Euphrates Earl Bean v. Commonwealth of Virginia ( 2022 )


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  •                                               COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
    UNPUBLISHED
    Present: Judges Humphreys, AtLee and Raphael
    EUPHRATES EARL BEAN
    MEMORANDUM OPINION*
    v.      Record No. 0307-22-1                                          PER CURIAM
    DECEMBER 13, 2022
    COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK
    Jerrauld C. Jones, Judge
    (Kristin Paulding; 7 Cities Law, on brief), for appellant. Appellant
    submitting on brief.
    (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; Matthew J. Beyrau, Assistant
    Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
    Following a bench trial, the City of Norfolk Circuit Court convicted Euphrates Earl Bean of
    two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, in violation of Code § 18.2-51.2, and two counts of
    use of a firearm in the commission of felony, in violation of Code § 18.2-53.1. Bean asserts on
    appeal that the evidence was insufficient to support the convictions. After examining the briefs and
    record in this case, the panel unanimously holds that oral argument is unnecessary because “the
    appeal is wholly without merit.” Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a); Rule 5A:27(a). Bean failed to timely
    file a transcript, or statement of facts in lieu of a transcript, necessary to the appeal pursuant to
    Rule 5A:8. As a result, we cannot reach his assignments of error and affirm his convictions.
    BACKGROUND
    Following an altercation that occurred in the city of Norfolk on August 29, 2019, Norfolk
    Police Detective T. Ostulano obtained criminal warrants charging Bean with two counts of
    *
    Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
    malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
    Ostulano’s accompanying criminal complaint asserted:
    On 08/29/19 at 2101 hours, the Norfolk Police Department, along
    with Norfolk Fire & Rescue, responded to the 2900 block of
    Pershing Avenue for a shooting in progress. Upon arrival,
    emergency personnel located Euphrates Bean, Jedidiah Patterson,
    and Brian Thigpen suffering from gunshot wounds. Three separate
    medic units transported all the gunshot victims to Sentara Norfolk
    General Hospital. Witnesses stated that Euphrates Bean came out
    of 3240 Lyons Ave. Apt B to confront the victims for being too
    loud. He began taking pictures of the license plate of a car
    belonging to one of the victims. A verbal altercation ensued
    between them and the argument escalated when Bean pulled out a
    hand gun and began shooting at the victims. Bean shot himself in
    the leg in the process. Victims were not armed at the time of the
    incident.
    Thereafter, a Norfolk grand jury issued indictments for each offense.1
    Following a bench trial, the circuit court convicted Bean of two counts of aggravated
    malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. By final
    order dated December 9, 2021, the circuit court sentenced Bean to 48 years in prison, with 30
    years suspended. Bean’s attorney filed a notice of appeal on December 20, 2021. The notice of
    appeal indicated that Bean would pursue his appeal pro se and stated that Bean had not yet
    ordered the transcript from the court reporter who reported the case. On March 10, 2022, the
    Norfolk Circuit Court transmitted the record to this Court. The trial and sentencing transcripts
    were not included in that transmission.
    ANALYSIS
    On appeal, Bean asserts that the circuit court erred in finding the evidence sufficient to
    prove he committed aggravated malicious wounding because the Commonwealth’s evidence
    1
    The Commonwealth added indictments for aggravated malicious wounding, and later
    the circuit court granted a motion for nolle prosequi and dismissed the indictments for malicious
    wounding.
    -2-
    failed to show that he acted with the requisite malice. He also asserts that the evidence failed to
    support the convictions for the firearm offenses because he did not commit the underlying
    felonies. We do not reach the merits of Bean’s contentions, however, because he failed to file a
    transcript, or written statements of facts in lieu of a transcript, necessary for our review.
    “The transcript of any proceeding is a part of the record when it is filed in the office of
    the clerk of the trial court no later than 60 days after entry of the final judgment.” Rule 5A:8(a).
    “When the appellant fails to ensure that the record contains transcripts or a written statement of
    facts necessary to permit resolution of appellate issues, any assignments of error affected by such
    omission will not be considered.” Rule 5A:8(b)(4)(ii). Indeed, if “the transcript [or statement of
    facts] is indispensable to the determination of the case, then the requirements for making the
    transcript [or statement of facts] a part of the record on appeal must be strictly adhered to.” Bay
    v. Commonwealth, 
    60 Va. App. 520
    , 528 (2012) (alterations in original) (quoting Turner v.
    Commonwealth, 
    2 Va. App. 96
    , 99 (1986)). “This Court has no authority to make exceptions to
    the filing requirements set out in the Rules.” Shiembob v. Shiembob, 
    55 Va. App. 234
    , 246
    (2009) (quoting Turner, 2 Va. App. at 99).
    Bean filed the transcripts in the circuit court on April 4, 2022, more than 60 days after
    entry of the final judgment on December 9, 2021. Notably, Bean did not file a motion for
    extension of time in which to file the transcripts. See Rule 5A:8(a). Thus, the transcripts were
    neither timely filed in the circuit court, nor included in the record. Because Bean challenges the
    sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions, a transcript of the proceedings is required
    for our evaluation of that evidence. Without a transcript or written statement of facts, we are
    unable to address Bean’s contentions. Therefore, we conclude that timely-filed transcripts, or a
    written statement of facts in lieu of a transcript, are indispensable to a determination of the
    -3-
    assignments of error presented in Bean’s appeal. See Smith v. Commonwealth, 
    32 Va. App. 766
    ,
    772 (2000); Turner, 2 Va. App. at 99-100.
    Because Bean failed to ensure that the record contained a timely-filed transcript, or
    written statement of facts in lieu of a transcript, we are unable to resolve the assignments of
    error. Rule 5A:8(b)(4)(ii). Consequently, we affirm the convictions.
    CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reason, the circuit court’s judgment is affirmed.
    Affirmed.
    -4-
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 0307221

Filed Date: 12/13/2022

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 12/13/2022