Navarro v. State

264 S.W.3d 530, 371 Ark. 179, 2007 Ark. LEXIS 529
Supreme Court of Arkansas·Decided October 4, 2007·No. CR 06-549·Published·Cited by 46 cases

Opinion

Annabelle Clinton Imber, Justice.

Appellant Femando stice. Washington County Circuit Court of the following criminal offenses: first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, residential burglary, and felony theft of property. The circuit court sentenced him to two consecutive fife sentences for the crimes of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, as well as five years and three years in prison for the offenses of residential burglary and felony theft of property, respectively. On appeal, Navarro raises seven points of error. As this is a criminal appeal in which a sentence of fife imprisonment has been imposed, our jurisdiction is pursuant to Ark. Sup. Ct. R. l-2(b)(2) (2007). We find no error and affirm.

On Thanksgiving Day in 2004, Navarro and his co-defendant, Michael Chavez, agreed to rob an apartment they expected to be unoccupied. Upon discovering the victim, David Edwards, in the apartment, Navarro began to punch him with his fists and stab him with a knife. After the knife broke, he stabbed Edwards with a screwdriver. Navarro also beat the victim with a dumbbell and strangled him with a cord. Chavez poured a hot pot of beans onto the victim. The medical examiner’s report later revealed that the causes of death were blunt force head injuries, multiple sharp force injuries, and scalding burns on the victim’s head. A neighbor observed Navarro and Chavez removing several large items of property from the apartment and identified the car into which they were loading the items as a white Dodge Shadow. That car was later stopped for a traffic violation. Both men were inside the car, and Chavez was arrested for driving while intoxicated; but, because the homicide had not yet been discovered, Navarro was released. Shortly thereafter, the stolen property was dumped into a lake.

The following day, after the homicide was discovered, Navarro responded to a request by law enforcement that he report to the police department for questioning. He initially denied any involvement in the crimes but eventually confessed to hitting, kicking, and stabbing the victim. Navarro claimed that his friend Chavez was not involved but happened to be driving near the apartment building and offered him a ride. During the interview, Navarro stated that he could not remember any details because he had been intoxicated. For example, he could not remember what objects he used to stab the victim or what items of property he loaded into the car. When asked if he thought that he killed David Edwards, Navarro responded, “Probably, yeah.” At the conclusion of the interview, Navarro was arrested.

At trial, Navarro asserted the defense of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The jury heard testimony from experts on both sides and rejected the defense.

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Navarro claims his convictions should be reversed because of the lack of any fingerprints or other forensic evidence tying him to any of the murder weapons or stolen property. He also points out that he only admitted to hitting and kicking the victim and possibly inflicting some non-fatal stab wounds. Double jeopardy considerations require this court to consider a challenge to the sufficiency of the State’s evidence prior to the other issues raised in the case. See Holsombach v. State, 368 Ark. 415, 246 S.W.3d 871 (2007).

Our standard of review for a sufficiency challenge is well settled. We treat a motion for directed verdict as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Cluck v. State, 365 Ark. 166, 226 S.W.3d 780 (2006). This court has repeatedly held that in reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in a light most favorable to the State and consider only the evidence that supports the verdict. Id. We affirm a conviction if substantial evidence exists to support it. Id. Substantial evidence is that which is of sufficient force and character that it will, with reasonable certainty, compel a conclusion one way or the other, without resorting to speculation or conjecture. Id.

Furthermore, circumstantial evidence may provide a basis to support a conviction, but it must be consistent with the defendant’s guilt and inconsistent with any other reasonable conclusion. Id. Whether the evidence excludes every other hypothesis is left to the jury to decide. Id. The credibility of witnesses is an issue for the jury and not the court. Id. The trier of fact is free to believe all or part of any witness’s testimony and may resolve questions of conflicting testimony and inconsistent evidence. Id.

With regard to the charges of aggravated robbery, residential burglary, and theft of property, Navarro was convicted as an accomplice. When a theory of accomplice liability is implicated, we affirm a sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge if substantial evidence exists to show that the defendant acted as an accomplice in the commission of the alleged offense. Wilson v. State, 365 Ark. 664, 232 S.W.3d 455 (2006). We have said that there is no distinction between principals on the one hand and accomplices on the other, insofar as criminal liability is concerned. Id. When two people assist one another in the commission of a crime, each is an accomplice and criminally liable for the conduct of both. Id. One cannot disclaim accomplice liability simply because he did not personally take part in every act that went to make up the crime as a whole. Id.

a. Residential Burglary

A person commits residential burglary if he enters or remains unlawfully in a residential occupiable structure of another with the purpose of committing in the structure any offense punishable by imprisonment. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-39-201 (a)(1) (Repl. 2006). Chavez testified that he and Navarro went to the victim’s apartment with the purpose of committing theft. He also testified that Navarro popped the lock with a card. This evidence amply satisfies the elements of residential burglary.

Navarro nonetheless asserts that there is no forensic evidence tying him to the stolen property. This argument is without merit. The State presented proof that he unlawfully entered the apartment with the purpose of committing theft, an offense punishable by imprisonment. Moreover, the statute does not require that property actually be stolen. See Ark. Code Ann. § 5-39-201 (a)(1) (Repl. 2006). Accordingly, we conclude there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict on the residential-burglary charge.

b. First-Degree Murder

A person commits murder in the first degree if he commits or attempts to commit a felony and, in the course and furtherance of the felony or in immediate flight from the felony, he or an accomplice causes the death of another person under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-102(a)(l) (Repl. 2006). The State alleged in this case that the underlying felony was burglary, as defined in Ark. Code Ann. § 5-39-201 (Repl. 2006).

We have already concluded that the jury’s verdict on the burglary charge is supported by substantial evidence.

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Navarro v. State, 264 S.W.3d 530, 371 Ark. 179, 2007 Ark. LEXIS 529 (Ark. 2007).

264 S.W.3d 530 (Navarro v. State) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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