State v. Collins ( 2022 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
2022-NCCOA-369
No. COA21-404
Filed 17 May 2022
Surry County, Nos. 20 CRS 51069-70, 21 CRS 57
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
v.
TODD EMERSON COLLINS, JR., Defendant.
Appeal by Defendant from judgment entered 15 February 2021 by Judge
Angela B. Puckett in Surry County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals
25 January 2022.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Special Deputy Attorney General John R.
Green, Jr., for the State.
Irons & Irons, P.A., by Ben G. Irons, II, for Defendant-Appellant.
INMAN, Judge.
¶1 Defendant-Appellant Todd Emerson Collins, Jr., (“Defendant”) was convicted
by jury verdict of felony eluding arrest with a motor vehicle and felonious possession
of stolen goods after he stole a pickup truck and led police on a high-speed chase. On
appeal, Defendant argues: (1) the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the
State to reopen its case before the trial court ruled on Defendant’s motion to dismiss
for insufficiency of the evidence; (2) the trial court erred in denying Defendant’s
motion to dismiss the charge of felonious possession of stolen goods because the State
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failed to prove an essential element of the crime, namely the value of the vehicle; and
(3) the trial court abused its discretion and demonstrated judicial bias against
Defendant by permitting the State to reopen its case and allowing certain statements
in the State’s closing argument. After careful review of the record and our precedent,
we hold Defendant’s trial was free from error.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2 The record below discloses the following:
¶3 Around 1:00 a.m. on 10 May 2020, Defendant drove a 2004 Nissan Titan pickup
truck from Carroll County, Virginia into Mount Airy, North Carolina, leading
Virginia police officers in a high-speed chase. A Surry County Sherriff’s Deputy
joined the pursuit of the vehicle, which Defendant drove without lights and at speeds
of at least 90 mph on a stretch of highway where the speed limit was between 45 and
50 mph. Defendant twice drove the truck over stop sticks deployed by law
enforcement. He did not attempt to stop the vehicle after the first set of stop sticks;
the vehicle slowed to a stop on the median after the second stop sticks destroyed the
truck’s tires. Once the truck came to a stop, Defendant exited the vehicle and
attempted to flee on foot. Police quickly apprehended and arrested him.
¶4 After detaining Defendant, law enforcement contacted the General Manager of
Foothills Ford in Pilot Mountain, Robert Sutphin (“Mr. Sutphin”), and confirmed that
earlier that same day, the 2004 Nissan Titan pickup truck driven by Defendant had
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been removed from the automotive dealership. No one at the dealership had given
Defendant permission to take the vehicle.
¶5 Ten days later, on 20 May 2020, Defendant was convicted of driving while
license revoked. He appealed to the Superior Court.
¶6 One month later, on 20 July 2020, while his appeal was pending in Superior
Court, Defendant was indicted on charges of felony eluding arrest with a motor
vehicle and felonious possession of stolen goods. Defendant’s appeal and the felony
charges came on for a jury trial on 15 February 2021.
¶7 At the close of the State’s evidence, defense counsel moved to dismiss all
charges against Defendant. In particular, counsel argued the State failed to present
evidence of the value of the allegedly stolen vehicle pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat § 14-
71.1 (2021) (“Possessing stolen goods”) on the felonious possession of stolen goods
charge. The trial court responded:
Then, [defense counsel], your motion––I see the argument
that it would not be a felony. It would be a misdemeanor,
it would not be a felony, as alleged, unless the item could
be proved to––if it had been stolen, it would be more than
$1,000.
The trial court asked for the prosecutor’s retort and the prosecutor stated he “would
. . . simply move to reopen the evidence to put on that testimony, just in case it
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becomes an issue later down the road.”1 Defense counsel challenged the State’s
attempt to recall the witness, reasoning the purpose of the motion to dismiss was not
to “signal a mulligan for the State.” The trial court replied:
I do not take that as that. However, in this case, I think
that in the Court’s discretion, that there is no prejudice to
the Defendant, and the Court will allow that motion. But
we will note that.
The trial court allowed the State to reopen its case after a lunch break for the jury
and delayed ruling on defense counsel’s motion to dismiss until then.
¶8 The State recalled Mr. Sutphin for a second time. He testified the value of the
stolen truck was $6,625 before it was damaged and that the truck had been sold at
auction for $1,325 after the chase. The State again rested. Defense counsel renewed
the motion to dismiss, and the trial court denied it before closing arguments and
before the case was submitted to the jury.
¶9 At closing argument, the prosecutor began:
Truth be told, in a lot of ways, we’re kind of lucky. Because
this case could have turned out very differently. A car
fleeing law enforcement across state lines, and pushing 100
miles an hour, is about the quickest way to get somebody
killed on this road.
1 This was not the first time during the trial the State had recalled its witness, the General
Manager of the Foothills Ford in Pilot Mountain, Mr. Sutphin. Earlier in the trial, the prosecutor told
the trial court that direct examination of Mr. Sutphin was complete, only to ask the trial court
moments later to recall him to ask an additional question to confirm the name of the automotive
dealership. The trial court allowed the State to recall Mr. Sutphin without objection from defense
counsel.
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Defense counsel objected to this portion of the closing, but the trial court overruled
it. The State proceeded to illustrate for the jury the potential dangers that Defendant
could have inflicted upon anyone on the roads that night:
All it would have taken is a power line being down and a
road crew out there, and all of a sudden, you’ve got more
people in harm’s way out there trying to put a power line
back up. What if you’ve got someone who’s trying to get
back home, and they’ve got a flat tire on the side of the
road. Now they’re in harm’s way. What if you have people
getting off of work at Lowe’s Home Improvement, right
there on 52. What if you’ve got people over there getting
off work, Pizza Hut right there on 52. The Food Lion, the
Roses, any of these stores or businesses that could have
been closing, and these folks could be getting off work at
that time of day or night. All it would have taken is one
mistimed or unlucky swerve after his tires popped, and this
could have been a much more tragic situation than it is
now. And so, to a degree, we’re lucky that we’re just here
with what we’re at.
Defense counsel did not further object to the State’s closing. However, in her own
closing argument, defense counsel contended the State’s arguments contained many
“[w]hat[-]ifs.”
¶ 10 The jury found Defendant guilty of felonious eluding arrest in a motor vehicle
and felonious possession of stolen goods. Following the verdict, Defendant was tried
for, and the jury found him guilty of, attaining habitual felon status. The trial court
sentenced Defendant to two consecutive prison terms of 105 to 108 months.
Defendant gave oral notice of appeal.
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II. ANALYSIS
A. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss
1. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion by Reserving Ruling on
the Motion to Dismiss to Allow the State to Reopen Its Case to
Introduce New Evidence.
¶ 11 Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by delaying its ruling
on Defendant’s motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence and allowing the
State to introduce new evidence. We disagree.
¶ 12 We will reverse a trial court’s decision to permit a party to introduce additional
evidence at any time prior to the verdict only upon a showing of an abuse of discretion.
State v. Wise, 178 N.C. App. 154, 163, 630 S.E.2d 732, 737 (2006) (citing State v.
Riggins, 321 N.C. 107, 109, 361 S.E.2d 558, 559 (1987)).
¶ 13 Our General Statutes provide: “The judge in his [or her] discretion may permit
any party to introduce additional evidence at any time prior to verdict.” N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 15A-1226(b) (2021) (emphasis added). Subsection 15A-1227(c) further
provides: “The judge must rule on a motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence
before the trial may proceed.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1227(c) (2021). Defendant
interprets Subsection 15A-1227(c) to preclude the trial court from postponing ruling
on Defendant’s motion for insufficiency of evidence to allow the State to reopen the
case and introduce new evidence. Though these sections deal with different
procedural mechanisms at trial, assuming arguendo they conflict in some way, they
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“must be construed in pari materia, and harmonized, if possible, to give effect to
each.” Hoffman v. Edwards, 48 N.C. App. 559, 564, 269 S.E.2d 311, 313 (1980)
(citation omitted).
¶ 14 In general, “[i]t is the trial judge’s duty to supervise and control the trial,
including the manner and presentation of evidence, matters which are largely left to
his [or her] discretion.” State v. Lowery, 318 N.C. 54, 70, 347 S.E.2d 729, 740 (1986).
Our appellate courts have repeatedly held Subsection 15A-1226(b) allows a trial court
to exercise its discretion to permit a party to reopen its case and present evidence—
even after the parties have rested—before the case is submitted to the jury. See, e.g.,
Riggins, 321 N.C. at 109, 361 S.E.2d at 559 (“Pursuant to N.C. [Gen. Stat.] § 15A-
1226(b), the trial judge is authorized in his [or her] discretion to permit any party to
introduce additional evidence at any time prior to verdict.”); Wise, 178 N.C. App. at
163, 630 S.E.2d at 737 (holding the trial court did not err by allowing the State to
reopen its case and present additional evidence of the defendant’s release date after
the parties had rested but before the case was presented to the jury). “This Court has
long recognized that the trial court has the discretion to allow either party to recall
witnesses to offer additional evidence, even after jury arguments.” State v. Goldman,
311 N.C. 338, 350, 317 S.E.2d 361, 368 (1984) (citation omitted); see also State v.
Revelle, 301 N.C. 153, 161, 270 S.E.2d 476, 481 (1980) (“[N.C. Gen. Stat. §] 15A-
1226(b) specifically provides the trial judge may exercise his [or her] discretion to
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permit any party to introduce additional evidence at any time prior to the verdict.
This is so even after arguments to the jury have begun and even if the additional
evidence is testimony from a surprise witness.” (citations omitted)), disapproved on
other grounds by State v. White, 322 N.C. 506, 369 S.E.2d 813 (1988).
¶ 15 Harmonizing the statutes and giving each full effect, Hoffman, 48 N.C. App. at
564, 269 S.E.2d at 313, Subsection 15A-1227(c) of our General Statutes, which
mandates the trial court shall rule on a motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the
evidence “before the trial may proceed,” does not alter or minimize the trial court’s
discretion to allow for recall of a witness or further presentation of evidence before
the jury returns a verdict pursuant to Subsection 15A-1226(b). The Criminal Code
Commission Commentary to Subsection 15A-1227(c) explains: “the practice of
reserving decision on a motion is little followed at present in North Carolina––and
ought not to be encouraged. [The Commission] therefore amended a draft provision
based on the procedure of another jurisdiction, authorizing reservation of decision on
the motion to dismiss, to bar such a procedure.” Criminal Code Comm’n
Commentary, § 15A-1227(c) Editors’ Notes. Our precedent supports this reading.
This Court has held trial courts violate Subsection 15A-1227(c) when the trial court
reserves ruling on a motion to dismiss until after the jury returned a verdict. See
State v. Kiselev, 241 N.C. App 144, 151, 772 S.E.2d 465, 470 (2015) (“The trial court
violated N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1227(c) by reserving judgment on the defendant’s
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motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence until after the jury returned a
verdict.”); State v. Hernandez, 188 N.C. App. 193, 204, 655 S.E.2d 426, 433 (2008)
(considering whether the trial court’s reservation of ruling on motions to dismiss at
the close of all evidence until after the jury returned its verdict amounted to
prejudicial error).
¶ 16 Here, after the State rested for the first time, defense counsel moved to dismiss
the charge of felonious possession of stolen goods because the State had not presented
evidence that the allegedly stolen truck was valued in excess of $1,000. See N.C. Gen.
Stat. §§ 14-71.1, 72(a) (2021) (providing the offense is not a felony unless the value of
the stolen property is more than $1,000). The State moved to reopen its case, and the
trial court, within its discretion, allowed Mr. Sutphin to testify to the value of the
stolen truck. The State again rested and the trial court denied Defendant’s motion
to dismiss. In doing so, the trial court reserved ruling on Defendant’s motion to
dismiss until the State again rested but before closing arguments and before the jury
began its deliberation. Cf. Kiselev, 241 N.C. App at 151, 772 S.E.2d at 470. We hold
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in delaying its ruling on Defendant’s motion
to dismiss and allowing the State to reopen its case.
2. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Denying Defendant’s Motion to
Dismiss for Insufficiency of the Evidence.
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¶ 17 We now consider whether the trial court erred in ultimately denying
Defendant’s motion to dismiss the charge of felonious possession of stolen goods. We
hold it did not.
¶ 18 We review a trial court’s denial of a motion to dismiss de novo, State v. Cox,
367 N.C. 147, 151, 749 S.E.2d 271, 275 (2013) (citation omitted), to determine
whether there was “substantial evidence (1) of each essential element of the offense
charged, and (2) that defendant is the perpetrator of the offense,” State v. Key, 182
N.C. App. 624, 628-29, 643 S.E.2d 444, 448 (2007). “Substantial evidence is such
relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a
conclusion.” Id. at 629, 643 S.E.2d at 448. “When ruling on a motion to dismiss for
insufficient evidence, the trial court must consider the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, drawing all reasonable inferences in the State’s favor.” State
v. Miller, 363 N.C. 96, 98, 678 S.E.2d 592, 594 (2009).
¶ 19 Defendant challenges the State’s failure to prove one element of the felonious
possession of stolen goods charge, that the value of the vehicle was more than $1,000.
See § 14-71.1; State v. Phillips, 172 N.C. App. 143, 145, 615 S.E.2d 880, 882 (2005).
Viewing the evidence, including Mr. Sutphin’s testimony that the value of the truck
was $6,625 before it was damaged and $1,325 after the chase when it sold at auction,
in the light most favorable to the State, Miller, 363 N.C. at 98, 678 S.E.2d at 594, the
State presented substantial evidence of the value of the vehicle. See State v.
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Williams, 65 N.C. App. 373, 375, 309 S.E.2d 266, 267 (1983) (“[W]here a merchant
has determined a retail price of merchandise which [she/]he is willing to accept as the
worth of the item offered for sale, such a price constitutes evidence of fair market
value sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.”) We hold the trial court did not err
in denying Defendant’s motion to dismiss this charge.
B. Judicial Bias and Abuse of Discretion
¶ 20 Defendant asserts that the trial court abused its discretion and demonstrated
judicial bias against Defendant because it: (1) permitted the State to recall a witness
twice, once after defense counsel moved to dismiss the charges; and (2) allowed the
State to argue in closing “that the careless and reckless driving if attributed to
[Defendant] could have resulted in the death of people.” Defendant’s arguments are
without merit.
1. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion in Overruling
Defendant’s Objection to the State’s Closing Argument.
¶ 21 We review the trial court’s decision to overrule defendant’s timely objection to
a closing argument for abuse of discretion. State v. Murrell, 362 N.C. 375, 392, 665
S.E.2d. 61, 73 (2008). A trial court abuses its discretion “if the ruling could not have
been the result of a reasoned decision.” State v. Jones, 355 N.C. 117, 131, 558 S.E.2d
97, 106 (2002) (quotation marks and citations omitted). “We first determine if the
remarks were improper and then determine if the remarks were of such a magnitude
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that their inclusion prejudiced defendant.” State v. Copley, 374 N.C. 224, 228, 839
S.E.2d 726, 729 (2020) (quotation marks and citations omitted). Where there is no
objection, on the other hand, we consider whether the remarks were “so grossly
improper that the trial court erred in failing to intervene ex mero motu.” State v.
Trull, 349 N.C. 428, 451, 509 S.E.2d 178, 193 (1998). The trial court must intervene
during closing arguments if “the argument strays so far from the bounds of propriety
as to impede defendant’s right to a fair trial.” State v. Atkins, 349 N.C. 62, 84, 505
S.E.2d 97, 111 (1998). A prosecutor may argue “all the facts in evidence as well as
any reasonable inferences that may be drawn from those facts.” State v. Riley, 137
N.C. App. 403, 413, 528 S.E.2d 590, 597 (2000) (citing State v. Monk, 286 N.C. 509,
212 S.E.2d 125 (1975)); see also State v. Phillips, 365 N.C. 103, 135, 711 S.E.2d 122,
145 (2011). Pursuant to our General Statutes, during closing argument an attorney:
. . . may not become abusive, inject his personal
experiences, express his personal belief as to the truth or
falsity of the evidence or as to the guilt or innocence of the
defendant, or make arguments on the basis of matters
outside the record except for matters concerning which the
court may take judicial notice. An attorney may, however,
on the basis of his analysis of the evidence, argue any
position or conclusion with respect to a matter in issue.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1230(a) (2021).
¶ 22 Here, defense counsel only objected to the first few sentences of the State’s
closing argument:
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Truth be told, in a lot of ways, we’re kind of lucky. Because
this case could have turned out very differently. A car
fleeing law enforcement across state lines, and pushing 100
miles an hour, is about the quickest way to get somebody
killed on this road.
The trial court immediately overruled the objection.
¶ 23 In State v. Williams, 201 N.C. App. 103, 685 S.E.2d 534 (2009), this Court held
the following prosecutorial statements were proper:
I want you to remember one thing; and that is, he ought to
thank his lucky stars every day that he’s not sitting over
here looking at the death penalty jury, because had that
gun discharged and hit one of those victims or gone through
that wall and hit that child, this would be a completely
different situation. No matter what happens to him today
is his lucky day.
Williams, 201 N.C. App. at 106, 685 S.E.2d at 537. Here, as in Williams, it was
reasonable for the prosecutor to infer and then argue that Defendant’s flight from
police, driving at extremely high speeds without headlights, could have killed
someone. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling
Defendant’s objection to this portion of the State’s closing argument. See Jones, 355
N.C. at 131, 558 S.E.2d at 106. As to the remainder of the prosecutor’s argument,
Defendant has failed to show the trial court’s failure to intervene ex mero motu
interfered with Defendant’s right to a fair trial. See Atkins, 349 N.C. at 84, 505 S.E.2d
at 111.
2. No Judicial Partiality
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¶ 24 Without pointing us to caselaw or specific misconduct, Defendant alleges the
trial court “guided the State to convictions in this case,” abused its discretion, and
violated Defendant’s constitutional rights. We detect no partiality below.
¶ 25 “The law imposes on the trial judge the duty of absolute impartiality.” Nowell
v. Neal, 249 N.C. 516, 520, 107 S.E.2d 107, 110 (1959). The trial court also has the
duty to supervise and control a trial, including testimony of witnesses, to ensure
justice for all parties. State v. Agnew, 294 N.C. 382, 395, 241 S.E.2d 684, 692 (1978).
“The judge may not express during any stage of the trial, any opinion in the presence
of the jury on any question of fact to be decided by the jury,” and, “[i]n instructing the
jury, the judge shall not express an opinion as to whether or not a fact has been proved
and shall not be required to state, summarize or recapitulate the evidence, or to
explain the application of the law to the evidence.” N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 15A-1222, 1232
(2021).
¶ 26 We review claims of judicial bias by considering the totality of the
circumstances. State v. Fleming, 350 N.C. 109, 126, 512 S.E.2d 720, 732 (1999).
Considering the totality of the circumstances of the trial court’s actions which form
the basis of Defendant’s assignment of error, Defendant has failed to establish
prejudicial error.
¶ 27 First, we have already held the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
reserving ruling on Defendant’s motion to dismiss and allowing the State to reopen
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its case and recall a witness on two separate occasions. Second, as we have also held,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling defense counsel’s objection to
a portion of the prosecutor’s closing argument nor did it err in failing to intervene by
its own volition in the remainder of the closing. Further, the trial court did not make
any improper comments in front of the jury. See §§ 15A-1222, 1232.
¶ 28 We hold Defendant has failed to demonstrate prejudicial error and we reject
his claim of partiality. See Fleming, 350 N.C. at 125-30, 512 S.E.2d at 732-35 (holding
no prejudicial error or partiality where the defendant alleged 39 instances in which
the trial court intervened and interjected during jury selection, witness testimony,
prosecutorial questioning, and objections during trial).
III. CONCLUSION
¶ 29 For the foregoing reasons, we hold Defendant has failed to demonstrate error
or that he is entitled to a new trial.
NO ERROR.
Judges DIETZ and HAMPSON concur.