Locke v. State

1997 OK CR 43, 943 P.2d 1090, 68 O.B.A.J. 2794, 1997 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 48, 1997 WL 434623

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
• Decided: August 1, 1997
• Docket: F-95-1165
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

LANE, JUDGE:

Appellant, Wendell Lamon Locke, was convicted of First Degree Murder, 21 O.S.1991, § 701.7, and two counts of Use of a Vehicle to Facilitate the Intentional Discharge of a Firearm, 21 O.S.Supp.1992, § 652, after a jury trial in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Case Number CF-94-4538, before the Honorable Major R. Wilson, District Judge. The jury recommended Appellant be sentenced to life without parole for murder, and twenty years’ imprisonment for each of the “drive-by” shooting offenses.¹ The trial court sentenced accordingly, ordering that the sentences run concurrently. From this judgment and sentence Appellant has perfected this appeal.

Appellant alleges eight propositions of error which he claims entitle him to relief. After thorough consideration of these propositions and the entire record before us on appeal, including the original record, transcripts, and briefs, we have determined that the Judgment and Sentences in count one, Murder in the First Degree, and count two, Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Intentional Discharge of a Firearm, shall be affirmed and, count three, Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Intentional Discharge of a Firearm, shall be reversed and remanded with instructions to dismiss.

FACTS

Sufficient evidence was introduced to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant, while accompanied by nine other people, mostly gang members, committed the above crimes. On the evening of April 21, 1994, at around 11:00 p.m., as many as forty gunshots were fired from two ears into a house occupied by seven people. The evidence indicated that Appellant fired from fifteen to twenty-six rounds from a M-90 assault rifle. The rest of the shots were fired from handguns used by two others in the group. One of the occupants of the house was killed and two others were injured.

PROPOSITIONS OF ERROR

In proposition one, Appellant contends that the trial court erred when it failed to give his requested instruction on the defense of alibi. The requested instruction follows this Court’s approved instruction which requires that,

An instruction on the law of alibi should inform the jury that if they entertain a reasonable doubt of the presence of the accused at the time and place where the crime was committed, they should resolve the doubt in favor of the accused and acquit him.

Cortez v. State, 415 P.2d 196, 201 (Okl.Cr.1966); see also Stuart v. State, 35 Okl.Cr.103, 249 P. 159 (1926).

To entitle the defense of alibi to consideration, the evidence must be such as to show that, at the very time of the commission of the crime charged, the accused was at another place so far away or under such circumstances that he could not, with ordinary exertion, have reached the place where the crime was committed so as to have participated in the commission thereof; and, in a criminal prosecution, unless the evidence fills this requirement of the law, no instruction on the subject of alibi is necessary to be given by the trial court.

Goodwin v. State, 654 P.2d 643, 644 (Okl.Cr.1982); Henderson v. State, 716 P.2d 691, 693 (Okl.Cr.1986).

Henry Love testified that he was playing basketball at the Kerr Village Apartments² between 4:00 p.m. and midnight on April 21, 1994. He saw Locke there during that time, but he could not recall if Locke left to go anywhere or left to get a gun. Lader-ick Crenshaw testified that he was at Kerr Village until about 11:30 p.m. and Locke was still there when he left.

These witnesses never testified that Locke was either present at the Apartments at the precise time of the commission of the “drive by” shooting or that his presence was under such circumstances that he could not, with ordinary exertion, have reached the place where the crime was committed.

The State’s witnesses testified that the shooting occurred between the times of 11:00 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. on April 21,1994. There was no evidence presented that it would have taken more than fifteen minutes to get from the shooting to the Kerr Village Apartments. Therefore, Crenshaw could have seen Locke at the apartments when he left at 11:30 p.m., after Locke had returned from the shooting.

We find that the “alibi” evidence in this case was not sufficient for the giving of an alibi instruction. Therefore, we find no error in the trial court’s failure to give the requested instruction.

In proposition two, Appellant argues that he was denied his constitutional right to a fair trial by the trial court’s refusal to instruct on the lesser offense of second degree murder. Appellant’s theory of defense was that he did not commit the shooting. Therefore, second degree murder instructions would have been warranted only if the State’s evidence supported such instructions.

This Court has repeatedly held that an instruction on a lesser included offense need only be given when there is evidence in the record to support such an instruction. Robedeaux v. State, 866 P.2d 417, 431 (Okl.Cr.1993); See also Foster v. State, 714 P.2d 1031 (Okl.Cr.1986); Green v. State, 611 P.2d 262, 266 (Okl.Cr.1980). “It is within the trial court’s discretion and responsibility to consider the evidence to determine if such instructions are warranted.” Robedeaux, 866 P.2d at 431; Liles v. State, 702 P.2d 1025 (Okl.Cr.1985).

The evidence showed that Locke himself fired at least twenty six rounds from a 7.62 x 39 mm caliber assault rifle into an occupied, wood frame, home. The projectiles struck the house anywhere from floor level up to about shoulder level.³ The placement of these bullets would indicate that the person shooting at the house intended to strike those inside. The sheer number of rounds fired from this rifle would show malice aforethought and not just a reckless disregard for life. Therefore, the evidence did not support the giving of the lesser included offense instruction.

Appellant alleges in proposition three that he was subject to double punishment and double jeopardy by being charged and convicted of two counts of Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Discharge of a Firearm. First Appellant argues that the two convictions violate the provisions of 21 O.S.1991, § 11. However, Section 11 is reserved for those cases where one act is punished under two separate provisions of State statutes.

[An] act or omission which is made punishable in different ways by different provisions of this code may be punished under either of such provisions, ... but in no case can it be punished under more than one; ...

21 O.S.1991, § 11

Section 11 does not apply here. Therefore, we must examine whether the two convictions violate the double jeopardy provisions of our constitution. The elements of Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Discharge of a Firearm are:

1. use of any vehicle

2. to facilitate the intentional discharge;

3. of any firearm;

4. in the conscious disregard for the safety of any other person or persons.

21 O.S.Supp.1992, § 652(B).

The two counts of Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Discharge of a Firearm differ only in the names of the victims that were injured by gunfire. The facts show that Appellant discharged the firearm in conscious disregard and even with an intent to kill others, plural. The State did not have to prove different facts for each count. The State only had to show that Appellant discharged the firearm with the conscious disregard for the safety of others.

This case is analogous to the case of Hunnicutt v. State, 755 P.2d 105 (Okl.Cr.1988), where the defendant was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property after he bought two stolen pistols from an undercover police officer. In Hunnicutt, we held that the federal constitutional right to be free from double jeopardy bars conviction for multiple counts of one offense arising out of one transaction. We determined that the purchase of the guns constituted a single transaction and constituted only one count of receiving stolen property. Id at 109-110.

The same result was reached in Trim v. State, 909 P.2d 841 (Okl.Cr.1996), where the defendant was charged with multiple counts of selling obscene magazines to an undercover police officer in one transaction; one count for each magazine.

In Hunnicutt we cited Robinson v. United States, 143 F.2d 276, 277 (10th Cir.1944), modified on other grounds, 147 F.2d 915 (10th Cir.1945), wherein the court stated,

Merely because one element of a single criminal act embraces two persons or things, a prosecutor may not carve out two offenses by charging the several elements of the single offense in different counts and designating only one of the persons or things in one count and designating only the other person or thing in the other count.

Hunnicutt, 755 P.2d at 111.

We note that in the cases from other jurisdictions, cited by Appellee, the defendants were charged with multiple counts of the' same crime which required a specific intent to injure.⁴ Our “drive by” shooting statute does not require any specific intent to injure or kill. Had Appellant been charged with a specific intent crime, the result may have been different.

We hold that, under the facts of this case, regardless of the number of people whose safety was disregarded, only one count of Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Intentional Discharge of a Firearm is supported. All of the people injured were shot during one single “shooting event” wherein a single barrage of gunfire was fired at a house which was occupied by seven individuals. The two counts were not separated by time, place or circumstance. We hold that where a vehicle is used to facilitate the intentional discharge of a weapon during one single transaction or “shooting event” only one count of Using a Vehicle to Facilitate the Intentional Discharge of a Firearm is appropriate. Consequently, we hold that count three must be reversed and remanded with instructions to dismiss based upon double jeopardy grounds.

In proposition four, Appellant argues that the introduction of a MAK-90 semi-automatic assault rifle and a tape showing the firing of this rifle constituted prejudicial error. It is undisputed that this rifle was not used in this incident, and the jury was instructed as such. However, witnesses testified that this rifle was similar to the one used by Appellant. One witness testified that the rifle looked no different from the one in the possession of Appellant Locke on the night of the shooting. Also, a ballistic expert testified that the bullets retrieved from the scene, although not coming from this particular rifle, had characteristics similar to rounds fired from this rifle.

At issue is the relevance of the rifle introduced into evidence. Oklahoma statutes allow the introduction of any evidence “having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable that it would be without the evidence.” 12 O.S.1991, § 2401. In this case, the State had the burden of proving that Appellant had malice aforethought for first degree murder and the State had to prove that Appellant acted in conscious disregard for the life of others in the other counts. It can be concluded that the State needed to show the jury the type of weapon used and its capabilities in order for them to determine these relevant facts.

The tape of the firing was also introduced to show how the shells are ejected when firing the rifle. This was in response to defense questioning regarding the fact that all of the spent cartridges were not recovered at the scene. The tape shows how empty shell casings are rapidly and forcefully ejected from the rifle.

The admissibility of demonstrative evidence is a question of legal relevance within the sound discretion of the trial court, whose ruling will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Owens v. State, 747 P.2d 959, 960-61 (Okl.Cr.1987) We find no error in the introduction of these two pieces of evidence.

Appellant claims, in proposition five, that he was denied a fair trial by the reading of Prince’s preliminary hearing testimony. This testimony was used to rehabilitate Prince after defense attorneys had cross-examined him about inconsistencies between his trial and preliminary hearing testimony. When the prosecutor was using the preliminary hearing transcript for improper reasons, the trial court sustained Appellant’s objections. We hold Appellant was not denied a fair trial by the use of the preliminary hearing transcript at trial.

In proposition six Appellant argues that he was prejudiced by contact between a juror and a member of the victim’s family. This contact consisted of a juror patting the back of a victim’s relative. This conduct occurred after there had been a finding of guilt and after the second stage proceedings.

Appellant has not shown how he was prejudiced by this conduct. The State sought the death penalty for Appellant, however, the jury recommended punishment be set at life without parole. The record fails to reflect that defense counsel offered any evidence or requested that the juror be questioned in order to support his allegation. A defendant must show actual prejudice from any alleged jury misconduct and defense counsel’s mere speculation and surmise is insufficient premise upon which to cause reversal. West v. State, 617 P.2d 1362, 1367 (Okl.Cr.1980). In light hereof we find this assignment of error without merit.

In proposition six Appellant claims he was denied a fair trial because of the prosecutor’s improper and prejudicial comments. We have examined the alleged improper comments and the accompanying record. First Appellant argues that the prosecutor interjected his personal opinion about Appellant’s mental state. We find that this comment was based on the evidence and was not improper. See Carol v. State, 756 P.2d 614, 617 (Okl.Cr.1988).

Appellant next argues, in proposition eight, that the prosecutor was allowed to comment on evidence not introduced during the trial. The evidence consisted of preliminary hearing testimony and the position of victim Lopez, Sr.’s head at the time of the shooting. The preliminary hearing testimony referred to in closing was testimony used by the defense to impeach witness Morrison. Morrison had claimed that the court reporter had changed his testimony. The court reporter testified that the testimony was not changed. The argument about the position of Lopez’ head was properly based on reasonable inference supported by the evidence.

We find that the arguments fell properly within the wide range of argumentation allowed and that Appellant was not improperly prejudiced by them. See Miller v. State, 751 P.2d 733, 739 (Okl.Cr.1988).

Appellant contends in proposition nine that his sentences were excessive. Evidence indicated that Appellant knew the house was occupied. Appellant fired a full magazine from his assault rifle into an occupied wood framed house at a level where people would be struck. It is amazing that more individuals were not killed. We find that the sentences bear a direct relationship to the nature and circumstances of the offense and do not shock our conscience. See Freeman v. State, 876 P.2d 283, 291 (Okl.Cr.1994).

Accordingly, Appellant’s Judgment and Sentence for counts one and two are AFFIRMED. Count three is REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions to DISMISS.

STRUBHAR, V.P.J, concurs. LUMPKIN, J., concurs in result. CHAPEL, P.J., and JOHNSON, J., concur in part/dissent in part.

1 . The State sought the death penalty and the jury was instructed on the "great risk of death to more than one person” aggravating circumstance.

2 . Formerly named the Oak Grove Apartments.

3 . The officer testifying about this said he was 5' ll" tall.

4 . State v. Ferreira, 69 Wash.App. 465, 850 P.2d 541 (1993) (Appellate court found that defendant had five acts of second degree assault which requires a specific intent to create apprehension or fear.) People v. Williams, 14 Cal.App.4th 601, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 583 (1993) (Defendant was convicted of two counts of attempted murder which was enhanced because he discharged a firearm from a vehicle.) Vigil v. State, 563 P.2d 1344 (Wyo.1977) (Defendant was convicted of five counts of assault with a deadly weapon which requires a specific intent to place a person in fear.)