David Brett Middleton v. State of Mississippi

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2016-KA-01295-COA
DAVID BRETT MIDDLETON A/K/A DAVID B. APPELLANT
MIDDLETON A/K/A DAVID MIDDLETON
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/26/2016
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. LINDA F. COLEMAN
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: COAHOMA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: MARK KEVIN HORAN
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: KATY TAYLOR GERBER
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: BRENDA FAY MITCHELL
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 01/22/2019
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE GRIFFIS, C.J., BARNES AND CARLTON, P.JJ.
BARNES, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. David Brett Middleton was convicted of aggravated assault by a Coahoma County
jury and sentenced to ten years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections,
with five years suspended and five years of post-release supervision. On appeal, Middleton
claims the trial court erred in allowing a law-enforcement officer’s “duty tape” to be played
to the jury because the tape contained a racial slur. Additionally, he argues his motion for
a directed verdict should have been granted because there was no evidence presented that
the action of driving a motor vehicle in a parking lot constituted a means likely to produce
serious bodily injury. We find both issues without merit and affirm.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
¶2. On the afternoon of February 11, 2015, Larry Brown, a fifty-six-year-old homeless
African-American male, was struck by a GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by Middleton, a
white male. The incident occurred in an empty parking lot in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The
parking lot was in front of a vacant building that was previously a grocery store. Middleton,
a local businessman and realtor, leased commercial space in the Executive Plaza, which was
across the street. Dave Houston, who could view the parking lot from his barbershop across
the street, testified that Brown had been living outside the entrance to the vacant building
for at least a year. On the day of the incident, Houston was called outside while cutting hair.
Cedric Betts, another barber, was outside with a customer and noticed Middleton’s truck
following Brown. Betts testified the truck followed Brown from the Executive Plaza into
the empty parking lot. Middleton, who was driving the truck, and Brown were having an
argument. Betts stated Middleton was screaming at Brown, at one point saying “I’m gone
kill you, n*****.” Brown, meanwhile, was cursing back at Middleton, walking away from
the truck. Betts testified that Middleton then revved his truck’s engine and hit Brown with
his truck. Brown lay on the ground, but then got up and walked away.
¶3. Houston also testified he observed Middleton and Brown having a “verbal
disagreement.” Houston then saw Brown on the ground but did not see what caused him to
hit the ground. Houston ran to check on him, and Middleton came by in his truck and asked
Houston if Brown was “okay.” Houston then called the police to obtain medical attention
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for Brown, but he had left the scene.
¶4. During the incident, firefighters were training outside of the Clarksdale Fire
Department, which is across the street from the parking lot. Captain Marvin McCray
testified that he heard the truck’s engine revving and a “loud boom” or “thump.” He then
saw Brown lying face down in front of Middleton’s truck in the nearby parking lot. Richard
Trotter, another firefighter, testified he saw a man walking down the sidewalk and heard an
engine revving in the empty parking lot. He saw Middleton’s truck and then heard a “loud
bump” that sounded like a car accident. When Trotter looked back again, Brown was lying
face down on the ground. Several people ran to help Brown, but he ignored them and
walked down the street, talking incoherently.
¶5. Officer Eddie Earl of the Clarksdale Police Department was first on the scene. He
activated his “duty tape”1 and recorded his conversation with Middleton. At the time,
Middleton was not under arrest and was very cooperative, wanting to tell Officer Earl his
version of the events. The tape was played for the jury over the defense’s objection. In it,
Middleton explained that he managed the Executive Plaza for his father, who owned the
property. They had had prior problems with Brown, who was homeless, being on the
property and scaring tenants. Middleton had a park bench removed from outside the plaza
because Brown would loiter there and harass tenants. Brown had also been arrested for this
1
At trial, Officer Earl explained that a “duty tape” is a tape recording of the
individuals he speaks with and the statements they make.
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conduct in the past.
¶6. On the tape, Middleton explained to Officer Earl that earlier in the day, Middleton
had told Brown to leave the property, but Brown cursed at him. Middleton became angry.
The men cursed back and forth at each other. Middleton apologetically admitted he called
Brown a “n*****” because he was “mad as hell at that son-of-a-b****.” He told Officer
Earl “this has been an ongoing thing for several weeks.” Middleton claimed he only
intended to scare Brown with his truck, but instead he accidentally “clipped him with the
[side] mirror.” Brown fell down. When Middleton circled back around, Brown was gone.
Because Brown got up quickly after being hit, Middleton felt Brown was not injured too
badly. He added that if he really wanted to hurt Brown, he “could’ve run him slap over.”
¶7. Even though Officer Earl informed Middleton his oral statement was recorded,
Middleton insisted on writing a statement as well, which read:
The guy has been over here before and police called on him. I just recently
took a bench from my property to try and get him to stop hanging out over
here. Today he was in [the] lot by [the] garbage can. I told him [to] leave
[and] he started cussing me etc. I cussed him back – said words I shouldn’t
have. He was standing in [the] lot [and I] took out to leave past him [and]
hoped to scare him. My side view mirror hit him. He fell but got back up and
left.
The statement was admitted into evidence over the defense’s objection.
¶8. At trial, Middleton testified in his own defense. On February 11, he saw Brown
rummaging through the garbage dumpster of the Executive Plaza parking lot. Middleton’s
father requested him to ask Brown to leave because of the problems in the past. Middleton
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walked outside, asked Brown to leave, and warned Brown he would call the police.
Middleton then returned to his office. Later, as he was leaving his office to attend an
appraisal, Middleton saw Brown beside the building on the sidewalk. Middleton rolled
down the window to his truck and yelled at Brown to leave. In response, Brown started
cussing and threatening Middleton. Unsure what to do, Middleton decided to follow Brown
in his truck, trying to “push him away.” Brown crossed the street and walked to the old
grocery-store parking lot. Middleton parked his vehicle to “calm down.” He claimed to hit
the gas before realizing the truck was in park, accidentally revving the engine. Putting the
truck in drive, Middleton saw Brown was in front of him and went to the right of him.
Middleton claims he accidentally hit Brown with his truck’s side mirror. From what he
could tell, the side-view mirror was the only part of the truck that touched Brown. As soon
as it happened, Middleton turned around to check on Brown, but he was gone.
¶9. Brown briefly testified, affirming that he was homeless and sleeping in front of the
former grocery store. He stated he was “run over by a white man in a white pickup truck”
for no reason. The next day, he said the sheriff took him to the hospital. Officer Earl
testified that after the accident, he had observed minor cuts and bruises on Brown’s face and
some blood.
ANALYSIS
I. Admission of the Duty Tape
¶10. Middleton argues he was prejudiced by the admission of Officer Earl’s duty tape,
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which was played to the jury. He claims his verbal statement was cumulative to his written
statement and had no probative value. Instead, he argues the racially charged remarks in the
tape inflamed the jurors, causing an unfair trial. This Court reviews the trial court’s
admission or exclusion of evidence for abuse of discretion. Stone v. State, 94 So. 3d 1078,
1081 (¶9) (Miss. 2012).
¶11. During Officer Earl’s direct examination, defense counsel objected when the
prosecutor asked what Middleton told him. Counsel argued this information was
inadmissible because at that point Middleton had not been given a Miranda2 warning
informing him that any statements he made could be used against him. Outside the jury’s
presence, defense counsel moved to suppress Middleton’s statements to the officer on the
scene, all of which were recorded on the duty tape. The prosecutor sought to show the trial
court that the statements were voluntary by questioning Officer Earl. The trial court
determined that the statements were not made during a custodial interrogation; so Middleton
was not entitled to a Miranda warning. The motion to suppress was denied. Over a
renewed objection from the defense, the duty tape was admitted into evidence and played
for the jury.
¶12. Now, Middleton argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the highly
prejudicial duty tape into evidence because the trial court failed to perform the requisite
balancing test under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 403, which is “an ultimate filter through
2
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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which all otherwise admissible evidence must pass.” Welde v. State, 3 So. 3d 113, 117 (¶15)
(Miss. 2009) (quoting Crawford v. State, 754 So. 2d 1211, 1220 (¶23) (Miss. 2000)). The
test is whether “the probative value of the evidence . . . outweigh[s] the prejudicial effect.”
Id. However, defense counsel’s objection at trial was different: that the duty tape should
have been excluded because Middleton had not been advised of his Miranda rights prior to
giving any statements.
¶13. It is well established that “[o]ne may not raise an issue on appeal which was not
raised in the trial court.” Osborne v. State, 942 So. 2d 193, 200 (¶27) (Miss. Ct. App. 2006).
Here, this issue is waived because it was not raised before the trial court.3 Regardless of the
waiver, the issue is without merit. The tape had probative value as to Middleton’s motive
and intent. On the tape, while initially apologetic about using a racial slur against Brown,
as he recounted the incident to Officer Earl, Middleton became more agitated and angry.
The jury could have deduced from Middleton’s tone of voice that he was angry and
frustrated enough to hit or clip Brown with his vehicle intentionally. The tape was more
probative of Middleton’s state of mind at the time of the accident than the less detailed
written statement. For example, the written statement excludes references to wanting to
“kill” Brown.
¶14. Further, Middleton never requested a Rule 403 balancing test, and it is his duty to do
3
Middleton did raise this argument in his post-trial motion for a judgment
notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), or in the alternative, a new trial, but not at the time of
his motion to suppress during the trial.
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so. “[T]he onus [is] on the parties” to request the trial court perform the test “with regard
to relevant evidence which may otherwise be excluded . . . .” McLaurin v. State, 31 So. 3d
1263, 1270 (¶31) (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). Accordingly, this issue is without merit.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶15. Next, Middleton argues the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed
verdict because the State presented no evidence that Middleton’s pickup truck was a deadly
weapon, or was used as a means likely to produce death or serious bodily harm, or that
Middleton intended to cause any injury.
¶16. “The sufficiency of the evidence is challenged with a motion for a directed verdict,
a request for a peremptory instruction, or a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
(JNOV).” Pace v. State, 242 So. 3d 107, 117 (¶24) (Miss. 2018). “On review of the
sufficiency of the evidence, th[e reviewing court] considers the trial court’s ruling at the last
time the sufficiency of the evidence was challenged.” Warren v. State, 187 So. 3d 616, 627
(¶29) (Miss. 2016). “[T]he relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at (¶30). The reviewing
court “must accept as true all evidence consistent with . . . guilt.” Robinson v. State, 940 So.
2d 235, 240 (¶13) (Miss. 2006).
¶17. At the conclusion of the State’s case-in-chief, defense counsel moved for a directed
verdict on the charge of aggravated assault. Under Mississippi Code Annotated section 97-
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3-7(2)(a)(ii) (Rev. 2014), a person is guilty of aggravated assault when he or she “attempts
to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon
or other means likely to produce death or serious bodily harm.” Middleton argues that “on
its face,” a motor vehicle is not a dangerous weapon or means to produce serious bodily
harm, but merely a mode for transportation. He claims the State did not show the pickup
truck was used with the intent to harm Middleton. Moreover, in his brief Middleton
inaccurately states that the only actual witnesses who saw the collision were himself and
Brown.
¶18. Middleton’s argument is without merit. After its case-in chief, the State provided
sufficient evidence for the trial court to deny Middleton’s directed verdict. Under the
sufficiency of evidence standard, all favorable inferences supporting guilt must be accepted
as true. Robinson, 940 So. 2d at 240 (¶13). While “on its face” a vehicle may not be a
deadly weapon, this Court has held that “[t]here can be no doubt that a motor vehicle used
for the purpose of intentionally running over another person is a deadly weapon within the
contemplation of this State’s aggravated assault statute.” Genry v. State, 767 So. 2d 302,
312 (¶36) (Miss. Ct. App. 2000). The State elicited sufficient evidence that Middleton used
his truck with the purpose and intent of harming Brown. Middleton admitted, and witness
testimony corroborated, his anger and frustration toward Brown for loitering in the parking
lot and scaring tenants, at one point calling Brown a “son-of-a-b****” on the duty tape.
From the barber shop, Houston saw the two men having a verbal disagreement before
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Brown was hit. Barber Betts also heard Middleton and Brown screaming and cursing at one
another, with Middleton at one point telling Brown, “I’m gone kill you, n*****.” Contrary
to Middleton’s assertion that there were no eyewitnesses to the collision, Betts then saw
Middleton rev his white truck’s engine and hit Brown. An “advanced rate of speed,” as
Middleton contends, was not necessary to convert a multiple-ton pickup truck into a deadly
weapon or instrument of harm.
¶19. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier
of fact could find the State presented the essential elements of aggravated assault beyond a
reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we affirm Middleton’s conviction and sentence.
¶20. AFFIRMED.
GRIFFIS, C.J., CARLTON, P.J., WILSON, GREENLEE, WESTBROOKS
AND TINDELL, JJ., CONCUR. McDONALD, LAWRENCE AND McCARTY, JJ.,
NOT PARTICIPATING.
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