Carico v. State

1966 OK CR 137, 418 P.2d 702, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 311
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 5, 1966
DocketNo. A-13811
StatusPublished

This text of 1966 OK CR 137 (Carico v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carico v. State, 1966 OK CR 137, 418 P.2d 702, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 311 (Okla. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

BRETT, Judge:

This is an appeal by Sammy Darrell Cari-co, from a conviction for the crime of assault and battery with intent to kill, after former convictions of felonies.

The accused was initially charged jointly in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, with one William Eugene Eaton, as the result of an assault which occurred during the breakfast hour, in the dining hall on April 1, 1965, in the State Penitentiary at McAlester, Oklahoma. Both defendants were inmates [704]*704of the penitentiary, as was the one assaulted. A severance was granted, and William Eugene Eaton was tried first, convicted by a jury, and his appeal to this court was affirmed. Eaton v. State, Okl.Cr., 418 P.2d 710.

Subsequently this defendant was tried by a jury and found guilty of the charge. The jury assessed his punishment and sentenced him to serve not less than one year, nor more than four years in the state penitentiary.

At the outset of his brief, counsel for defendant stated: “The theory of the defendant and what we expect to prove, was that the assault committed on the said Larry Jack Horton, if one was in fact committed on the day and date as alleged in the information, was committed by the said William Eugene Eaton.”

In this appeal defendant’s first contention of error is that the court erred in overruling defendant’s demurrer to the information.

During the hearing had in the district court, when defendant’s “plea in abatement, motion to quash or motion to set aside”, was heard, the attorney for the defendant announced that he would like to file demurrers to the informations. The record before the Court reflects, “lengthy argument was had by counsel”; after which the court announced, “The demurrers and each of them are overruled, and separate exceptions are allowed.”

At the defendant’s subsequent trial, the State introduced evidence to show that Larry Jack Horton, the victim of the assault, was stabbed and cut with instruments similar to knives. The prison doctor testified that he treated Horton on the date mentioned, and stated further:

“A There were eight puncture-type, rather than clean stab-type wounds. There were two in the upper left arm. There was another at the shoulder. There were three wounds in the left side of the chest and there were two other wounds in the small part of the back, on the right.”

The doctor stated further, that Horton had a collapsed lung on his left side, which had to be caused by either one or all of the three stab wounds in the chest.

An instrument, otherwise described as a steel screw-driver, which had been sharpened to a fine point, was shown to the doctor. The doctor testified, “I would say that it would be an instrument that would make a wound such as Horton had.”

Witness Allen Ventress, captain of the guards at the penitentiary, testified' that this defendant walked up behind him and was holding his hand down by his side. Witness testified that he asked the defendant if he had anything, and continued, “he handed me an instrument that was square and was possibly about ten inches long overall, and was ground off to a sharp point on the end and had a plastic handle on it, and the handle was wrapped with adhesive tape, and it had a string tied around it.” This instrument was later identified as a sharp-pointed screw-driver. The witness testified further that he did not see the defendant use the instrument in any way, but at the time it was handed to him, it had a red substance on it, which looked like blood. The substance referred to was still on the instrument at the time of the trial.

The Assistant Deputy Warden, Mr. Park Anderson, testified that he made an investigation of the affray, and that this defendant told him that he stabbed Horton.

The defendant offered testimony of two witnesses, William Eugene Eaton, and Larry Jack Horton.

Eaton testified that he stabbed Horton, on the date charged. He also testified that both knives, or cutting or stabbing instruments, were his, and that he had them at the time the incident occurred. He testified that he stabbed Horton once or twice in the back, and “I think three times in the chest. I am not for sure.”

On cross-examination Eaton was asked, “Then what did they do with you, after Mr. Harrington got the knife, to keep you from stabbing him the second time? A He was already on his way to the Lieuten[705]*705ant’s office when Mr. Harrington grabbed me. He had already been stabbed five to seven times when Mr. Harrington grabbed me.”

When Larry Jack Horton, the victim of the assault, was called to testify, he stated in effect that he had no interest in the case, and that he did not know Carico, the defendant. The evidence revealed that defendant, Carico, and William Eugene Eaton were cellmates in the penitentiary.

Defendant first contends in his brief that the information charged more than one crime. We do not agree with this contention. Defendant cites Littlefield v. State, Okl.Cr., 354 P.2d 796; and a companion case, Davis v. State, Okl.Cr., 354 P.2d 466, both of which were reversed.

The information filed in the case at bar can be clearly distinguished from those found in the Littlefield and Davis cases, supra. The information in the instant case charges assault and battery by means of deadly weapons, describes the weapons, the manner in which they were used, and alleges the element, “with intent to kill”. The same was not true in the Littlefield and Davis cases. It is evident in the instant case that the county attorney intended to, and did, chavrge this defendant with assault and battery with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, under Title 21 O.S.A. § 652.

Defendant’s second assignment of error is with reference to the testimony of the assistant deputy warden, Park Anderson.

When this witness was called, defense counsel requested the court to take the testimony of witness out of the presence of the jury. Defendant’s request was granted, and the jury was excused. Defendant’s objection to the testimony of this witness makes reference to a statement made to the witness. Defendant cites Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977 in support of his contention.

After the jury was excused, the witness, Park Anderson, testified that when he talked with the defendant, he advised the defendant that any statement he might make could he used “either for or against him”.

At this point, the court asked the witness, “What was the reason for talking to this particular defendant?” The witness answered, “Sir, he had been involved in a fight there in the prison, and I wanted to find out what had happened and why.”

He testified further that the defendant “told me about the offense he was involved in out there, that he stabbed Horton over a debt.” Pie was asked if defendant at any time told him about wanting a lawyer, and witness stated, “Well along later after the statement he did ask if he could contact his folks, and I told him any time he was ready I would let him, or help him.” Witness further stated that defendant did not ask his assistance in procuring a lawyer in his case.

During this inquiry of Mr. Anderson, it became quite evident that Mr. Anderson’s duties are administrative. His official title is “Assistant Deputy Warden”, but his function or official duties are those of administrative assistant to the Warden.

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Related

Escobedo v. Illinois
378 U.S. 478 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Guthrey v. State
1962 OK CR 106 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1962)
Eaton v. State
1966 OK CR 135 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1966)
Davis v. State
1960 OK CR 6 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1960)
Littlefield v. State
1960 OK CR 37 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1960)

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Bluebook (online)
1966 OK CR 137, 418 P.2d 702, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 311, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carico-v-state-oklacrimapp-1966.