Rusty Edward Netherland v. State of Mississippi ( 2004 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2004-KA-01047-SCT
RUSTY EDWARD NETHERLAND
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05/14/2004
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. MARCUS D. GORDON
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: LEAKE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: EDMUND J. PHILLIPS, JR.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: W. DANIEL HINCHCLIFF
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: MARK DUNCAN
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 06/02/2005
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE SMITH, C.J., EASLEY AND GRAVES, JJ.
EASLEY, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
¶1. Rusty Edward Netherland was indicted by a Leake County Grand Jury for the
aggravated assault of William Stevens by striking and kicking Stevens manifesting extreme
indifference to human life on or about March 24, 2004, in violation of Miss. Code Ann.
§ 97-3-7(2)(a). Netherland was tried by a jury and found guilty. Netherland was sentenced
to serve a term of eight years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The sentence was to run consecutively to the sentence that Netherland was currently serving.
Netherland filed a motion for new trial which was overruled by the trial court. Netherland
appeals to this Court in forma pauperis raising the following issues: (1) whether the trial
court erred in sustaining the State’s objection to Netherland’s closing argument and (2)
whether the State proved the elements of the crime charged.1
FACTS
¶2. The indictment charged that on March 24, 2004, together with Brandon Dewayne
Chamblee and Christopher Scott King, Netherland unlawfully, feloniously and purposefully
caused bodily injury to Stevens by striking and kicking him, manifesting extreme
indifference for human life. Stevens testified that on March 24, 2004, he was an inmate at
the Leake County Correctional Facility awaiting court. On that date, Netherland, Chamblee
and King “jumped on” him. Stevens identified Netherland for the record.
¶3. Stevens testified that they beat and kicked him because they said he was “snitching”
on them. Stevens testified that he suffered two broken ribs, a broken shoulder, a broken hip
and internal bleeding. He stated that as a result of the broken hip he had to use a wheelchair.
The hip and the shoulder required surgery to insert a rod and pins. The State introduced
photographs depicting the injuries Stevens received. On cross-examination, Stevens
testified that he did not see Netherland kick him. However, he testified that he saw
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Netherland argues that the State did not prove the elements of the crime, thereby
challenging the sufficiency of the evidence. However, the issue was styled as “the Court
erred in denying the motion for directed verdict, the request for peremptory instruction, and
motion for a new trial and other relief.” (emphasis added). Netherland concludes that the
verdict should be reformed to convict on the lesser-included offense of simple assault.
Therefore, Netherland does not actually make an argument for a new trial, but he challenges
the sufficiency of the evidence.
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Netherland hit him. Stevens testified that Netherland had subsequently apologized to him
for the incident.
¶4. Chamblee testified that he had pled guilty to aggravated assault for his involvement
in beating and kicking Stevens. Chamblee was an inmate at the Leake County Correctional
Center at the time of the attack on Stevens. Chamblee testified that Netherland and King
were involved. They had heard that Stevens had told officials that they were smoking drugs
in the facility. Chamblee stated that he saw Netherland hit Stevens, but he did not see
Netherland kick Stevens.
¶5. King also testified that he had pled guilty for the aggravated assault of Stevens. He
stated that Netherland and Chamblee were involved. He testified that all three hit Stevens
with their fists. He stated that he kicked Stevens and saw Chamblee kick Stevens. He
testified that it was a possibility that Netherland kicked Stevens. The three of them
confronted Stevens that day because he went to the guards and told them that they were
smoking dope in the county jail.
¶6. Mark Wilcher testified that he was a criminal investigator with the Leake County
Sheriff’s Office. Officer Wilcher stated that on March 24, 2004, he took a statement from
Netherland in his investigation of the assault of Stevens. The trial court outside the presence
of the jury heard Officer Wilcher’s and Netherland’s testimony regarding the statement. The
trial court determined that the proper Miranda rights were given and Netherland had
knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his rights and made a voluntary statement.
Officer Wilcher testified that Netherland was given the opportunity to make any additions
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or corrections to the statement. Netherland added that “[a]ll three of us were kicking and
hitting William then.” Netherland initialed before and after the sentence. Netherland signed
the statement written by Officer Wilcher. The statement was admitted.
¶7. The State rested after Officer Wilcher testified. At the close of the State’s case-in-
chief, the defense made its motion for directed verdict. The trial court denied the motion
finding that the State had met its burden of proof. Following a conference with his client,
the defense rested without calling any witnesses.
DISCUSSION
I. Closing Argument
¶8. In Slaughter v. State, 815 So. 2d 1122, 1132 (Miss. 2002), this Court stated:
This Court has held that attorneys are allowed wide latitude in closing
arguments. Holly v. State, 716 So. 2d 979, 988 (Miss. 1998); Wilcher v. State,
697 So. 2d 1087, 1010 (Miss. 1997). In addition, the “court should also be
very careful in limiting free play of ideas, imagery, and personalities of
counsel in their argument to [a] jury.” Ahmad v. State, 603 So. 2d 843, 846
(Miss. 1992). Any alleged improper comment must be viewed in context,
taking the circumstances of the case into consideration. Id.
¶9. This Court has held that a trial judge is in the best position to determine if an alleged
objectionable remark has a prejudicial effect. Roundtree v. State, 568 So. 2d 1173, 1178
(Miss. 1990). The trial judge is provided considerable discretion. Id. This Court has held
that closing arguments are not limited to only the facts, but also, allow deductions and
conclusions which may be drawn therefrom and the application of the law to those facts.
Holly v. State, 716 So. 2d 979, 988 (Miss. 1998). In Monk v. State, 532 So. 2d 592, 601
(Miss. 1988), this Court stated:
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The right to argument contemplates liberal freedom of speech and range of
discussion confined only to bounds of logic and reason; and if counsel's
argument is within limits of proper debate, it is immaterial whether it is sound
or unsound or whether he employs wit, invective, and illustration therein....
There are, however, certain well established limits beyond which counsel is
forbidden to go. He must confine himself to the facts introduced in evidence
and to the fair and reasonable deduction and conclusions to be drawn
therefrom and to the application of the law, as given by the court, to the facts.
(emphasis added).
¶10. During closing argument by the defense, the following exchange transpired:
Defense: Now, you were also instructed on simple assault. Simple
assault says that purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causing
bodily injury to another is simple assault. We submit to you
that that’s [sic] all Rusty Netherland did.
Rusty Netherland didn’t direct anyone to go up there and
hit him and kick him and body slam him on that hard concrete
floor. We all, you know, our hearts go out to Mr. Stevens. He
didn’t deserve that, and Rusty Netherland even went and
apologized for even being there, even, you know, taking a
swing at him.
But the punishment has to fit the crime in this case, and
we submit –
State: Your, Honor, we object. The jury doesn’t decide punishment.
The Court: Sustained.
Nothing further transpired on the record regarding the sustained objection.
¶11. On appeal, Netherland argues that the verdict must be overturned as a result of the
trial court sustaining the State’s objection. Netherland contends that he was not trying to
mislead jurors into thinking that they set punishment. He alleges that he was only trying to
have the jury consider simple assault as an option to aggravated assault.
¶12. The State argues on appeal that this Court has “consistently disapproved of arguments
which refer to the potential sentence in a given case.” Marks v. State, 532 So. 2d 976, 983
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(Miss. 1998). See Manning v. State, 835 So. 2d 94, 101 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002) (“a closing
argument that discusses the possible penalty a defendant can receive is improper.”). Such
arguments “invite the jury to convict with regard to the punishment, not with regard to the
evidence before them, and the jury should have no concern with the quantum of punishment
to be imposed.” Marks, 532 So.2d at 983.
¶13. On close, the defense counsel argued to the jury that he believed Netherland had
committed simple assault rather than aggravated assault. The jury was given jury
instruction D-7 regarding simple assault. The State objected, and the trial court sustained
the objection only when the defense began to discuss punishment. We find that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the objection. We find that this assignment
of error is without merit.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶14. Netherland was convicted of aggravated assault under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-7(2)
which sets forth the elements of aggravated assault:
A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he (a) attempts to cause serious
bodily injury to another, or causes such injury purposely, knowingly or
recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value
of human life...
¶15. On the issue of the legal sufficiency of the evidence, this Court held in Pinkney v.
State, 538 So. 2d 329, 353 (Miss. 1988), vacated on other grounds, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S. Ct.
1800, 108 L. Ed. 2d 931 (1990), that reversal can only occur when evidence of one or more
of the elements of the charged offense is such that “reasonable and fair minded jurors could
only find the accused not guilty.” (quoting Wetz v. State, 503 So. 2d 803, 808 (Miss. 1987)).
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¶16. Denials of peremptory instructions, motions for directed verdict and motions for
judgment notwithstanding the verdict each challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence
presented at trial and each are reviewed under the same standard. Community Bank v.
Courtney, 884 So. 2d 767, 772 (Miss. 2004). This Court has held that under its standard of
review, denial must be reviewed as follows:
This Court will consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the
appellee, giving that party the benefit of all favorable inference that may be
reasonably drawn from the evidence. If the facts so considered points so
overwhelmingly in favor of the appellant that reasonable men could not have
arrived at a contrary verdict, we are required to reverse and render. On the
other hand if there is substantial evidence in support of the verdict, that is,
evidence of such quality and weight that reasonable and fair minded jurors in
the exercise of impartial judgment might have reached different conclusions,
affirmance is required.
Id.
¶17. “[T]his Court properly reviews the ruling on the last occasion the challenge was
made in the trial court.” McClain v. State, 625 So. 2d 774, 778 (Miss. 1993). Here,
Netherland filed a motion for new trial which the trial court denied. However, a motion for
new trial challenges the weight of the evidence. Sheffield v. State, 749 So. 2d 123, 127
(Miss. 1999). A reversal is warranted only if the trial court abused its discretion in denying
a motion for new trial. Id. However, on appeal, Netherland’s argument challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence, not the weight of the evidence.
¶18. Netherland did move for a directed verdict at the close of the State’s case-in-chief.
The trial court denied that motion.
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¶19. Netherland contends that he filed peremptory jury instruction, D-1, which was
refused by the trial court. The refused jury instruction, D-1, stated: “The Court instructs the
Jury to return a verdict of not guilty.”
¶20. Stevens received serious injuries as a result of the attack. He testified that he suffered
two broken ribs, a broken shoulder, a broken hip and internal bleeding. As a result of the
broken hip, he had to use a wheelchair. The hip and the shoulder required surgery.
Chamblee and King testified that Netherland was involved in the attack on Stevens.
Chamblee, King and the victim, Stevens, all testified that Netherland took an active part in
the attack. The attack resulted from Stevens informing the guards that Chamblee, King and
Netherland were using drugs in the detention center. Stevens positively identified
Netherland and stated that Netherland had subsequently apologized for the attack. The
State’s witnesses could not positively say Netherland kicked Stevens rather than just hit him.
Netherland did not testify, and the defense did not call any witnesses. However, Officer
Wilcher testified that in the statement taken from Netherland on March 24, 2004, Netherland
added the following language to the written statement: “[a]ll three of us were kicking and
hitting William then.” The written statement was admitted into evidence.
¶21. Given this proof, we reject Netherland’s claim that the State failed to prove the
elements of the crime charged.
CONCLUSION
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¶22. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the Circuit Court of Leake
County.
¶23. CONVICTION OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SENTENCE OF EIGHT
(8) YEARS, IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. SENTENCE IN SAID CAUSE SHALL RUN
CONSECUTIVELY TO THE SENTENCE APPELLANT IS CURRENTLY
SERVING.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., CARLSON, GRAVES,
DICKINSON AND RANDOLPH, JJ., CONCUR. DIAZ, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
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