Court Opinion

ID: 9963153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-24 17:05:34.272275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:41.646342
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 22-0071
                               Filed April 24, 2024

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

REGINALD DEMORROW LITTLE,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Johnson County, Lars G. Anderson,

Judge.

      The defendant appeals his conviction for first-degree murder. AFFIRMED.

      Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Shellie L. Knipfer, Assistant

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

      Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Louis S. Sloven, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee.

      Considered by Bower, C.J., Greer, J., and Carr, S.J.*

      *Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206

(2024).
                                           2

CARR, Senior Judge.

       Reginald Little appeals his conviction for first-degree murder under a theory

of felony murder, with the underlying felony being first-degree robbery. We find

there is substantial evidence in the record to show first-degree robbery was

committed by another person and Little either aided and abetted or engaged in

joint criminal conduct with this person. We also find the district court did not abuse

its discretion in denying Little’s motion for a new trial. We affirm Little’s conviction.

       I.     Background Facts & Proceedings

       Evidence was presented at the jury trial in this case that would permit the

jury to make the following factual findings. Kejuan Winters lived in an apartment

in Iowa City with his girlfriend, Tashauna Gooden, and two of his children.

Durojaiye Rosa and his girlfriend also lived in the apartment.            Winters sold

marijuana and sometimes had large quantities of marijuana and cash in the

apartment. Rosa sold marijuana for Winters.

       Rosa was friends with Little. Little purchased marijuana from Winters and

Rosa. Rosa had a falling out with Winters and developed a plan with Little to rob

Winters. Because Winters knew both Rosa and Little and would be able to identify

both men and their guns, they decided to have a third person help with the robbery.

Little enlisted Patrick Bland. Bland testified he, Rosa, and Little met at Little’s

apartment to plan the robbery. Rosa and Little also sent texts to each other about

the planned robbery. Rosa texted, “Enough for us all to eat,” meaning there was

plenty of cash and marijuana at the apartment.

       On April 20, 2020, Bland purchased a roll of duct tape. Little drove him to

Winters’s apartment. Bland was carrying a gun, and he testified Little was aware
                                         3

of this. Gooden left from Winters’s apartment to buy some milk. Little texted Rosa,

“where the young lady go,” which showed he had the apartment under observation.

Bland went in the apartment, which Rosa had left unlocked, and demanded that

Rosa tie himself and Winters with the duct tape. Winters fought back. Rosa took

the children and hid in the bathroom. Gooden came back, and Rosa pulled her

into the bathroom as well. Winters and Bland continued to tussle and Bland’s gun

discharged, striking Winter. Bland’s facial mask had come down in the struggle.

He realized Winters would be able later to identify him, so he shot Winters several

more times. He then grabbed some cash and marijuana and left the apartment.

Little drove Bland away from the scene. Bland stated Little took part of the

proceeds from the robbery. Little left Iowa the same day as the incident.

      Gooden called 911, and officers quickly responded. They found cash and

marijuana on the floor in the bedroom. Also, Bland left a cell phone at the murder

scene.1 Winters died as a result of the gunshot wounds. Officers obtained text

messages between Rosa and Little where they were planning the robbery. Also,

surveillance video showed Bland purchasing the duct tape and Little driving to the

area of Winters’s apartment. Geographic data obtained from the cell phones of

Rosa, Bland, and Little showed their locations, which aligned with the commission

of the robbery at Winters’s apartment.

      Little was charged with murder in the first degree under a theory of felony

murder, with the felony being robbery in the first degree. Following the trial, the

jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. Little filed a motion for new trial,

1 The cell phone belonged to Bland’s girlfriend.
                                          4

claiming Bland and Rosa were not credible witnesses, as they both received plea

agreements concerning their participation in Winters’s murder. Little asserted his

conviction was not supported by sufficient credible evidence. The court denied the

motion for a new trial. Little was sentenced to life in prison. He now appeals.

      II.      Sufficiency of the Evidence

      A.       Little contends his conviction for felony murder should be reversed

because the State did not prove that there was a robbery. He points out that

Gooden testified Winters usually kept about $2000 at the apartment and this is the

amount of cash found by officers. He also points out that officers found over a

pound of marijuana at the apartment. Little contends the State did not adequately

show anything was taken from Winters’s apartment.

      In regard to claims challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, the Iowa

Supreme Court has stated:

              Sufficiency of the evidence claims are reviewed for
      corrections of errors at law. In making determinations regarding the
      sufficiency of the evidence, we “view the evidence in the light most
      favorable to the state, regardless of whether it is contradicted, and
      every reasonable inference that may be deduced therefrom must be
      considered to supplement that evidence.” If the record contains
      substantial evidence to support the defendant’s conviction, we will
      uphold a trial court’s denial of a motion of acquittal. “Evidence is
      substantial if it would convince a rational trier of fact the defendant is
      guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Evidence can be either
      circumstantial or direct, or both.

State v. Lilly, 930 N.W.2d 293, 298 (Iowa 2019) (internal citations omitted). “The

evidence must at least raise a fair inference of guilt and do more than raise mere

suspicion, speculation, or conjecture.”       State v. Soboroff, 798 N.W.2d 1, 6

(Iowa 2011).

      The jury instructions provided:
                                          5

               The State has charged Reginald Little with aiding and abetting
       Murder in the First Degree while participating in Robbery in the First
       Degree. The State must prove all of the following elements of Aiding
       and Abetting Murder in the First Degree while Participating in
       Robbery in the First Degree
               1. On or about April 20, 2020, Patrick Bland shot Kejuan
       Winters.
               2. Kejuan Winters died as a result of being shot.
               3. Patrick Bland acted with malice aforethought.
               4. Patrick Bland was participating in Robbery in the First
       Degree, a forcible felony, and was aided and abetted . . . by Reginald
       Little.
               If the State has proved all of the elements, Reginald Little is
       guilty of aiding and abetting Murder in the First Degree. If the State
       has failed to prove any one of the elements, Reginald Little is not
       guilty.

The instruction for first-degree robbery provided:

               . . . Robbery in the First Degree includes the following
       elements:
               1. On or about April 20, 2020, Patrick Bland had the specific
       intent to commit a theft.
               2. To carry out his intention or to assist in escaping from the
       scene, with or without the stolen property, Patrick Bland:
                       a. Committed an assault against Kejuan Winters and in
               committing the assault used or displayed a dangerous
               weapon in connection with the assault, OR
                       b. Threatened Kejuan Winters with, or purposely put
               Kejuan Winters in fear of immediate serious injury.
               3. Patrick Bland:
                       a. Purposely inflicted or attempted to inflict a serious
               injury, OR
                       b. Was armed with a dangerous weapon.

       Little claims there is not sufficient evidence to show Bland had the specific

intent to commit a theft, or that he committed a theft. Bland testified he did not

know Winters and became involved only when Little approached him with the plan

to rob Winters. Bland stated Rosa told him Winters “just came back from buying

a whole bunch of weed. He told me pretty much that he keeps money in there.”

Additionally, Rosa testified there was a plan to take marijuana and cash from
                                           6

Winters’s apartment. Bland brought a bag with him to take things out of the

apartment. Bland testified that after he shot Winters he put “[w]eed and money” in

the bag and left the apartment. The evidence shows Bland had the specific intent

to commit a theft, as he knew Winters had things to take and he brought a bag in

order to take those things out with him. In addition, Bland committed a theft by

taking marijuana and cash from Winters’s apartment. A photo in evidence taken

the next day shows Bland displaying a large quantity of currency.

       Little asserts that this evidence is not sufficient because neither Bland nor

Rosa were credible witnesses. Rosa and Bland were not initially forthcoming with

officers about their involvement in the offense. Rosa was charged with felony

murder and entered into a plea agreement where he would receive a sentence of

fifty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of seventeen years. Bland was

also charged with felony murder and had a plea agreement where he would

receive a sentence of sixty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of twenty

years. As part of these plea agreements, they were required to give truthful

testimony in Little’s trial.

       “[I]t is the jury’s function to determine the credibility of a witness.” State v.

Brown, 996 N.W.2d 691, 696 (Iowa 2023) (citation omitted). “It is not our place ‘to

resolve conflicts in the evidence, to pass upon the credibility of witnesses, to

determine the plausibility of explanations, or to weigh the evidence; such matters

are for the jury.’” State v. Brimmer, 983 N.W.2d 247, 256 (Iowa 2022) (citation

omitted). The jury is free to accept certain evidence and reject other evidence.

State v. Williams, 695 N.W.2d 23, 28 (Iowa 2005).
                                          7

       Here, the jury found Bland’s and Rosa’s testimony about the circumstances

of the robbery at Winters’s apartment to be credible. We find there is sufficient

evidence in the record to support the jury’s finding that Bland had the specific intent

to commit a theft and also that he committed a theft.

       B.     Little contends there is insufficient evidence to show he aided and

abetted in the robbery, or that he engaged in joint criminal conduct. Little states

that although he was in the apartment parking lot at the time of the robbery, this

does not show he was involved in the robbery. He states he could have been there

to purchase marijuana, as he had done several times in the past.

       The jury instructions stated:

               “Aid and abet” means to knowingly approve and agree to the
       commission of a crime, either by active participation in it or by
       knowingly advising or encouraging the act in some way before or
       when it is committed. Conduct following the crime may be
       considered only as it may tend to prove the defendant’s earlier
       participation. Mere nearness to, or presence at, the scene of the
       crime, without more evidence, is not “aiding and abetting.” Likewise,
       mere knowledge of the crime is not enough to prove “aiding and
       abetting.”

For the offense of first-degree robbery, the jury was instructed the State needed to

prove Little had a specific intent to commit a theft or he “‘aided and abetted’ with

the knowledge the others who directly committed the crime had such specific

intent.”

       For joint criminal conduct, the State needed to prove:

               1. Reginald Little acted together with at least one other
       person.
               2. Reginald Little and the other person or persons knowingly
       participated in the crime of Robbery in the First Degree . . . .
               3. While furthering the crime of Robbery in the First Degree,
       the other person or persons committed the different crime of
       Murder . . . .
                                           8

              4. The Defendant could have reasonably expected that the
       different crime of Murder would be committed in furtherance of the
       crime of Robbery in the First Degree.

       Rosa testified he and Little came up with a plan to rob Winters, and text

messages between the two support this testimony. Rosa stated Little agreed to

find a person who would go into the apartment to rob Winters. Rosa and Little did

not want to commit the robbery themselves because Winters knew them. Bland

testified that he was approached by Little to rob Winters. Rosa and Bland did not

know each other; Little knew Bland because they lived in the same apartment

complex. Bland stated he, Little, and Rosa met in Little’s apartment to plan the

robbery.

       Bland testified Little drove him to Winters’s apartment. Bland had a gun,

and he stated Little was aware he was carrying a gun. Rosa also stated he

understood a gun would be involved, asking, “How else will you rob somebody?”

Rosa testified he and Little had an understanding that the person going into the

apartment would have a gun.

       Little was waiting for Bland in the vehicle when Bland came out of the

apartment. Bland testified he had the marijuana and cash out of the bag in his

apartment when Little came over and took part of the proceeds. Jordan Hogan,

an associate of Little’s, testified that after the robbery Little had “[a] few thousand”

dollars. According to Hogan, Little said he did not want to spend the money

because “they smelled like weed and that he would have to wash them.”

       There is evidence in the record to show Little aided and abetted by

knowingly agreeing to the robbery and actively participating by selecting Bland to

be the person to go in the apartment and then driving Bland to the scene of the
                                           9

robbery. Little’s conduct after the robbery, driving Bland away from the area and

obtaining part of the spoils, can also be considered as it tends to prove Little’s

earlier participation. Furthermore, there was evidence Little had the specific intent

that a theft would be committed, and he aided and abetted with the knowledge that

Rosa and Bland had the specific intent to commit a theft.

       On the issue of joint criminal conduct, the evidence shows Little acted

together with Rosa and Bland, and the three of them knowingly participated in the

offense of first-degree robbery. While furthering the crime of first-degree robbery,

Bland committed murder. The jury could find Little reasonably expected that

murder might be committed in the furtherance of the crime of first-degree robbery,

as he was aware Bland had a gun and intended to forcibly take Winters’s property.

       We conclude there is sufficient evidence in the record to support the jury’s

finding that Little committed felony murder by aiding and abetting in the offense or

by joint criminal conduct. Again, it was for the jury to determine the credibility of

the testimony of Rosa, Bland, and Hogan.

       III.   Motion for New Trial

       Little asserts the district court should have granted his motion for a new trial.

He claims the verdict was contrary to law and was a miscarriage of justice because

Rosa, Bland, and Hogan were not credible witnesses.

       A new trial may be granted if the verdict is contrary to the weight of the

evidence. State v. Ellis, 578 N.W.2d 655, 658–59 (Iowa 1998). On a motion for

new trial, the court “may weigh the evidence and consider the credibility of

witnesses.” State v. Reeves, 670 N.W.2d 199, 202 (Iowa 2003) (citation omitted).

The district court has broad discretion in considering a motion for new trial. Id.
                                         10

“On a weight-of-the-evidence claim, appellate review is limited to a review of the

exercise of discretion by the trial court, not of the underlying question of whether

the verdict is against the weight of the evidence.” Id. at 203.

       The district court stated:

               In this case after weighing the evidence and considering the
       credibility, the court finds that there is a greater amount of credible
       evidence that supports the verdict in this case under both theories
       advanced by the State.
               Certainly, as noted by Mr. Little in his motion, there were some
       inconsistencies and contradictions. But in observing Mr. Bland and
       Mr. Rosa and Mr. Hogan, those are the witnesses that Mr. Little
       chiefly complains about as far as their—or takes issue with as far as
       their credibility. The court found them to be overall credible. Their
       testimony implicates Mr. Little—or at least the testimony of Mr. Rosa
       and Mr. Bland implicates Mr. Little in the planning and—of the
       robbery, and that testimony is corroborated, as indicated by the
       State, by video surveillance—or surveillance videos, text messages,
       and location data.
               Mr. Little sent texts implicating himself in the planning of the
       robbery. There’s location data and text messages that indicate he
       was closely—or was watching the apartment of Kejuan Winters the
       morning that Mr. Winters was shot. And there’s also evidence from
       Mr. Hogan, supported by video evidence and other evidence, which
       suggests that Mr. Little left town in a hurry under suspicious
       circumstances immediately after the events that led to the death of
       Mr. Winters.
               So in sum, I do believe that there is a greater weight of
       evidence that supports the verdict in this case. And so Mr. Little’s
       motion for new trial is denied, and we will proceed to sentencing.

       We conclude Little has not shown the district court abused its discretion in

ruling on his motion for new trial. The court did not “exercise[ ] its discretion on

grounds or for reasons clearly untenable or to an extent clearly unreasonable.”

See id. at 202. The court carefully considered the weight of the evidence and

explained why it found the testimony of Rosa, Bland, and Hogan to be credible,

despite some inconsistencies in their testimony, including their earlier statements

to the police.
                                 11

We affirm Little’s conviction.

AFFIRMED.