Court Opinion

ID: 9775395
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:56:46.054052+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:24.797219
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Justice, dissenting. If “violence was not employed” in the commission of this alleged crime, I am mystified how Jacob Stanley died. The undisputed evidence at the pretrial transfer hearing was that Jacob’s death resulted from a gunshot wound caused by a .357 pistol which was then in Justin Green’s possession. After hearing the evidence, the trial judge concluded that, “due to the serious nature of the crime charged (manslaughter) and the use of a firearm in the commission of the offense,” he should deny the request to transfer the matter to juvenile court. Because this court repeatedly has held that the seriousness of an offense, when coupled with the employment of violence, is a sufficient basis for denying a motion to transfer and trying a juvenile as an adult, we should affirm the trial court’s ruling in this case. See Sims v. State, 320 Ark. 528, 900 S.W.2d 508 (1995); Holland v. State, 311 Ark. 494, 844 S.W.2d 943 (1993). Other evidence presented below is troublesome and runs counter to the majority court’s decision to overturn the trial judge’s decision. Testimony was introduced that, prior to his having shot Jacob, Justin had on a previous occasion pointed a gun and threatened to shoot and kill his own brother. Evidence was also admitted, showing Justin had on numerous occasions displayed guns to friends, and his parents tried to hide the guns from him. One friend testified that Justin had taken all but one bullet from a gun and proceeded to pull the trigger of the gun, while aiming at a wall. The friend said, “I freaked out.” Finally, Deputy Sheriff Tommy Cox testified he had concerns over Justin’s description of how the shooting occurred. Justin had stated the pistol discharged accidently after Jacob said, “What are you going to do stupid, shoot me?” Justin related he said, “No,” and started to put the gun up. Then, Justin continued, “Jacob threw a remote [control], and I fell to the floor to keep the remote from hitting me — that’s when the gun went off.” Justin claimed Jacob fell on his right side, and ¡had previously been standing. The on-scene investigation, however, found Jacob on his back and the remote lying next to his body. The autopsy revealed the bullet was in a downward trajectory in Jacob’s body, which seemed inconsistent with Justin’s story of his falling to the floor and Jacob standing. From all the evidence above, it seems apparent that this court is substituting its judgment in place of the trial judge’s. Clearly, the state provided sufficient evidence from which it could be concluded that Justin consciously and repeatedly risked other peoples’ lives by wielding loaded guns in their presence. Unfortunately, Jacob was the one who was present when, on this occasion, Justin’s reckless handling of a gun caused it to discharge and kill Jacob. This is a sad case, but the trial judge made a difficult decision and I cannot say he was clearly erroneous. Jesson, C.J., and Corbin, J., join this dissent.