack cocaine, defendant fled upon seeing

the police, and defendant tried to discard the crack cocaine during the pursuit. The

probative value of the statements showing Foster’s intent is not substantially

outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. A “likelihood” of an improper use is

not sufficient to rise to the level of prejudice contemplated in Rule 403. Therefore,

defendant’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion in not excluding the

statements under Rule 403 is without merit. Because we conclude that the out-of-

court statements were admissible for the reasons discussed above, we do not address

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                                   Opinion of the Court

admissibility under Rule 804(b)(3).

B. Ex Mero Motu Limiting Instruction

      Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred in failing to give the jury a

limiting instruction ex mero motu regarding Foster’s out-of-court statements. We

disagree. Because defendant did not object at trial, we review for plain error. State

v. Lawrence, 365 N.C. 506, 518, 723 S.E.2d 326, 334 (2012); N.C.R. App. P. 10 (a)(4).

      “[T]he North Carolina plain error standard of review applies only when the

alleged error is unpreserved, and it requires the defendant to bear the heavier burden

of showing that the error rises to the level of plain error.” Lawrence, 365 N.C. at 516,

723 S.E.2d at 333. Our Supreme Court has stated, “plain error review should be used

sparingly, only in exceptional circumstances, to reverse criminal convictions on the

basis of unpreserved error[.]” Id. at 517, 723 S.E.2d at 333. “For error to constitute

plain error, a defendant must demonstrate that a fundamental error occurred at

trial.” Id. at 518, 723 S.E.2d at 333. “To show that an error was fundamental, a

defendant must establish prejudice—that, after examination of the entire record, the

error ‘had a probable impact on the jury’s finding that the defendant was guilty.’ ” Id.

at 518, 723 S.E.2d at 334 (quoting State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 660, 300 S.E.2d 375,

378 (1983)).

      Moreover, “[I]t is a well recognized rule of procedure that when evidence

competent for one purpose only and not for another is offered it is incumbent upon

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                                    Opinion of the Court

the objecting party to request the court to restrict the consideration of the jury to that

aspect of the evidence which is competent.” State v. Lankford, 31 N.C. App. 13, 16,

228 S.E.2d 641, 643 (1976) (citing State v. Ray, 212 N.C. 725, 729, 194 S.E. 482, 484

(1938)). Otherwise, “[w]ithout a request therefor, defendant [i]s not entitled to a

limiting instruction.” Id.

      Defendant admits that defense counsel did not make a request for a limiting

instruction at trial, however, he contends that “[a] trial judge has a duty to intervene

when the evidence and/or final argument is grossly improper, prejudicial, or highly

inflammatory.”

      Here, defendant cannot meet his burden of proving plain error. The trial

court’s failure to give a limiting instruction to the jury, on its own motion, was not

“grossly improper” or “highly inflammatory” as contemplated by the ex mero motu

standard. “[T]he impropriety of the argument must be gross indeed in order for this

Court to hold that a trial judge abused his discretion in not recognizing and correcting

ex mero motu an argument which defense counsel apparently did not believe was

prejudicial when he heard it.” State v. Smith, 294 N.C. 365, 378, 241 S.E.2d 674, 682

(1978). Here, any alleged error was not so fundamental that it had a probable impact

on the jury’s finding defendant guilty. Rather, there was an abundance of evidence

of defendant’s guilt discussed above. Thus, the trial court did not commit plain error

in failing to give the jury a limiting instruction.

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C. Due Process of Law

      Defendant “maintains that his fundamental rights to due process of law—

which included the right to confront his co-defendant, Alonza Foster—were violated

in this case, and that his written motion and objection at trial invoked them.”

Further, defendant argues, “Essentially, the prosecution was able to inflict massive

damage to the defense case without having the defense being able to respond at all.

This was fundamentally unfair to [defendant.]” We disagree.

      “The standard of review for questions concerning constitutional rights is de

novo.” State v. Buddington, 210 N.C. App. 252, 254, 707 S.E.2d 655, 656 (2011)

(quoting Row v. Row, 185 N.C. App. 450, 454, 650 S.E.2d 1, 4 (2007)) (quotation marks

omitted). “A violation of the defendant’s rights under the Constitution of the United

States is prejudicial unless the appellate court finds that it was harmless beyond a

reasonable doubt. The burden is upon the State to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable

doubt, that the error was harmless.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(b) (2013).

      The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment guarantees that “[i]n all

criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the

witnesses against him[.]” U.S. Const. amend. VI; see also N.C. Const. art. I, § 23

(“[E]very person charged with [a] crime has the right to . . . confront the accusers and

witnesses with other testimony[.]”). The Supreme Court of the United States revised

its standard for admitting hearsay evidence under the Confrontation Clause of the

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Sixth Amendment, stating,

             Where nontestimonial hearsay is at issue, it is wholly
             consistent with the Framers’ design to afford the States
             flexibility in their development of hearsay law—as does
             Roberts, and as would an approach that exempted such
             statements from Confrontation Clause scrutiny altogether.
             Where testimonial evidence is at issue, however, the Sixth
             Amendment demands what the common law required:
             unavailability and a prior opportunity for cross-
             examination. We leave for another day any effort to spell
             out a comprehensive definition of “testimonial.” Whatever
             else the term covers, it applies at a minimum to prior
             testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, or
             at a former trial; and to police interrogations. These are
             the modern practices with closest kinship to the abuses at
             which the Confrontation Clause was directed.

Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177, 203 (2004).

      This Court has held that determining “whether a defendant’s right to

confrontation has been violated is a three-step process . . .       [where] [w]e must

determine: ‘(1) whether the evidence admitted was testimonial in nature; (2) whether

the trial court properly ruled the declarant was unavailable; and (3) whether

defendant had an opportunity to cross-examine the declarant.’ ” State v. Allen, 171
N.C. App. 71, 74–75, 614 S.E.2d 361, 364–65 (2005) (quoting State v. Clark, 165 N.C.

App. 279, 283, 598 S.E.2d 213, 217 (2004)).

      Here, Foster’s out-of-court statements were made to an undercover police

officer, Officer Trybulski. At trial, the State asked Officer Trybulski if there was “any

way for people to know that you and Sergeant Hodge were police officers” to which

                                          - 19 -
                                  STATE V. HACKNEY

                                   Opinion of the Court

Officer Trybulski responded, “No.” Moreover, Foster on his own accord approached

the undercover officers while they were sitting in their covert van and struck up a

conversation.   Foster’s statements were not elicited as prior testimony at a

preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, or at a former trial, and the officers did not

“interrogate” Foster, prompting disclosure. See Crawford, 541 U.S. at 68, 158 L. Ed.
2d at 203.

      Conversely,    Foster’s   out-of-court   statements   are   more   akin   to   the

nontestimonial statements in State v. Lawson, 173 N.C. App. 270, 619 S.E.2d 410

(2005). In Lawson, this Court determined that the statements at issue “were not

made during any police investigation, rather they were made during a private

conversation[.]” Id. at 276, 619 S.E.2d at 413. Further, “it was unlikely that when

[the declarant] made these statements, she was thinking in terms of anything outside

the scope of their private conversation—certainly not about testifying as to this

matter before the court.” Id. at 276, 619 S.E.2d at 414. Therefore, we concluded that

the statements did “not fall within that category ‘which the confrontation clause was

directed’ to protect.” Id. (quoting Crawford, 541 U.S. at 50, 158 L. Ed. 2d at 192).

      Here, because the out-of-court statements were nontestimonial, defendant’s

Sixth Amendment rights were not violated.          Thus, it is unnecessary to analyze

whether the declarant was unavailable and whether defendant had an opportunity

for cross-examination. See Allen, 171 N.C. App. at 74–75, 614 S.E.2d at 364–65.

                                          - 20 -
                                STATE V. HACKNEY

                                 Opinion of the Court

                                     III. Conclusion

      In sum, the trial court did not err in admitting the out-of-court statements or

in failing to give the jury a limiting instruction ex mero motu. Additionally,

defendant’s due process rights under the State and Federal Constitutions were not

violated.

      NO ERROR.

      Judges CALABRIA and DILLON concur.

      Report per Rule 30(e).

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