State v. Fink ( 2017 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA16-934
Filed: 21 March 2017
Mecklenburg County, No. 14 CRS 221625
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
v.
DEVIN WAY FINK
Appeal by defendant from judgment entered 30 March 2016 by Judge Hugh B.
Lewis in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22
February 2017.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Jeremy D.
Lindsley, for the State.
Cheshire Parker Schneider & Bryan, PLLC, by John Keating Wiles, for
defendant-appellant.
TYSON, Judge.
Devin Way Fink (“Defendant”) appeals from judgment entered, following his
conviction of larceny by employee. We find no error.
I. Factual Background
The State’s evidence tended to show Defendant was employed as the store
manager of an auto repair shop located on 4909 South Boulevard in Charlotte on 3
June 2014. This shop is part of a chain of repair shops owned by Precision
Franchising, Incorporated, d/b/a Precision Tune Auto Care (“Precision”). Defendant
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managed all aspects of the shop, including discussing repairs with and pricing
estimates for customers, writing service orders and invoices, ordering parts, and
taking payments from customers.
On 3 June 2014, Randall Stywall (“Stywall”) took her car to the South
Boulevard Precision shop, where Defendant was working as the sole manager on
duty. Stywall explained to Defendant that, among other things, she needed
replacement of both front struts and rear shocks. Defendant filled out a service order,
which detailed the precise estimate for the work would be $1,501.93. Defendant
provided Stywall with a copy.
Because Stywall’s mother, Pamela Nixon (“Nixon”), was paying for the repairs,
Stywall contacted Nixon to confirm the estimated price. After Nixon agreed to the
$1,501.93 estimate, Stywall left her car and a shop employee took her to work. Later
that day, Defendant notified Nixon the repairs to her daughter’s car were complete
and her car was ready to be picked up. After Nixon finished work for the day, she
went to the shop and paid $1,501.93, in cash, to Defendant, who provided her a
receipt. Thereafter, Defendant closed the shop for the day and left.
After paying for the repairs and receiving the keys to the car, Nixon went to
pick up Stywall and brought her back to the shop to get her car. As soon as Stywall
got into her car and started to drive it, she noticed the car was still making the earlier
noise and was bouncing up and down as if the shocks were not replaced. Less than a
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minute after leaving Precision’s parking lot, Stywall called Nixon and told her “the
car’s not fixed.” Because Precision was already closed for the day, Nixon told her
daughter to slowly drive the car home.
That evening, Nixon called Defendant’s cell phone number, which he had given
to her earlier in the day, notified him the car was not fixed, and demanded the parts
be removed and her money back. Defendant responded by stating he would not fulfill
her requests, but he would try to get the car fixed the following day. Defendant
requested Nixon not to call the shop.
Not satisfied with Defendant’s responses, Nixon called Precision’s corporate
office and complained. The next day, 4 June 2014, Precision District Operations
Manager, Tony Lee Harp (“Harp”), contacted Nixon and discovered a discrepancy of
approximately $425.00 between the amount stated on Nixon’s service order and
receipt. Harp then told her he was going to “make it right.”
Upon noticing this discrepancy, Harp called Defendant and questioned him.
Defendant admitted he had the missing money. Harp requested Defendant to return
to the shop immediately. Harp testified, that after the phone conversation with
Defendant, he checked the records and saw the service order for $1,501.93 and the
invoice for $1,076.56 for Stywall’s car. The computer did not disclose how much the
customer had tendered. Based off this invoice, Harp concluded the price discrepancy
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was the result of the deletion of the installation of the new rear shocks from the
original service order.
During his phone conversation with Harp, Defendant claimed he could not find
the parts needed to complete the work, as the reason he still possessed the $425 in
cash. Further, Defendant asserted Stywall was aware of this fact, and the two of
them had agreed to Precision finishing the work once the necessary parts were
obtained. Harp, however, testified he checked for the allegedly missing parts the next
day, 4 June 2014, and found them “readily available.” According to Harp, the
company’s policy for handling such a situation, where a customer paid an entire bill,
prior to all the work being completed, was to create a deposit for the amount paid for
uncompleted work.
After speaking with Harp, Defendant returned to the shop and provided
Precision with the missing $425.00. Precision completed the unfinished work to
Stywall’s car and provided Nixon with an additional future store credit for her
troubles. Defendant was arrested at the shop.
On 15 September 2014, Defendant was indicted with one count of larceny by
employee. The indictment alleged Defendant went away with, embezzled, and
converted to his own use United States currency, which had been delivered to be kept
for his employer, Precision Auto Care, Inc. (PACI). The case proceeded to trial on 28
March 2016.
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At trial, Defendant objected to testimony by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police
Officer Jarrett Phillips (“Phillips”), concerning a past encounter with Defendant.
Phillips testified he had investigated Defendant for embezzlement in 2010.
Defendant had worked as the manager of a restaurant and admitted stealing from
the restaurant by voiding out cash transactions and keeping the cash for himself.
Defendant signed a three-page statement written by Officer Phillips, wherein
Defendant admitted he had been taking money from the restaurant. Defendant was
later arrested for embezzlement.
At the close of the State’s evidence, Defendant moved to dismiss the charge on
three separate grounds: (1) insufficient evidence to convict in violation of the Due
Process Clause, U.S. Const. amends. V and XIV; (2) a fatal variance between the
crime alleged in the indictment and any crime for which the State’s evidence may
have been sufficient to go to the jury regarding the identity of the victim, namely a
larceny against Nixon, not an “embezzlement” against “Precision Auto Care,
Incorporated”; and (3) a fatal variance between the business as named in the
indictment and as identified in testimony during trial. The motion was denied.
During its deliberations, the jury posed the following question: (1) “If company
name on charge is different than actual name, do we, the jury, need to consider? e.g.,
Precision Tune vs. Precision Auto vs. DBA.” In response, the trial court re-read its
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jury instruction regarding the offense of larceny by employee. On 30 March 2016, the
jury returned a verdict of guilty of one count of larceny by employee.
Defendant gave notice of appeal in open court.
II. Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction of right lies in this Court by timely appeal from final judgment
entered by the superior court, following a jury’s verdict pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §
7A-27(b)(1) (2015).
III. Issues
Defendant asserts the trial court erred by (1) denying his motion to dismiss the
charge of larceny by employee for insufficiency of the evidence; (2) denying his motion
to dismiss the charge of larceny by employee for a fatal variance of the evidence from
the indictment; and (3) allowing the State to present improper evidence under Rule
404(b), where the prejudicial effect outweighed the probative value under Rule 403.
IV. Motions to Dismiss
Defendant argues the trial court erred by denying his motions to dismiss at the
close of the State’s evidence and again at the close of all the evidence where: (1) the
State failed to present sufficient evidence to show Precision was the true owner of or
entitled to the money Defendant took, and (2) there was a fatal variance between the
entity named in the indictment and the proof at trial.
A. Standard of Review
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This Court has stated:
The standard for ruling on a motion to dismiss is
whether there is substantial evidence (1) of each essential
element of the offense charged and (2) that defendant is the
perpetrator of the offense. Substantial evidence is relevant
evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate to support a conclusion. In ruling on a motion to
dismiss, the trial court must consider all of the evidence in
the light most favorable to the State, and the State is
entitled to all reasonable inferences which may be drawn
from the evidence. Any contradictions or discrepancies
arising from the evidence are properly left for the jury to
resolve and do not warrant dismissal.
State v. Wood, 174 N.C. App. 790, 795, 622 S.E.2d 120, 123 (2005) (internal citations
and quotations omitted).
“This court reviews the trial court’s denial of a motion to dismiss de novo.” State
v. Smith, 186 N.C. App. 57, 62, 650 S.E.2d 29, 33 (2007) (citation omitted). “[A]
variance between the indictment and the proof at trial does not require reversal
unless the defendant is prejudiced as a result.” State v. Weaver, 123 N.C. App. 276,
291, 473 S.E.2d 362, 371 (citation omitted), cert. denied and disc. review denied, 344
N.C. 636, 477 S.E.2d 53 (1996).
B. Insufficiency of the Evidence
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-74 provides:
If any servant or other employee, to whom any money,
goods or other chattels . . . by his master shall be delivered
safely to be kept to the use of his master, shall withdraw
himself from his master and go away with such money,
goods, or other chattels . . . with intent to steal the same
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and defraud his master thereof, contrary to the trust and
confidence in him reposed by his said master; or if any
servant, being in the service of his master, without the
assent of his master, shall embezzle such money, goods or
other chattels . . . or otherwise convert the same to his own
use, with like purpose to steal them, or defraud his master
thereof, the servant so offending shall be guilty of a felony:
Provided, that nothing contained in this section shall
extend to . . . servants within the age of 16 years.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-74 (2015).
The elements of larceny by employee are: “(1) the defendant was an employee
of the owner of the stolen goods; (2) the goods were entrusted to the defendant for the
use of the employer; (3) the goods were taken without the permission of the employer;
and (4) the defendant had the intent to steal the goods or to defraud his employer.”
State v. Frazier, 142 N.C. App. 207, 209, 541 S.E. 2d 800, 801 (2001) (citation omitted).
In this case, the indictment alleged that Defendant had
unlawfully, willfully and feloniously being the employee of
Precision Auto Care, Inc. (PACI), a corporation, go away
with, embezzle, and convert to his own use United States
currency, which had been delivered to be kept for his
employer’s use, with the intent to steal and to defraud his
employer. This act was done without his employer’s
consent and contrary to the trust and confidence reposed in
him by his employer.
Defendant contends he could not have committed larceny by employee under
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-74 because the cash given to Defendant remained the customer’s
property, and never became Precision’s property. Defendant bases this contention on
the following exchange between defense counsel and Harp:
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Q. After the repair is complete, the customer — and — and
the work orders, the customer has given you the money, is
that when you would say the money becomes Precision
Tune’s?
A. Whenever the customer pays the bill. I mean, that’s —
I mean, that would be —
Q. I mean, if the — if the customer pays the bill but the
work isn’t done is it still your money?
A. If the customer pays the bill they would have to create
a deposit. And if the work wasn’t done, no, it would not be
Precision Tune’s money until —
Q. Until the work was done?
A. — until the customer decided that they were satisfied
with the repair. But if they create a deposit, like I said
before, it is discretionary on the manager’s position
whether or not the money’s returned to the customer,
depending on — if they’re special order parts, it can’t be
returned, then I guess the deposit would be non-
refundable.
Defendant argues this exchange establishes the $425.00 remained Nixon’s
property, not Precision’s, because the work had not been performed at the time she
had made the payment. As a result, Defendant asserts the State failed to present
sufficient evidence that “[D]efendant was an employee of the owner of the stolen
goods.” See id. (emphasis supplied). Defendant’s contention is without merit.
Evidence tended to show the cash was the property of Precision for purposes of
larceny by employee under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-74. Harp testified Defendant
returned the money to Precision, not Nixon. Nixon never received the $425.00 after
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Opinion of the Court
delivering it to Defendant, who was the manager of the Precision shop. After
Defendant returned the cash to Precision, the shop fixed Nixon’s car and never offered
her a refund. Instead, she was offered a voucher for future services worth $250.00 at
Precision. Defendant does not show or argue he received the money from Nixon for
any other reason or in any capacity other than as a manager of the Precision shop.
Precision is bound under agency principles by Nixon’s payment to Defendant,
as its manager of Precision’s shop. See Haynes Petroleum Corp. v. Turlington, 261
N.C. 475, 478, 135 S.E.2d 43, 45-46 (1964) (citation omitted) (“No duty rests upon a
debtor, who makes a payment to an agent designated to receive it, to see that the
money reaches the principal, if the debtor is without notice of an improper purpose
or intention on the part of the collecting agent.”); see also Lucas v. Li’l General Stores,
289 N.C. 212, 220, 221 S.E.2d 257, 262 (1976) (citation omitted) (“[A] principal, who
has clothed his agent with apparent authority to contract in behalf of the principal,
is bound by a contract made by such agent, within the scope of such apparent
authority, with a third person who dealt with the agent in good faith, in the exercise
of reasonable prudence and without notice of limitations placed by the principal upon
the agent’s authority.”).
As shop manager, Defendant’s responsibilities included providing estimates
and taking customer’s payments. Defendant solely acted as Precision’s agent when
he provided the proposal and accepted the cash as full payment from Nixon for the
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agreed upon work. As soon as Nixon tendered payment to Defendant as Precision’s
manager and agent, the funds became Precision’s “property” for purposes of larceny
by employee under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-74.
The State presented substantial evidence to allow a jury to determine whether
the $425.00 belonged to Defendant’s employer, Precision, or to Nixon. See State v.
Mabry, 269 N.C. 293, 296, 152 S.E.2d 112, 114-15 (1967) (citation omitted) (holding
“[a]ny contradictions and discrepancies in the State’s case are for the jury to resolve”).
Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, and giving the State the benefit of
every reasonable inference upon Defendant’s motion to dismiss, sufficient evidence
was presented to allow the jury to convict Defendant of the larceny by employee
charge. The trial court properly denied Defendant’s motion to dismiss for insufficient
evidence. Defendant’s argument is overruled.
C. Variance between Indictment and Proof at Trial
Defendant argues the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the
larceny by employee charge. He asserts a fatal variance exists between the
indictment and the proof at trial. We disagree.
“It is well established that ‘[a] defendant must be convicted, if at all, of the
particular offense charged in the indictment’ and that ‘[t]he State’s proof must
conform to the specific allegations contained’ therein.” State v. Henry, 237 N.C. App.
311, 322, 765 S.E.2d 94, 102 (2014), disc. review denied, 368 N.C. 277, 775 S.E.2d 852- 11 -
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(2015) (quoting State v. Pulliam, 78 N.C. App. 129, 132, 336 S.E.2d 649, 651 (1985)).
However, “a variance between the indictment and the proof at trial does not require
reversal unless the defendant is prejudiced as a result.” Weaver, 123 N.C. App. at 291,
473 S.E.2d at 371 (citation omitted).
Defendant argues prejudice is shown, because the evidence presented by the
State did not establish his employer was “Precision Auto Care, Inc. (PACI), a
corporation,” as alleged in the indictment. Evidence tended to show the actual name
of the corporation is “Precision Franchising, Inc.” which does business as “Precision
Tune Auto Care.” Defendant relies heavily on the holding in State v. Miller as
authority to support their fatal variance argument. 271 N.C. 646, 157 S.E.2d 335(1967).
In Miller, the Defendant was charged with one count of feloniously breaking
and entering a building “occupied by one Friedman’s Jewelry, a corporation” and one
count of felonious larceny from the same corporation named in count one. Id. at 653-
54, 157 S.E.2d at 342. At trial, the evidence showed that “the felonious breaking and
entering was in a building occupied by ‘Friedman’s Lakewood, Incorporated’; that
there [were] three Friedman’s stores in Charlotte and that each is a separate
corporation, but that all the merchandise that was stolen from the store that was
broken into and entered was owned by ‘Friedman’s Jewelry, Incorporated,’ with its
home office located in Augusta, Georgia.” Id.- 12 -
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Our Supreme Court held the variance in the breaking and entering charge of
the indictment was fatal because the building was owned by an entirely separate
corporation, “Friedman’s Lakewood, Incorporated,” than the corporation named in
the indictment, “Friedman’s Jewelry, a corporation.” Id. However, our Supreme
Court held the variance between the indictment, which alleged that stolen rings were
the property of “Friedman’s Jewelry, a corporation,” and the evidence, which showed
the rings were the property of “Friedman’s Jewelry, Incorporated,” was not fatal as
to the charge of felonious larceny. Id.Miller is readily distinguishable from the facts at bar. Where the variance in
Miller involved two entirely separate corporate entities, the present case only
involves one corporation. See id. Further, Miller’s holding as to the second charge of
felonious larceny supports the State’s assertion that this variance is immaterial. Id.(holding the variance between the indictment, which alleged that stolen rings were
the property of “Friedman’s Jewelry, a corporation,” and the evidence, which showed
the rings were the property of “Friedman’s Jewelry, Incorporated,” was not fatal as
to the charge of felonious larceny).
Our courts have repeatedly held that minor variations between the name of
the corporate entity alleged in the indictment and the evidence presented at trial are
immaterial, so long as “[t]he defendant was adequately informed of the corporation
which was the accuser and victim. A variance will not be deemed fatal where there
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is no controversy as to who in fact was the true owner of the property.” State v. Ellis,
33 N.C. App. 667, 669, 236 S.E.2d 299, 301 (1977) (citation omitted); see also State v.
Wilson, 264 N.C. 595, 597-98, 142 S.E.2d 180, 181-82 (1965) (finding no error when
the indictment referred to the property owner as “B.M. Hancock & Son, a corporation”
and evidence at trial referred to the corporation as “B.M. Hancock & Son’s Feed Mill,
Inc.,” “B.M. Hancock & Son, Inc.,” “B.M. Hancock & Son’s,” and “B.M. Hancock’s Feed
Mill”); State v. Wyatt, 254 N.C. 220, 221-22, 118 S.E.2d 420, 420-21 (1961) (finding no
fatal variance where the indictment for embezzlement alleged ownership by the
“Pestroy Exterminating Company,” the bill of particulars alleged ownership in
“Pestroy Exterminators, Inc.,” and the evidence at trial referred to both of these
names as well as “Pestroy Exterminating Corporation”); State v. Davis, 253 N.C. 224,
226, 116 S.E.2d 381, 383 (1960) (“The fact that the property was stolen from T.A.
Turner & Co., Inc. rather than from T.A. Turner Co., a corporation, as charged in the
bill of indictment, is not a fatal variance.”); State v. Morris, 156 N.C. App. 335, 339,
576 S.E.2d 391, 394 (2003) (finding no fatal variance where the indictment referred
to the employer as “AAA Gas and Appliance Company, Inc.” and the evidence at trial
referred to the corporation as “AAA Gas and Appliance Company,” “AAA Gas,” or
“AAA”).
Harp testified at trial he was the district operations manager for “Precision
Tune Auto Care, North Carolina.” When questioned by defense counsel, Harp noted
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Opinion of the Court
the official name of the corporation was “Precision Franchising, Incorporated,” doing
business as “Precision Tune Auto Care.” Harp and other witnesses subsequently
referred to the company at various times as “Precision,” “Precision Auto Care,”
“Precision Tune Auto Care,” and “Precision Tune” throughout their testimony. The
trial transcript demonstrates these names were simply shorthand methods for
identifying the company during testimony.
The evidence presented sufficiently identified Defendant as the employee of
Precision Auto Care, as alleged in the indictment. On cross-examination of Harp, the
following exchange occurred:
[Defense Counsel]: Okay. So, to be clear, you work for
Precision Franchising, Incorporated?
[Harp]: That is correct.
[Defense Counsel]: And not Precision Auto Care,
Incorporated?
[Harp]: One of the same.
[Defense Counsel]: But there is only one, right? Which one
— which one do you work for?
[Harp]: They are one of the same. We do business as
Precision Auto Care in a court of law.
Additionally, Defendant has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced by
use of the shorthand references to his employer during trial. The variation in names
did not hamper Defendant’s ability to defend against the charges or expose Defendant
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to potential future prosecution for the same crime. The trial court properly denied
Defendant’s motion to dismiss this charge. Defendant’s contention is without merit.
This assignment of error is overruled.
V. Admission of Officer Phillips’ Testimony under Rule 404(b)
Defendant argues the trial court erred by allowing the jury to hear Officer
Phillips’ testimony regarding Defendant’s prior embezzlement charge because: (1) the
dissimilarity and remoteness between the two crimes makes its admission improper
under Rule 404(b); (2) the testimony was not relevant to show the purposes to which
the court limited its use: to show intent, plan, and absence of mistake or accident;
and (3) the testimony was unduly prejudicial and inadmissible under Rule 403. We
disagree.
A. Standard of Review
Our Supreme Court held:
[W]hen analyzing rulings applying Rules 404(b) and 403,
we conduct distinct inquiries with different standards of
review. When the trial court has made findings of fact and
conclusions of law to support its 404(b) ruling . . . we look
to whether the evidence supports the findings and whether
the findings support the conclusions. We review de novo
the legal conclusion that the evidence is, or is not, within
the coverage of Rule 404(b). We then review the trial
court’s Rule 403 determination for abuse of discretion.
State v. Beckelheimer, 366 N.C. 127, 130, 726 S.E.2d 156, 159 (2012).
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“A trial court may be reversed for an abuse of discretion only upon a showing
that its ruling was so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned
decision.” State v. Hayes, 314 N.C. 460, 471, 334 S.E.2d 741, 747 (1985) (citation
omitted).
B. Analysis
1. 404(b) Evidence
“Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith.” N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 404(b) (2013). However, evidence of a defendant’s prior
crimes, statements, actions, and conduct is admissible, if relevant to any fact or issue
other than the defendant’s character. See Beckelheimer, 366 N.C. at 130-31, 726
S.E.2d at 159 (citation omitted).
North Carolina Rule of Evidence 404(b) is a rule of inclusion, not exclusion. Id.
at 131, 726 S.E.2d at 159 (citing State v. Coffey, 326 N.C. 268, 278, 389 S.E.2d 48, 54
(1990)).
The rule lists numerous purposes for which evidence of
prior acts may be admitted, including motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence
of mistake, entrapment or accident. This list is not
exclusive, and such evidence is admissible as long as it is
relevant to any fact or issue [at trial] . . . .
Beckelheimer, 366 N.C. at 130, 726 S.E.2d at 159 (internal citations and quotation
marks omitted).
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Our Supreme Court has ruled Rule 404(b) is “subject to but one exception
requiring the exclusion of evidence if its only probative value is to show that the
defendant has the propensity or disposition to commit an offense of the nature of the
crime charged. State v. Lyons, 340 N.C. 646, 668, 459 S.E.2d 770, 782 (1995)
(emphasis in original) (citation omitted).
Rule 404(b) “evidence is relevant and admissible so long as the incidents are
sufficiently similar and not too remote [in time].” State v. Blackwell, 133 N.C. App.
31, 35, 514 S.E.2d 116, 119 (1999) (citing State v. Bagley, 321 N.C. 201, 207, 362
S.E.2d 244, 247-48 (1987)); see also State v. Smith, 152 N.C. App. 514, 527, 568 S.E.2d
289, 297 (“The use of evidence permitted under Rule 404(b) is guided by two
constraints: similarity and temporal proximity.”) (citation omitted), disc. review
denied, 356 N.C. 623, 575 S.E.2d 757 (2002).
Officer Phillips’ testimony, along with a written statement signed by
Defendant, contained admissions that Defendant had embezzled cash receipts from
his previous employer. Specifically, Officer Phillips stated he had interviewed
Defendant in response to a fraud call at Encore Bistro Bar (“Encore”) on 6 October
2010. Defendant had worked as Encore’s manager and admitted stealing money from
Encore by “voiding out” customer transactions and keeping the cash for himself.
In a motion in limine, the State argued Officer Phillips’ testimony regarding
Defendant’s prior conviction for embezzlement was admissible because it showed
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Defendant’s prior knowledge, plan, or scheme and intent to permanently deprive
Precision of its property. The trial court granted the State’s motion in limine and
allowed Officer Phillips to testify regarding Defendant’s prior embezzlement charge.
The State argued the specific facts and circumstances of Defendant’s prior
embezzlement charge described by Officer Phillips’ testimony were relevant to show
the Defendant’s intent to permanently deprive Precision of its property, an essential
element of larceny by employee. See Frazier, 142 N.C. App at 209, 541 S.E.2d at 801(describing one of the elements of larceny by employee: “the defendant had the intent
to steal the goods or to defraud his employer”).
Evidence tending to show Defendant embezzled from a previous employer four
years prior to the incident at bar was clearly relevant to show his “intent,” “plan,” or
“absence of mistake or accident.” In both cases, Defendant: (1) worked for the victim
business; (2) held a managerial position; (3) took cash paid to and intended for the
victim business; (4) kept the cash for himself; and (5) manipulated the accounting
procedures in an effort to cover his tracks. Officer Phillips’ testimony was relevant
under Rule 401, and served a proper purpose under Rule 404(b).
In State v. Riddick, our Supreme Court stated: “Remoteness in time is less
important when the other crime is admitted because its modus operandi is so
strikingly similar to the modus operandi of the crime being tried as to permit a
reasonable inference that the same person committed both crimes.” 316 N.C. 127,
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134, 340 S.E.2d 422, 427 (1986); see also State v. Gray, 210 N.C. App. 493, 507, 709
S.E.2d 477, 488 (2011) (“[T]he more striking the similarities between the facts of the
crime charged and the facts of the prior bad act, the longer evidence of the prior bad
act remains relevant and potentially admissible for certain purposes.”). The
similarity of the two crimes and the methods Defendant used to conceal and steal
cash receipts from his employers supports the trial judge’s ruling. See Id.This evidence was properly admitted under the North Carolina Rules of
Evidence, Rule 404(b). See Coffey, 326 N.C. at 278–79, 389 S.E.2d at 54 (holding Rule
404(b) is a rule of inclusion). The trial court also gave the jury a limiting instruction
regarding the purposes for which the jury could consider the evidence. The jury is
presumed to have followed these instructions. State v. Montgomery, 291 N.C. 235,
244, 229 S.E.2d 904, 909 (1976) (citation omitted) (“We assume, as our system for
administration of justice requires, that the jurors in this case were possessed of
sufficient character and intelligence to understand and comply with th[e limiting]
instruction by the court.”).
The testimony of Officer Phillips and Defendant’s signed statement was not
admitted to show Defendant had a propensity to commit crimes. This evidence was
admitted for the limited purposes to show Defendant’s prior knowledge, plan, or
scheme and intent to permanently deprive Precision of its property. The trial court
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did not err in concluding that Rule 404(b) permitted admission of these statements
into evidence.
2. Rule 403 – Unfair Prejudice
The trial court’s admission of Officer Phillips’ testimony did not violate Rule
403. “Evidence which is probative of the State’s case necessarily will have a
prejudicial effect upon the defendant; the question is one of degree.” Coffey, 326 N.C.
at 281, 389 S.E.2d at 56 (citation omitted). The trial court determined the probative
value of this evidence was not substantially outweighed by any prejudicial effect the
admission of this evidence would have on Defendant based on the State’s purposes of
showing intent, plan, absence of mistake or accident.
The trial court also gave a specific limiting instruction to the jury, both at the
time of Officer Phillips’ testimony and during the instruction to the jury. This
limiting instruction stated:
Evidence has been received tending to show that there was
prior embezzlement from Encore Bistro & Bar. This
evidence was received solely for the purpose of showing that
the Defendant had the intent which is necessary — which is
a necessary element of the crime charged in this case, that
there existed in the mind of the Defendant a plan involving
the crime charged in this case, the absence of mistake, the
absence of accident. If you believe this evidence you many
consider it but only for the limited purpose for which it is
received. You may not consider it for any other purpose.
(emphasis supplied).
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STATE V. FINK
Opinion of the Court
The trial court found the admission of Officer Phillips’ testimony and the
statement signed by Defendant was for a permissible purpose under Rule 404(b). The
trial court also specifically limited its use in its instructions to the jury. Defendant
has failed to show the trial court’s process or admission of this evidence constitutes
an abuse of discretion. Defendant’s argument is overruled.
V. Conclusion
The trial court did not err by denying Defendant’s motions to dismiss the
charge of larceny by employee, which asserted insufficiency of the evidence and a
fatal variance between the evidence presented and the allegations in the indictment.
The trial court properly allowed the State to present evidence under Rule 404(b).
Defendant has failed to show an abuse of discretion in the trial court’s ruling under
Rule 403, that the prejudicial effect was not outweighed by the probative value.
Defendant received a fair trial, free from prejudicial errors he preserved and argued.
It is so ordered.
NO ERROR.
Judges CALABRIA and STROUD concur.
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