Michael Patrick Hanks v. State of Mississippi ( 1992 )

5/20/97
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 94-KA-00354 COA
MICHAEL PATRICK HANKS
APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
APPELLEE
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND
MAY NOT BE CITED, PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-B
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. WILLIAM F. COLEMAN
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: CIRCUIT COURT OF HINDS COUNTY
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
THOMAS FORTNER
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: DEIRDRE MCCRORYDISTRICT ATTORNEY: CYNTHIA HEWES SPEETJENS
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - BURGLARY AND SEXUAL BATTERY
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION: CONVICTED OF BURGLARY AND SEXUAL BATTERY.
SENTENCED TO 25 AND 30 YEARS, RESPECTIVELY, IN CUSTODY OF MDOC.
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:6/18/97
MANDATE ISSUED: 10/30/97
EN BANC
BRIDGES, C. J., FOR THE COURT:
Michael P. Hanks was convicted in the Circuit Court of Hinds County of burglary of an occupied
dwelling at night while armed with a deadly weapon and sexual battery. Hanks was placed in the
custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections to serve a sentence of twenty-five (25) years
for burglary and thirty (30) years for sexual battery, both to be served consecutively. Hanks appeals
his conviction, asserting the following points of error:
I. THE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT DURING THE
APPELLANT'S TRIAL HAD A HARMFUL EFFECT ON THE JURY AND DEPRIVED THE
APPELLANT OF A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW IN
VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY FIFTH, SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 26
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
II. THE SCREWDRIVERS SEIZED BY POLICE FROM AN INVENTORY SEARCH OF THE
APPELLANT'S VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED AT TRIAL BECAUSE THE
SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE WAS MADE PURSUANT TO THE ILLEGAL ARREST OF THE
APPELLANT IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 23
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
III. ALL TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE COMPLAINING Witness' PRETRIAL
IDENTIFICATION OF THE APPELLANT AS HER ASSAILANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
EXCLUDED BECAUSE THAT IDENTIFICATION WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS
ILLEGAL ARREST IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 23
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
IV. THE PRETRIAL IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE DURING WHICH THE COMPLAINING
WITNESS IDENTIFIED THE APPELLANT AS HER ASSAILANT WAS UNNECESSARILY
SUGGESTIVE AND GIVES RISE TO A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF
MISIDENTIFICATION. IN ADDITION THE COMPLAINING WITNESSES SUBSEQUENT
IDENTIFICATION OF THE APPELLANT AT TRIAL WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OUT
OF COURT IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE AND IS NOT BASED ON INDEPENDENT
RECOLLECTION OF HER ASSAILANT DURING THE CRIME. THE APPELLANT'S
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED.
V. THE APPELLANT'S CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES ON BOTH OF THE COUNTS OF
THE INDICTMENT VIOLATE THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY PROVISIONS OF THE STATE
AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS BECAUSE NO FURTHER EVIDENCE WAS NECESSARY
TO PROVE THE SEXUAL BATTERY CHARGE ONCE THE PROSECUTION PROVED THE
CHARGE OF BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AT NIGHT WHILE ARMED
WITH A DEADLY WEAPON WITH INTENT TO COMMIT SEXUAL BATTERY.
ALTERNATIVELY, IT WAS ERROR TO SENTENCE THE APPELLANT FOR BOTH
BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AT NIGHT WHILE ARMED WITH A DEADLY
WEAPON WITH INTENT TO COMMIT SEXUAL BATTERY AND FOR SEXUAL BATTERY.
UPON HIS CONVICTION ON BOTH CHARGES, THE SEXUAL BATTERY MERGES INTO
THE BURGLARY FOR SENTENCING PURPOSES, AND THE APPELLANT MAY ONLY BE
SENTENCED ON THE BURGLARY CONVICTION.
Holding Hanks's assignments of error to be without merit, we affirm the judgment of the circuit
court.
FACTS
Around midnight on November 25, 1991, B.L.B. (hereinafter victim), was asleep in her apartment
when she awoke to the sound of footsteps in her bedroom. Upon awakening, the victim saw an
unknown intruder standing over her bed. The intruder proceeded to cover the victim's mouth and ask
her various questions as to who else was in the house and whether she had a boyfriend. The victim
indicated that she had a three-year-old son, who was asleep in his bedroom. The intruder began to
kiss the victim and told her to put a pillowcase over her head or else he would harm her son. The
intruder then placed a sharp metallic instrument with a wooden handle against the victim's neck. After
removing the victim's underwear, the intruder moved her to the living room where he took off her
shirt, continued to kiss and fondle her, and inserted his fingers into her vagina. At trial, the victim
testified that these events transpired without her consent.
At some point during the assault, the victim's son awoke and began to cry. The intruder allowed the
victim to enter the boy's bedroom to calm him down. Afterwards, the intruder resumed kissing and
fondling the victim. When the child again began to cry, the intruder became distraught and a struggle
ensued, during which he grabbed her by her hair and she scratched him. The victim, however,
managed to escape and run outside, at which point she began to scream and call to her neighbors for
help. The intruder fled the victim's apartment and ran toward the street where he got into his truck
and sped away. The victim immediately called the police and provided the "911" emergency operator
with a description of the intruder and his vehicle.
Officers of the Jackson Police Department were on patrol near the victim's apartment and
immediately responded to the dispatch. While en route to the victim's address, one of the officers
observed a white male driving a truck matching the description of the intruder's truck provided by the
victim. The officer notified the police dispatcher of his observation, requested backup, and pulled the
truck over. Upon approaching the truck, the officer noticed that the driver, Michael Patrick Hanks,
matched the description of the intruder. When the officer asked Hanks to produce his driver's licence,
Hanks stated that he had no identification on his person. The officer detained Hanks and put him in
the back seat of the patrol car. The officer then drove Hanks to the victim's apartment, so that she
could identify him. After being identified by the victim as the intruder, Hanks was placed under arrest
and taken to police headquarters.
ANALYSIS
I. THE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT DURING THE
APPELLANT'S TRIAL HAD A HARMFUL EFFECT ON THE JURY AND DEPRIVED THE
APPELLANT OF A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW IN
VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY FIFTH, SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 26
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
Hanks assigns as error "numerous" instances of alleged prosecutorial misconduct, concluding that in
the aggregate they constitute prejudicial error and require the reversal of his conviction. The specific
instances of alleged error that Hanks points us to are as follows:
A. Prosecution's alleged comment to jury regarding defendant's right to remain silent and not testify.
Hanks's assignment of error revolves around the following statement, made by the prosecutor to
prospective jurors during voir dire:
Now, the State takes its cases as they find them. And I'm sure you will all agree with me that most
people don't like to commit crimes in front of a lot of witnesses. Is there anyone here that would
require that someone else be present to have observed this incident and to corroborate this witness's
testimony as an eye witness? Because I can tell you right now, it's going to be her word against
his. Is there anyone here who could not find the defendant guilty in a sexual assault case if somebody
didn't see it happen?
After having the prospective jurors removed from the court room, Hanks objected to these remarks
on the basis that they were "misleading" to the jury and "an attempt by the prosecution to improperly
extract promises from the jury to return a verdict of guilt." The trial court overruled these objections
and then ordered a recess. After the recess and prior to the return of the prospective jurors, Hanks
again objected to the prosecutor's pre-recess statements, this time on the new ground that the
statements were an improper comment on his right to or not to testify. The trial court overruled
Hanks's objection, finding that it was belatedly made. It is this overruled objection that Hanks raises
on appeal.
It is fundamental that in order for an objection to be considered by the trial court it must have been
made contemporaneously to the objected-to material. See Baker v. State, 327 So. 2d 288, 292-93
(Miss. 1976) (stating that reason for making objection contemporaneously with event complained of
is so that court can more accurately know what transpired and not have to rely on its memory, which
may be clouded by subsequent testimony). In this case, there was no subsequent testimony
intervening between the testimony complained of and the overruled objection raised on this appeal.
However, we hold that the trial judge was within his discretion in overruling the objection on the
ground that it was "belatedly" made. Even were we to ignore the procedural bar of waiver and
choose to review the substance of Hanks's belated objection, it is clear from the record that the
prosecutor's statement that the evidence would be "her word against his" was not a comment on
Hanks's right to or not to testify. This point of appeal is without merit.
B. Prosecution's questioning at trial improperly commented on Hanks's post-arrest silence.
At trial, the prosecutor asked the officer who initially stopped Hanks's vehicle if "[a]t any time did he
tell you he had been at Danny Pettit's house, you can just go check, I've been over there watching
football?" Hanks objected to this question as being leading, but was overruled. On appeal, Hanks
attempts to raise the new issue of whether this remark improperly commented on his right to remain
silent after being arrested. Because this issue was not raised at trial and the trial court, therefore, had
no opportunity to address this question, it is procedurally barred from review by this Court. See
Thornhill v. State, 561 So. 2d 1025, 1029 (Miss. 1989) (stating that it is "elementary that different
grounds than the objections presented to the trial court cannot be presented for the first time on
appeal"). Again, even were this Court to address the substantive merits of Hanks's newly-raised
objection, it would be held without merit as Hanks was not under arrest during the time frame in
question. At the point in time the prosecutor was referring to, the officer had merely stopped Hanks
for questioning. Accordingly, this point of error is without merit.
C. Court's handling of objections made during prosecution's cross-examination of Danny Pettit.
Hanks next contends that on several occasions the prosecution repeated questions to which the trial
court had previously sustained his objections. Our review of the trial transcript confirms that this is
indeed true. Of the questions with which Hanks takes issue, several involve nothing more than
objections by him that the trial court denied. However, on three occasions the trial court did sustain
Hanks's objection to the prosecution's questions, on the basis of relevancy, only to have the
prosecution almost immediately ask the same or a similar-type question. In these instances Hanks
immediately renewed his objection, which was sustained, and the prosecution would then alter its
behavior to conform to the trial court's ruling. Additionally, on one of these occasions, the trial court
went on to, sua sponte, instruct the jury to disregard the irrelevant testimony. Despite the
prosecution's continued use of irrelevant questions, on these limited occasions, this Court is
convinced that such behavior resulted more from a lack of attention by the prosecutor than an intent
to disregard the trial court's authority. Considering that the sustained objections were granted based
on the irrelevancy of some of the prosecution's questions, rather than because the questions were of a
more damaging nature such as hearsay or being unduly prejudicial, we hold that Hanks was not
deprived of a fair trial by the prosecution's conduct.
In reaching this conclusion this Court finds it significant that, at the time the offending questions were
asked, had Hanks truly believed the prosecution's questions were prejudicial to his defense he could
have requested the trial court to admonish the jury to disregard the prosecution's remarks, but he did
not. See Graves v. State, 492 So. 2d 562, 564 (Miss. 1986) (holding that had counsel wished to have
jury instructed to disregard statement, counsel should have requested court to make admonishment).
A review of the trial transcript indicates that Hanks never requested such admonishment and the only
warning given was on one occasion, at the trial court's own initiative. Regardless of the lack of an
admonition by the trial court, it is presumed that the sustaining of an objection causes the jury to
disregard the objected-to material. Lanier v. State, 533 So. 2d 473, 482 (Miss. 1988). In reviewing
the conduct of prosecutors, the Mississippi Supreme Court has held that "[w]here a prosecutor
engages in conduct such that the defendant's right to a fair trial is substantially impaired, and where
the trial judge improperly fails to grant a mistrial, this Court will reverse on appeal." McFee v. State,
511 So. 2d 130, 135 (Miss. 1987). Because the prosecution's actions did not substantially impair
Hanks's right to a fair trial we hold this assignment of error to be without merit.
D. Prosecution's improper questions asked during cross-examination of Michael Hanks.
With this point of error, Hanks is essentially alleging the same issues as he raised in sub-part "C,"
supra. Hanks points to two additional instances where the prosecution asked the same or a similar
question to one that had just been objected to and the objection sustained by the trial court. Again,
Hanks immediately objected a second time and was sustained. With both these instances, after the
second objection, the prosecution discontinued the questioning. As with the similar occurrences
previously discussed, this Court holds that the prosecution's conduct did not deny Hanks his right to
a fair trial. See McFee v. State, 511 So. 2d 130, 135 (Miss. 1987) (holding that where prosecutor
engages in conduct such that defendant's right to fair trial is substantially impaired, and where trial
judge improperly fails to grant mistrial, reversal was appropriate). Again, if the complained-of
conduct by the prosecution had been so obviously damaging to Hanks, he could have requested an
admonishment from the trial court directing the jury to disregard the statements. However, no such
request was made. As with sub-part "C," this assignment of error is without merit.
E. Prosecution's remarks made during closing argument.
Hanks alleges that several remarks made by the prosecution in closing argument were unduly
prejudicial, and coupled with the other remarks addressed, supra, have a cumulative prejudicial effect
sufficient to necessitate a reversal of his conviction. At closing argument, the prosecutor stated that it
was "child abuse" for the defense to call a fourteen-year-old child to the witness stand when the
child's presence was not essential to the case. Hanks immediately objected to this statement and was
sustained. The prosecutor then continued her closing argument, making no further reference to the
so-called "child abuse." Hanks also alludes to the prosecutor's statements "about information Hanks
failed to give the arresting officer," but neglects to direct this Court to any specific pages within the
transcript where the allegedly prejudicial material is to be found. This Court has reviewed the
prosecutor's closing argument with Hanks's objections in mind. We conclude that any improper
statements by the prosecutor in closing argument were not unduly prejudicial to Hanks so as to
require a reversal of his conviction, under the familiar standard articulated by the Mississippi
Supreme Court. See Ormond, 599 So. 2d at 961 (holding that improper argument by prosecutor to
jury requires reversal when natural and probable effect of improper argument is to create unjust
prejudice against accused so as to result in decision influenced by prejudice so created).
Furthermore, after considering the cumulative effect of all the prosecutor's comments that Hanks
complains of, we remain unpersuaded that such remarks resulted in undue prejudice to him. While
Hanks has made a reasonable effort of directing this Court to specific instances in the record to
support his claim of "numerous instances" of prosecutorial misconduct, he has completely failed to
connect the alleged misconduct with any resulting prejudice to his case. Although it is true that
instances of error that are not of themselves sufficient to necessitate a reversal may have a cumulative
effect of denying the defendant a fair trial, we conclude that such is not the case under the instant
facts. We reject this assignment of error.
II. THE SCREWDRIVERS SEIZED BY POLICE FROM AN INVENTORY SEARCH OF THE
APPELLANT'S VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED AT TRIAL BECAUSE THE
SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE WAS MADE PURSUANT TO THE ILLEGAL ARREST OF THE
APPELLANT IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 23
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
Hanks's next assignment of error concerns the admissibility of evidence obtained during an inventory
search of his vehicle conducted by the Jackson Police Department subsequent to his arrest. It is well
established that the fruits of a valid inventory search conducted subsequent to a lawful arrest are not
barred from evidence as the product of an illegal search and seizure. See Colorado v. Bertine, 479
U.S. 367, 371 (1987) (holding that "inventory searches are now a well-defined exception to the
warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment"); Patterson v. State, 413 So. 2d 1036, 1038 (Miss.
1982) (holding that warrantless search made in connection with inventory where vehicle is
impounded by police is reasonable within Constitutions of United States and State of Mississippi).
Accordingly, to determine if the evidence obtained during the inventory search of Hanks's truck was
admissible, it must first be determined if he had been lawfully arrested prior to the inventory search.
In order to make a felony arrest with or without a warrant, the officer must have probable cause to
believe that a felony has been committed and probable cause to believe the suspect to be arrested
committed the felony. Abram v. State, 606 So. 2d 1015, 1025-26 (Miss. 1992). Whether probable
cause existed at the time of the arrest is based on a totality of the circumstances evaluation. Haddox
v. State, 636 So. 2d 1229, 1235 (Miss. 1994). Probable cause to arrest is more than a mere suspicion,
but less than evidence that would justify condemnation. Wagner v. State, 624 So. 2d 60, 66 (Miss.
1993).
In reviewing a lower court's conclusion that probable cause existed, appellate courts conduct a de
novo review of the lower court's findings in order to determine if there was a substantial basis for
concluding that probable cause existed. McNeal v. State, 617 So. 2d 999, 1007 (Miss. 1993). Under
such review, an appellate court will not overturn a lower court's findings in the presence of
substantial evidence to support such findings, where the findings are not clearly erroneous. Hansen v.
State, 592, So. 2d 114, 138 (Miss. 1991). At the time Hanks was pulled over by the Jackson Police
Department officer, the officer was aware of the following facts:
1. A burglary and sexual assault had been committed on River Oaks Boulevard.
2. The perpetrator had departed the crime scene in a new model pickup truck, silver, light blue over
dark blue bottom and small to medium in size.
3. The perpetrator was a white male who had "stubble" on his face, like a two-day- old beard, dark
hair, and was wearing thick clothing.
A few minutes after receiving the dispatcher's report of the crime, one of the police officers
responding to the report observed a truck matching the description provided by the victim. At that
time, the truck was located approximately six blocks from the victim's apartment and was traveling
away from the crime scene. The officer pulled the truck over and immediately noticed that the driver
matched the victim's description of her attacker. We conclude that at this point in time the officer had
probable cause to believe that the truck driver, Hanks, was the perpetrator of the felony
burglary/sexual battery that had just been reported. See Johnson v. State, 347 So. 2d 358, 359-60
(Miss. 1977) (holding probable cause to arrest existed at point in time when officer observed
automobile and driver fitting description of perpetrator given by victim). Accordingly, the subsequent
inventory search of Hanks's truck was valid and not a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the
United States Constitution or Article Three, Section 23 of the Mississippi Constitution.
III. ALL TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE COMPLAINING WITNESS' PRETRIAL
IDENTIFICATION OF THE APPELLANT AS HER ASSAILANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
EXCLUDED BECAUSE THAT IDENTIFICATION WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS
ILLEGAL ARREST IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH
AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 23
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
With this assignment of error Hanks apparently contends that testimony concerning the victim's pre-
trial identification of him as the perpetrator should have been excluded from evidence, because (as he
asserts) he was illegally arrested. Because this Court has addressed the validity of Hanks's arrest in
analyzing issue number II, and concluded that probable cause existed to support his arrest, we hold
that this assignment of error presents no issue for this Court to review. The validity of the victim's
pre-trial identification of Hanks will be addressed in the next section of this opinion, where it was
properly raised by Hanks's assignment of error number IV.
IV. THE PRETRIAL IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE DURING WHICH THE COMPLAINING
WITNESS IDENTIFIED THE APPELLANT AS HER ASSAILANT WAS UNNECESSARILY
SUGGESTIVE AND GIVES RISE TO A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF
MISIDENTIFICATION. IN ADDITION THE COMPLAINING WITNESSES SUBSEQUENT
IDENTIFICATION OF THE APPELLANT AT TRIAL WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OUT
OF COURT IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE AND IS NOT BASED ON INDEPENDENT
RECOLLECTION OF HER ASSAILANT DURING THE CRIME. THE APPELLANT'S
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED.
Hanks argues that the victim should not have been allowed to make an in-court identification of him
as her assailant, because her pre-trial identification of him was impermissibly tainted by an
unnecessarily suggestive identification procedure. Furthermore, Hanks asserts that the victim's in-
court identification of him as the intruder was not based on her independent recollection, thereby
violating his right to due process of law as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment proscribes pre-trial identifications which are
suggestive, when there is no necessity for conducting them in a suggestive manner. York v. State, 413
So. 2d 1372, 1383 (1982). However, even where a pre-trial identification procedure was
impermissibly suggestive, only under certain circumstances will due process preclude a subsequent in-
court identification by an eyewitness who viewed the suspect at the tainted procedure. Such an in-
court identification is prohibited by due process when "(1) from the totality of the circumstances
surrounding it (2) the identification was so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very
substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification." York, 413 So. 2d at 1383. The factors used to
evaluate the likelihood of irreparable misidentification are known as the Biggers factors. See Wilson
v. State, 574 So. 2d 1324, 1327 (Miss. 1990) (citing Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 199 (1972) for
criteria used in analysis of whether identification process gave rise to very substantial likelihood of
irreparable misidentification)). It should be noted, however, that the Biggers factors are utilized only
after the pre-trial identification procedure is held to have been impermissibly suggestive. Wilson, 547
So. 2d at 1327. Under Biggers, the following criteria are analyzed to determine if the impermissibly
suggestive identification procedure created a very substantial likelihood of irreparable
misidentification:
1. The opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime.
2. The witness' degree of attention.
3. The accuracy of the witness' prior description of the criminal.
4. The level of certainty demonstrated by the witnesses at the confrontation.
5. The length of time between the crime and the confrontation.
Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199.
Although the trial court found otherwise, for purposes of this analysis we will assume, arguendo, that
allowing the victim to identify the suspect while he was in police custody in the rear of a squad car
was impermissibly suggestive. Accordingly, we analyze the facts at bar under the Biggers factors:
1. Opportunity to be observed.
At the suppression hearing, the victim testified that, through the moonlight coming into her
apartment, she was able to observe the intruder's appearance, height, build, facial hair, etc. while he
sexually battered her for approximately thirty minutes. The victim also stated that as the intruder fled
the crime scene, she had the opportunity to view him when he ran through the light cast by a
streetlight outside her apartment.
2. Degree of attention.
The victim testified that she has formal training in commercial art and as a portrait painter. The victim
further stated that during the attack she paid careful attention to the intruder, to observe as many
details as possible about his appearance. In addition to seeing the intruder, the victim had the
opportunity to feel the hair on his head, the beard on his face, his clothing, and his physical stature.
3. Accuracy of prior description.
When the victim called the "911" emergency telephone operator, she described her attacker as being
a white male having "stubble" on his face, like a two-day-old beard, dark hair, and that he was
wearing "thick" clothing. When Hanks was taken into custody, he exhibited these characteristics.
4. Level of certainty at confrontation.
When the victim walked up to the squad car in which Hanks was being detained, Hanks looked up
and stared at her through the car window. At that point, the victim exclaimed "[t]hat's him; that's the
son-of-a-bitch; that's him." At the suppression hearing, the victim testified that as soon as she saw
Hanks's face she was positive that he was the attacker.
5. Time between the crime and the confrontation.
The time lapse between the cessation of the attack and the victim's identification of the attacker was
no more than thirty minutes. Because police officers were on patrol near the victim's apartment when
the dispatcher's report of the crime was broadcast and they almost immediately spotted Hanks, the
police were able to apprehend the suspect and transport him to the victim's residence within a very
short period of time.
In analyzing the trial court's conclusion that the pre-trial identification of Hanks did not create a very
substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification, this Court is guided by the familiar "substantial
credible evidence" standard of review. Magee v. State, 542 So. 2d 228, 231 (Miss. 1989). The
Mississippi Supreme Court has held that when reviewing a lower court's rulings regarding pretrial
identifications, "[t]he combined effect of the circuit court's pre-trial and trial rulings is that of a
finding of fact . . . ." Ray v. State, 503 So. 2d 222, 223 (Miss. 1986). Accordingly, this Court will
disturb such a finding only where there is an absence of substantial credible evidence supporting it.
Id. at 223-24. Considered in this context, the foregoing facts establish that substantial credible
evidence supports the trial court's determination that this identification should not have been
suppressed.
V. THE APPELLANT'S CONVICTION S AND SENTENCES ON BOTH OF THE COUNTS OF
THE INDICTMENT VIOLATE THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY PROVISIONS OF THE STATE
AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS BECAUSE NO FURTHER EVIDENCE WAS NECESSARY
TO PROVE THE SEXUAL BATTERY CHARGE ONCE THE PROSECUTION PROVED THE
CHARGE OF BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AT NIGHT WHILE ARMED
WITH A DEADLY WEAPON WITH INTENT TO COMMIT SEXUAL BATTERY.
ALTERNATIVELY, IT WAS ERROR TO SENTENCE THE APPELLANT FOR BOTH
BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AT NIGHT WHILE ARMED WITH A DEADLY
WEAPON WITH INTENT TO COMMIT SEXUAL BATTERY AND FOR SEXUAL BATTERY.
UPON HIS CONVICTION ON BOTH CHARGES, THE SEXUAL BATTERY MERGES INTO
THE BURGLARY FOR SENTENCING PURPOSES, AND THE APPELLANT MAY ONLY BE
SENTENCED ON THE BURGLARY CONVICTION.
Hanks's final assignment of error is that the Double Jeopardy clauses of the Fifth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, and Article Three, Section Twenty-Two of the Mississippi
Constitution bar his prosecution for both burglary and sexual battery. To determine whether a
defendant was subjected to multiple punishment for the same offense, in violation of the Double
Jeopardy clause, we are guided by the Supreme Court's decision in Blockburger v. United States, 284
U.S. 299 (1932) and its federal and state progeny. Our analysis of this issue follows the Mississippi
Supreme Court's opinion in Smith v. State, 429 So. 2d 252 (Miss. 1983), containing a factual
situation closely analogous to that at bar.
In Smith, the court followed the Blockburger rule whereby statutory offenses are compared to see
whether each offense requires proof of an additional fact which the other offense does not, in
scrutinizing double jeopardy allegations. Smith, 429 So. 2d at 254. The Smith court held no double
jeopardy violation occurred in a concurrent prosecution for burglary and rape. The court held that
because satisfying all the elements of burglary would not satisfy all the elements for rape, nor would
satisfying all the elements of rape satisfy the elements of burglary, the two were separate and distinct
offenses. Turning to the facts at bar, the so-called Blockburger "same evidence" test reveals that
under Mississippi law burglary and sexual batter are indeed separate and distinct offenses. Hanks was
convicted of violating Sections 97-17-23 (burglary) and 97-3-95 (sexual battery) of the Mississippi
Code. Section 97-17-23 proscribes the "breaking and entering, in the night, [of] the dwelling house
of another, [while] armed with a deadly weapon . . . with [the] intent to commit some crime therein .
. . ." Miss. Code Ann. 97-17-23 (Rev. 1994) (emphasis added). The felony of sexual battery is the
offense Hanks was charged with intending to commit when he broke into the victim's home. It is
readily apparent that the burglary statute imposes liability for breaking and entering with the intent to
commit a crime, yet does not require the actual completion of the intended crime as a prerequisite to
liability for burglary. A jury determination that Hanks intended to commit sexual battery in the course
of the breaking and entering was not the same as finding that he satisfied all the elements of sexual
battery. Sexual battery, as defined by Section 97-3-95 of the Mississippi Code, requires "sexual
penetration." Burglary does not require "sexual penetration," nor does it share any other elements
with the crime of sexual battery. Clearly, burglary and sexual battery are separate and distinct
offenses under the Blockburger analysis, as the burglary was completed upon the breaking and
entering with the required intent; the offense of sexual battery was not committed until later when
Hanks took additional action, namely the "sexual penetration" of the victim. This assignment of error
is without merit.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF CONVICTION AS A
HABITUAL OFFENDER OF BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED DWELLING AT NIGHT
ARMED WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND SEXUAL BATTERY AND SENTENCES OF
TWENTY FIVE AND THIRTY YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. SENTENCES TO BE SERVED
CONSECUTIVELY AND TO RUN CONSECUTIVE WITH REVOCATION IN CAUSE F-
206. COSTS ARE ASSESSED AGAINST HINDS COUNTY.
McMILLIN, P.J., DIAZ, HERRING, KING, PAYNE, AND SOUTHWICK, JJ., CONCUR.
THOMAS, P.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY
COLEMAN, J. HINKEBEIN, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
5/20/97
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 94-KA-00354 COA
MICHAEL PATRICK HANKS
APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
APPELLEE
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND
MAY NOT BE CITED, PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-B
THOMAS, P.J., DISSENTING:
The disposition by the majority of the first issue in this case, that is, the prosecutor's comment during
opening statements on the defendant's right to remain silent and not testify, is what causes me to
dissent in this case. The prosecution is not permitted to make a comment, by reference, innuendo, or
insinuation, about a defendant's failure to testify on his own behalf. Livingston v. State, 525 So. 2d
1300, 1306-07 (Miss. 1988). Had Hanks testified during this trial I could readily say the prosecutor's
comments amounted to no error, or at worst, harmless error. Hanks did not testify. Therefore, I
would reverse and remand this case for a new trial. I would likewise warn prosecutor's that the other
allegations of prosecutorial misconduct raised by the defendant in this case are not totally without
merit and should not occur again.
COLEMAN, J., JOINS THIS SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.