State v. Thomas

BRANCH, Chief Justice.

Defendant first assigns as error the admission into evidence of the testimony of Jerry Makas tending to show the defendant’s commission of a separate offense. Jerry Makas, testifying on behalf of the State, was permitted to relate an encounter between the defendant and him on 4 August 1982, just over two months after the alleged assault on Marc Pruitt. According to Makas, he was walking to a convenience store on Country Club Road at about 11:15 p.m. when he first saw defendant. Defendant was in a van and drove past Makas several times. Defendant parked the van in front of the convenience store and he and Makas nodded to each other as Makas entered the store. After making his purchase Makas walked back down the hill on Country Club Road. According to Makas, he then heard defendant “jogging up behind [him].” Defendant said, “That’s a good way to break your ankle,” referring to Makas’ walking along the curb. They continued walking until they reached the “bottom of Country Club where the creek is.” Makas’ account of the ensuing assault was as follows:

A. ... he grabbed me and had his hands on my pants, and I grabbed his arms and started kicking him and said, “Let me go,” about three or four times. And he said, “All right. You go this way and I’ll go that way.”

At trial, Makas was shown some pictures depicting his physical condition just after the assault. After he identified the pictures, he was asked how the scratches that appeared on his buttocks were caused. He responded: “He was trying to get my pants down . . . .” Makas also testified that, during the struggle, defendant said to him: “ ‘Be quiet. Stay still, and I won’t hurt you.’ ” Makas testified that defendant did not strike him or try to hit him in any way. He testified that, other than scratching his buttocks and pulling him down the hill, the defendant “was just trying to pull [his] pants down.”

Defendant contends that the admission of this evidence was error under our well-settled rule that evidence of the commission of another, distinct crime is generally not admissible in a criminal trial. State v. McClain, 240 N.C. 171, 81 S.E. 2d 364 (1954). “This is true even though the other offense is of the same nature as the crime charged.” State v. McClain, 240 N.C. at 173, 81 S.E. 2d at 365. The rule, as we recognized it in State v. McClain, is based on the following cogent reasons:

(1) “Logically, the commission of an independent offense is not proof in itself of the commission of another crime.” Shaffner v. Commonwealth, 72 Pa. 60, 13 Am. R. 649; People v. Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264, 61 N.E. 286, 62 L.R.A. 193. (2) Evidence of the commission by the accused of crimes unconnected with that for which he is being tried, when offered by the State in chief, violates the rule which forbids the State initially to attack the character of the accused, and also the rule that bad character may not be proved by particular acts, and is, therefore, inadmissible for that purpose. State v. Simborski, 120 Conn. 624, 182 A. 221; State v. Barton, 198 Wash. 268, 88 P. 2d 385. (3) “Proof that a defendant has been guilty of another crime equally heinous prompts to a ready acceptance of and belief in the prosecution’s theory that he is guilty of the crime charged. Its effect is to predispose the mind of the juror to believe the prisoner guilty, and thus effectually to strip him of the presumption of innocence.” State v. Gregory, 191 S.C. 212, 4 S.E. 2d 1. (4) “Furthermore, it is clear that evidence of other crimes compels the defendant to meet charges of which the indictment gives him no information, confuses him in his defense, raises a variety of issues, and thus diverts the attention of the jury from the charge immediately before it. The rule may be said to be an application of the principle that the evidence must be confined to the point in issue in the case on trial.” 20 Am. Jur., Evidence, section 309. See, also, in this connection these North Carolina cases: S. v. Fowler, 230 N.C. 470, 53 S.E. 2d 853; S. v. Beam, 184 N.C. 730, 115 S.E. 176; S. v. Fowler, 172 N.C. 905, 90 S.E. 408.

Id. at 173-74, 81 S.E. 2d at 365-66.

There are, however, several exceptions to the general rule, and one of them, the one relied upon by the State in the instant case, permits evidence of other crimes to be admitted when relevant to identify defendant as “the perpetrator of the crime charged.” Id. at 175, 81 S.E. 2d at 367. As stated in McClain:

Where the accused is not definitely identified as the perpetrator of the crime charged and the circumstances tend to show that the crime charged and another offense were committed by the same person, evidence that the accused committed the other offense is admissible to identify him as the perpetrator of the crime charged.

Id. at 175, 81 S.E. 2d at 367.

Notably, before evidence of other distinct crimes may be admitted under the exception, two requirements must be met. First, the identity of the defendant must be an issue in the case. Thus, when the defendant relies upon the defense of alibi, his identity and presence at the scene of the crime are facts which, along with other elements of the crime, must be proved by the State beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the mere fact that defendant committed another crime, even a similar one, does not ipso facto tend to identify him as the perpetrator of the crime charged. The second prong of the exception therefore requires that the circumstances of the two crimes be such as to “tend to show that the crime charged and another offense were committed by the same person.” State v. McClain, 240 N.C. at 175, 81 S.E. 2d at 367 (1983). As stated by Justice Mitchell in the recent case of State v. Moore:

[BJefore this exception can be applied, there must be ¿hown some unusual facts present in both crimes or particularly similar acts which would indicate that the same person committed both crimes. [Citations omitted.] To allow the admission of evidence of other crimes without such a showing of similarities would defeat the purpose of the general rule of exclusion.

309 N.C. 102, 106-107, 305 S.E. 2d 542, 545 (1983).

In the instant case, defendant relied upon a defense of alibi, thus putting his identity in issue. State v. Freeman, 303 N.C. 299, 278 S.E. 2d 207 (1981). The first test having been met, then, the only question remaining is whether the circumstances of the two offenses were so similar as to “tend to show that the crime charged and another offense were committed by the same person.” State v. McClain, 240 N.C. at 175, 81 S.E. 2d at 367; State v. Moore, 309 N.C. at 106, 305 S.E. 2d at 545.

We find that the two offenses in the instant case are sufficiently similar as to “provide a reasonable inference that the same person committed both offenses.” State v. Moore, 309 N.C. at 108, 305 S.E. 2d at 546. In both cases, the victim was a young boy travelling alone and on foot. In both cases the assault took place during non-daylight hours. The assailant in each case first casually greeted his victim prior to forcing himself upon the victim. Both attacks took place on a grassy bank; and during the course of both attacks, the assailant said to each victim something to the effect of “Be quiet and I won’t hurt you.” Marc Pruitt described his assailant as a “jogger.” Jerry Makas testified that he heard defendant “jogging up behind him.” The attack on Pruitt was decidedly sexual in nature, and, given Makas’ testimony that defendant was trying to pull his pants off, there is at least a reasonable inference that, had Makas not fought back, the encounter would have culminated in a sexual assault. In both cases, the assailant did not attempt to hit or strike his victim; and in both cases, the assailant left his victim by running “back up” the street.

In the light of the numerous similarities between these two offenses, we hold that the trial court did not err in admitting the testimony of Jerry Makas concerning defendant’s assault upon him. See State v. Leggett, 305 N.C. 213, 287 S.E. 2d 832 (1982); State v. Freeman, 303 N.C. 299, 278 S.E. 2d 207 (1981); State v. Greene, 294 N.C. 418, 241 S.E. 2d 662 (1978); State v. McClain, 282 N.C. 357, 193 S.E. 2d 108 (1972). Cf. State v. Moore, 309 N.C. 102, 305 S.E. 2d 542. This assignment is overruled.

Defendant’s second assignment of error challenges the trial court’s denial of defense counsel’s motion to withdraw. The attorney for defendant moved to withdraw on the grounds that he had represented one of the State’s potential witnesses, William Edward Russell, in an unrelated matter. Furthermore, defense counsel had advised Russell’s mother concerning the very incident about which he was to testify at trial, an incident involving a sexual encounter between the witness and the defendant. After a hearing in chambers, Judge William Z. Wood found as a fact, inter alia, that defense counsel had advised defendant of the prior representation. He therefore concluded that “Mr. Gofer’s prior representation of a potential State’s witness does not create a conflict of interest as a matter of law.”

We note at the outset that a motion to withdraw is ordinarily a matter left to the sound discretion of the trial judge and his ruling will not be disturbed absent a showing of abuse. Jacobs v. Pendel, 98 N.J. Super. 252, 236 A. 2d 888 (1967).

We do not reach the question of whether the denial of the motion to withdraw constituted an abuse of discretion, since defendant has failed to demonstrate that the ruling resulted in prejudice to him. This assignment is overruled.

Defendant next assigns as error the denial of his motion to suppress a written statement made by him to investigating officers. Defendant essentially makes two arguments in support of his assertion of error. First, defendant contends that he was subjected to further questioning after he had invoked his right to counsel, in violation of Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981). Second, he contends that his statement was induced by suggestions of hope or fear growing out of a statement made to him by one of the officers to “be sure and tell your attorney that you had the opportunity to help yourself and didn’t.” In support of the second contention, defendant relies upon our case of State v. Pruitt, 286 N.C. 442, 212 S.E. 2d 92 (1975).

After conducting a voir dire hearing as to the admissibility of defendant’s confession, the trial judge found facts which may be summarized as follows:

Defendant was taken into custody on 5 August. 1982 and arrested in connection with another incident. At that time he was read his rights and indicated he understood them. Sometime after noon on 6 August 1982, Detective Randy Weavil and Officer J. I. Dalton went to the Forsyth County jail, and escorted defendant to City Hall. After advising defendant of his rights, both orally and in writing, the officers proceeded to question defendant in very general terms, informing him in the process that he was being investigated in connection with another case involving a sexual assault on a minor. When the discussion turned to the particulars of the Marc Pruitt case, defendant indicated that he did not want to talk further and that he wanted an attorney. Questioning ceased and the officers transported defendant to the office of the Clerk of Superior Court. While defendant waited nearby, the officers proceeded to obtain a warrant from the Clerk. As Officer Dalton filled out the arrest warrant, he said to defendant, “Be sure to tell your attorney that you had the opportunity to help yourself and didn’t.” Approximately five minutes later, defendant asked Officer Dalton if he still wanted a statement, to which the officer replied that it was “up to him,” and they would take his statement if he wanted to make one. Defendant indicated that he would like to make a statement. The officers escorted defendant back to City Hall, advised defendant of his rights once again, and, after defendant again waived his right to counsel, proceeded to take his statement. The entire process from the officers’ initial questioning to the giving of the statement lasted slightly more than an hour.

The trial court specifically found that at the time of questioning, “the officers observed no odor of alcohol about the person of the defendant, nor did they observe or perceive any noticeable impairment either of the mental or physical faculties of the defendant from any source.” The court also found that the confession was not induced by Officer Dalton’s statement to defendant and that the confession was not made in response to any questioning by the officers. The court concluded that the “statement made by the defendant to Officer Dalton on 6 August 1982 was made freely, voluntarily, and understanding^.”

The findings of fact by the trial court are binding upon us if supported by competent evidence in the record. State v. Johnson, 304 N.C. 680, 285 S.E. 2d 792 (1982). In the instant case, the pertinent findings are supported by ample evidence and we are therefore bound by them. The court’s conclusions of law, however, do not bind this Court and we may fully review them to determine if they are supported by the finding of facts. State v. Corley, 310 N.C. 40, 311 S.E. 2d 540 (1984).

Defendant first argues that his confession should have been excluded under the rule of Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981), that “once a suspected criminal invokes his right to counsel, he may not be questioned further until counsel is provided unless the suspected criminal himself initiates the dialogue at which time he may waive his right to have an attorney present.” State v. Franklin, 308 N.C. 682, 686, 304 S.E. 2d 579, 582 (1983). The question presented on the facts before us, then, is whether or not defendant’s confession was the result of questioning or conversation initiated by the officers after defendant had invoked his right to have counsel present, or whether defendant himself voluntarily initiated the dialogue leading to his confession. Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981); State v. Lang, 309 N.C. 512, 308 S.E. 2d 317 (1983); State v. Franklin, 308 N.C. 682, 304 S.E. 2d 579. The trial court found as a fact in this case that Officer Dalton remarked to the defendant that he should be sure and tell his attorney he had a chance to help himself and did not do so. Such a remark, however, did not amount to interrogation of defendant. Furthermore, five minutes passed before defendant “inquired of the officers as to whether they still wanted him to make a statement.” Officer Dalton replied that it was up to defendant, and defendant stated he would like to give one. The trial court found that the defendant made this inquiry “of his own volition and not in response to any question asked by officers.” We agree, and hold that under the circumstances surrounding the giving of defendant’s statement, no violation of defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsél occurred.

We have recognized that “interrogation is not limited to express questioning by the police,” State v. Ladd, 308 N.C. 272, 280, 302 S.E. 2d 164, 170 (1983), and that the term also refers to “ ‘any words or actions on the part of the police . . . that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the suspect. ’ ” Id. at 281, 302 S.E. 2d at 170 (quoting Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301 (1980) and defining “interrogation” under Miranda:) (emphasis supplied by the Ladd Court). Under the circumstances of this case, however, we are unable to conclude that Officer Dalton should have known that his “offhand” remark was reasonably likely to provoke defendant into making an incriminating statement. See State v. Ladd, 308 N.C. at 281, 302 S.E. 2d at 170 (1983). We therefore hold that defendant’s confession was not made in response to interrogation by Officer Dalton, and the “prophylactic rule” of Edwards v. Arizona has not been violated. See State v. Lang, 309 N.C. 512, 308 S.E. 2d 317 (1983).

Defendant argues as a second ground for this assignment that the confession was involuntary under our rule set forth in State v. Pruitt, 286 N.C. 442, 212 S.E. 2d 92 (1975). Defendant contends that his statement was not freely and voluntarily made, but was induced by the suggestion of hope or fear implanted in his mind by Officer Dalton’s statement to him.

In Pruitt, we held that the defendant’s statement was rendered involuntary when induced by an officer’s statement that it would be harder on the defendant if he did not cooperate. Id. However, as we noted in our recent case of State v. Corley, “we specifically pointed out that the statement by the officer that it would be harder on the defendant if he did not cooperate was preceded by other circumstances which tended to provoke fright in the defendant and overbear his will.” Id. at 47, 311 S.E. 2d at 544-45. In Corley, we rejected the notion that Pruitt stands for any per se rule of exclusion. A majority of the Court in Corley, speaking through Justice Mitchell, stated:

An absolute rule requiring exclusion of statements to law enforcement officers by a defendant in custody and who did not assert his right to counsel has been applied only in those cases in which the officers failed to comply with procedural safeguards required by Miranda, In cases in which the requirements of Miranda have been met and the defendant has not asserted the right to have counsel present during questioning, no single circumstance may be viewed in isolation as rendering a confession the product of improperly induced hope or fear and, therefore, involuntary. In those cases the court must proceed to determine whether the statement made by the defendant was in fact voluntarily and understanding^ made, which is the ultimate test of the admissibility of a confession. In determining whether a defendant’s statement was in fact voluntarily and understandingly made, the court must consider the totality of the circumstances of the case and may not rely upon any one circumstance standing alone and in isolation.

Id. at 48, 311 S.E. 2d at 545. (Emphasis in original.)

Applying the “totality of the circumstances” test to the facts before us, we cannot say that the circumstances leading up to and surrounding defendant’s confession were such as to overbear his will. In Pruitt, unlike the case before us, the police “repeatedly told defendant that they knew that he had committed the crime and that his story had too many holes in it; that he was ‘lying’ and that they did not want to ‘fool around.’ ” State v. Pruitt, 286 N.C. at 458, 212 S.E. 2d at 102. In addition, the officers told defendant in that case that “it would simply be harder on him if he didn’t go ahead and cooperate.” Id. In the instant case, none of the findings supports a claim that the officers threatened defendant or otherwise attempted to frighten or coerce him into confession. All there is in this case is the sole, offhand statement of an officer, which is at best ambiguous. We therefore conclude that the trial court did not err in finding defendant’s statement to be voluntary and admissible. This assignment is overruled.

Defendant’s remaining assignments are either repetitious, cumulative, or are conceded by him and it is therefore not necessary to address them.

Defendant received a fair trial, free from prejudicial error.

No error.