People of the Virgin Islands v. Shamall Fleming

• Court: Superior Court of The Virgin Islands
• Decided: January 24, 2023
• Docket: ST-2022-CR-12
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST THOMAS AND ST JOHN

PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS )

Plaintiff ; v ) CASE NO ST 22 CR 012

SHAMALL FLEMING ) ) Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Defendant ) ) MEMORANDUM OPINION

fill THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Motion to Dismiss or Consolidate Counts

Five, Seven, Nine, and Eleven ’ filed on July 29, 2022, by Defendant, Shamall Fleming

( Fleming ) pursuant to Virgin Islands Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(b)(B)(ii) Defendant moves

this Court to dismiss or in the alternative, to consolidate counts five (5), seven (7), nine (9), and

eleven (11) as being multiplicitous The People of the Virgin Islands ( the People ) filed an

Opposition on August 1, 2022 For the following reasons, Defendant’s motion to consolidate will

be granted

I FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

112 The People have charged Fleming with several acts of domestic violence against his wife,

Monique Johnson Fleming (“Mrs Fleming”), including assault, rape, disturbance of the peace,

and possession of a dangerous weapon charges The People allege that on the morning of January

6, 2022, Fleming beat his wife by wrapping a towel around his hand and punching her to the back

of her head He then continued beating her by placing a cushion against her head and punching on

it Further, in an attempt to prevent Mrs Fleming from calling the police, the Defendant strangled

his wife by grabbing her by the throat causing her to suffocate for at least five (5) seconds before

releasing her The People also allege that the Defendant subsequently grabbed Mrs Fleming’s People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shanta]! Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

phone from her hand and slammed it on the floor, he then picked it up and slammed it against the

wall to ensure that she was not able to contact the police The People fimher averred the cause for

the Defendant’s actions was his frustration about being locked out of an apartment that he shared

with Mrs Fleming and her subsequent request of him to move out of their domicile ' Following

the incident, Mrs Fleming went to the police station and filed a police report In addition to

providing the details about the incident and the nature of her relationship with Defendant Fleming,

Mrs Fleming also provided the police with information about Defendant’s place of employment

and vehicle information for the purposes of his apprehension

{l3 The People timber allege Mrs Fleming eventually left the police station but did not return

home until January 7, 2022 Thereupon, she discovered her husband in the apartment, to her

surprise Immediately after, Defendant allegedly threatened to chop her by placing a machete

against her forehead and demanded that she returns the apartment key she took from him the day

before After her refusal to give him the key, he pressed the machete above her neck, and Mrs

Fleming gave him the key as a result Subsequently Fleming pushed his wife into the bathroom

and then into the bedroom, dragged the wig off her head and demanded sexual intercourse with

her He further threatened to punch her if she continued to resist The People further stated that

after Mrs Fleming refused to copulate with the Defendant, he then threw her on the bed and forced

himself on her

1|4 Several hours later, Detective Chanise Potter approached the Defendant at Hospital Ground

parking lot, St Thomas, Virgin Islands, who advised the Defendant of his constitutional rights

Fleming agreed to provide statements to the police and they proceeded to the police station At the

station, Fleming admitted to having a verbal altercation with his wife on the morning of January

' Affidavit made by Chanise Potter pp 1 2 2 People ofthe Vzrgm Islands v Shaina]! FIemmg Cite as 2023 V 1 Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

6, 2022, and to slamming her cell phone twice in an attempt to prevent her from calling the police

However, Fleming denied beating and strangling his wife Upon further questioning, the Defendant

was arrested

'|5 On January 26, 2022 the People formally charged Fleming with twelve counts in the

Information

i CountOne Simple Assault Domestic Violence tit 14VIC §§ 292 299(2) 16 V I C §91(b)(l)(2) ii Count Two Assault in the Second Degree Domestic Violence, tit 14 V I C § 296(3) 16 V I C § 91(b)(2)- iii Count Three Disturbance of the Peace Domestic Violence, tit 14 V I C § 622(1) 16 V I C §91(b)(10) iv Count Four Aggravated Rape in the First Degree Domestic Violence, tit 14 VIC §l700(c) 16VIC §91(b)(6) v Count Five Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of an Aggravated Rape in the First Degree tit 14 V I C § 2251(a)(2)(B) vi CountSix Rape in the First Degree Domestic Violence,tit 14V I C § 1701(2), 16 V I C §91(b)(6) vii Count Seven Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of Rape in the First Degree tit 14 V I C § 2251(a)(2)(B) viii Count Eight Assault in the First Degree Domestic Violence, tit 14 V I C § 295(3)(4) 16 V I C § 91(b)(1) ix Count Nine Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of an Assault in the First Degree tit 14 V I C § 2251(a)(2)(B) x Count Ten Assault in the Third Degree Domestic Violence, tit 14 V I C § 297(a)(2) 16 V I C §91(b)(1) xi Count Eleven Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of an Assault in the Third Degree tit 14 V I C § 2251(a)(2)(B) xii Count Twelve Disturbance of the Peace Domestic Violence, tit 14 V I C § 622(1) l6VIC §91(b)(10)

3 People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shaina]! Flemmg Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

{6 On July 29, 2022, Defendant Fleming filed the instant motion In his motion, Fleming

argues dismissal or consolidation of counts 5 7 9 and 11 is necessary on the grounds that they

are multiplicitous and repeatedly charge him with the same offense, possession of a dangerous

weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, in violation of tit 14 V I C §

2251(a)(2)(B) ° Defendant asserts that the offenses charged are alleged to have occurred on the

same day, the facts underpinning the counts are the same and the weapon alleged to be used is the

same in each count Id at p 2 As the Information stands excessive charging prejudices him and

suggests to the jury that he has committed several different crimes Id He concluded that

consolidation of the dangerous weapon charges would still accurately reflect what the People of

the Virgin Islands have alleged against him Hence his motion should be granted Id

t-7 In their opposition, the People contend that the charges are not multiplicitous because each

of the underlying charges are distinct from one another 3 In particular, they state that even though

events occurred within a short period of time the separate charges are appropriate The People

explained that the weapon charges associated with each underlying offense results from separate

criminal acts The assault in the first degree charge stems from the acts of Defendant pushing Mrs

Fleming into the bedroom, dragging the wig offher head and struggling with her to commit a rape,

the assault in the third degree charge arises from the Defendant s threat to chop his wife while

holding the machete against her forehead and demanding the apartment key, the aggravated rape

in the first degree charge is based on Fleming 3 act of holding a machete to his wife 5 face and

pushing her into the bedroom and forcing himself upon her; finally, the rape in the first degree

charge is based on the physical force used by the Defendant in order to overpower his wife and

2 Defendant s Motion to Dismiss, p 1 3 People 5 Opposition, p 3, paras 8 9 4 People ofthe Virgm Islands v Shamall Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

penetrate her In other words, the People posit that each act of violence allegedly committed by

the Defendant represents distinct criminal conduct Therefore to amplify their position, the

government argued that the Virgin Islands Legislature intended that an underlying crime and its

associated weapon charge must be viewed and punished separately Therefore, consolidation of

the weapon charges would fail to accurately capture each criminal conduct As such, Defendant’s

motion to dismiss should be denied

II LEGAL STANDARD

118 Virgin Islands Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(b)(3)(B)(ii) allows a party to challenge a

defect in the charging information before trial namely that the information is charging the same

offense in more than one count (multiplicity) "‘ Title 14 § 104 of the Virgin Islands Code prevents

multiple punishments for a single act or omission that can be charged under several different

counts 5 This rule provides

‘An act or omission which is made punishable in different ways by different provisions of this Code may be punished under any of such provisions, but in no case may it be punished under more than one An acquittal or conviction and sentence under any one bars a prosecution for the same act or omission under any other

1|9 Multiplicity occurs when an information charges a single crime in several different counts ”

People of the V] v Colon 60 V I 149 158 (V I Super Ct 2014) In determining whether an

indictment is multiplicitous, the Court looks to whether “separate and distinct prohibited acts”

have been committed Umted States v Planck 493 F 3d 501 503 (5th Cir 2007) Where the same

act or transaction constitutes a violation of two distinct statutory provisions, the test to be applied

to determine whether there are two offenses or only one is whether each provision requires proof

‘ See also People v Prmgle 2021 VI Super 94U at1| l6 5 [4 v 1 C § 104 5 People ofthc Virgin Islands v Shamall Flemmg Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

of a fact which the other does not Blockburger v United States 284 U S 299 304 52 S Ct 180

76 L Ed 306 (1932) Untied States v Hodge 211 F 3d 74 78 (3d Cir 2000) (using the test set

forth in Blockburger to determine whether certain offenses grew out of the same occurrence); U S

v Ltotard 817 F 2d 1074 1077 1078 (3d Cir 1987)‘ thre v People 70 VI 797 803 2019 VI

3 (2019)

‘10 However, when someone is charged four times under the same statute for conduct

occurring around the same time “[t]he proper inquiry is what unit of prosecution’ has the

Legislature intended as the punishable act Estzck v People 62 V I 604 621 (2015) The unit of

prosecution for a crime may be an act or a course of conduct ” Id (citing Bell v Umted States, 349

U S 81 83 (1955) United States v L mversal C I T Credit Corp 344 U S 218 225 26 (1952))

(where a defendant was twice charged with reckless endangerment in violation of 14 V I C §

625(a))

1|] 1 In Tyson v People 59 V I 391 396 (2013) the Virgin Islands Supreme Court considered

a case where a defendant violated 14 V I C § 2253, Unauthorized Possession of a Fireatm, twice,

for two different murders using the same gun The Court considered the charges multiplicitous

even though two different murders were committed, it was with the same gun and the crime

occurred around the same time Id The Court ultimately concluded that it is multiplicitous to

charge someone for possession of the same weapon multiple times for multiple underlying crimes

when the same weapon is used and the crimes are a pan of the same ongoing criminal activity Id

1|12 In People v Prmgle 2021 VI SUPER 94U this Court adopted the Tyson standard of

reasoning See supra filll The Court considered the issue of whether possession of the same gun

during the commission of several different crimes occurring under the same general criminal

conspiracy constitutes the same offense and therefore, whether the People are prosecuting a single

6 People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shamall Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

violation under separate charges Pringle at 1] 24 Subsequently, the Court found that like in Tyson,

one gun was used in the commission of two related crimes, a kidnapping where the person was

also assaulted 1d Finding that the assault and kidnapping charges against Pringle were

multiplicitous, the Court contemplated whether it should proactively dismiss or consolidate the

charges Id at 1| 25 The Court ultimately decided that the decision should be made on a case by

case basis, considering such factors as judicial economy, risk of prejudice, the totality of the

charges against the defendant, and the severity of those charges 1d As such, the Court

consolidated the firearm charges associated with kidnapping and three counts of assault in the third

degree into one charge Id

111 LEGAL DISCUSSION

1|13 Fleming argues the People improperly charged him because the four disputed counts are

associated with the offenses that occurred in the same course of events on January 7, 2022, and

allegedly involved the same weapon used against a single person 1d Fleming also argues that

keeping the multiplicitous charges will prejudice him in the eyes of the jury and suggests that he

has committed several different crimes Id

‘|14 The People argue, on the other hand, that pursuant to Titre v Pe0ple, the Court must apply

the Blockburger test to see if each underlying charge requires establishing distinct elements of a

crime and whether the Virgin Islands Legislature intended for a specific count to be punished in

conjunction with another 6 The People further aver that although Defendant’s violence occurred in

one string of events on one day, they have appropriately charged the various and distinct acts of

the Defendant 7

6 People 5 Opposition p 3, para 5 7 [bid at para 8 7 People 0fthe Virgin Islands v Shamall Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

1|15 While the People’s analysis of the application of the Blockburger test is correct, the

analysis does not end there After examining the pertinent statutes, as well as relevant case law

addressing issues of multiplicity of charges and conducting the Blockburger analysis, this Court

agrees with Fleming Here the weapon charges merged at the time when Fleming’s alleged threats

of using the machete and pushing Mrs Fleming into the bedroom facilitated his intent to rape her

Therefore, these separate and distinct acts should not be viewed in isolation Thus, the dangerous

weapon charges associated with these acts of violence should be consolidated

1116 Similarly to Tyson where one gun was used in perpetration of two related murders and

reckless endangerment of the public, one weapon the machete, was also used here in the

commission of an alleged assault and rape of Mrs Fleming Elements of each underlying charge

are facially and substantially under the Blockburger analysis, but the unparalleled circumstances

such as time, space, and victimization of one person warrant consolidation of the dangerous

weapon charges

1H7 The Virgin Islands Code defines aggravated rape in the first degree, 14 V I C § 1700(0),

as

“Whoever perpetrates an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a person (0) Whoever uses a deadly weapon during the commission of an act of rape as set forth in section 1701 is guilty of aggravated rape in the first degree[ ]”

Additionally, with respect to rape in the first degree, section 1701(2) defines it as Whoever perpetrates an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a person (2) when the person's resistance is forcibly overcome is guilty of rape in the first degree ’

Under the Blockburger test elements of both crimes overlap because Fleming 3 use of the

machete immediately before and during the alleged rape of his wife served as a means of

8 People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shamall FIemmg Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

intimidation to forcibly overcome his wife’s resistance to copulate The record reveals that

Fleming apparently had the machete in his immediate possession from the moment Mrs Fleming

returned home and throughout the entire argument when he was allegedly pushing her into the

bedroom and sexually assaulting her ( onsequently by committing an act punishable under 14

V I C § 1700(c), use of the machete during unwelcomed intercourse, Fleming simultaneously

committed the crime punishable under 14 V I C § 1701(2), forcible sex Therefore, the

Blockburger test is satisfied As a result, the weapon charge associated with the rape in the first

degree charge is merged into the weapon charge associated with the underlying aggravated rape

in the first degree charge

MS Turning to the assault charges, under section 295(3) and (4), assault in the first degree is defined as “Whoever (3) with intent to commit rape, sodomy, mayhem, robbery or larceny, assaults another, (4) commits an act under paragraphs (1) or (2) 0r (3) of this section in an act of domestic violence as defined in Title 16 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 2, section 91(b) shall be sentenced [ ]’

Additionally, under section 297(a)(2), assault in the third degree is defined as ‘(a) Whoever, under circumstances not amounting to an assault in the first or second degree (2) assaults another with a deadly weapon

1119 In reference to the underlying assault charges associated with the dangerous weapon

charges in counts nine and eleven of the Information, the language in 14 V I C § 297(a) provides

for ‘ circumstances not amounting to an assault in the first or second degree However, that

language does not establish an additional element of the offense, but rather constitutes a condition

precedent to the sentencing range prescribed in section 297 szbs v People, 73 V I 617, 622,

9 People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shamall Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum Opinion

2020 V I 18, at 12 The language in section 297(a)(2) “assaults another with a deadly weapon” is

not analogous to nor does it overlap with section 295(3) or (4) In this particular context, it punishes

an act of using a dangerous weapon in furtherance of a crime committed under section 295(3) and

(4) Therefore, 14 V I C § 297(a)(2) shall be considered with the assault in the first degree under

§ 295(3) and (4) Here, the facts underlying the assault in the third degree charge stem from

Fleming’s intention to intimidate his wife with the machete in order to repossess the house key

upon her arrival home from the police station The assault in the first degree charge arises from

Fleming s subsequently followed acts of tossing, pushing, and overpowering his wife coupled with

the use of the same machete as a means of intimidation in order to fulfill his objective of having

sex with her Both acts of violence are part of one chain of events involving the same dangerous

weapon used against the same person Since the fine line separating both acts is nearly invisible

under the present circumstances, it is not reasonable to view each instance of using the machete

during the this short lived incident in isolation from one another

1|20 When applying the conclusions of law above and the Blockburger logical analysis to the

case at hand, the weapon charges merge The totality of the circumstances surrounding the incident

that occurred in the early morning hours of January 7, 2022, show that the acts of assault upon

Mrs Fleming occurred immediately upon her return home and ultimately led to her rape The

course of events shows unequivocally that weapon charges should be consolidated

‘21 Consequently, counts seven, nine and eleven should be merged into count five, in that the

People are not required to prove any additional element to obtain convictions for counts seven,

nine, and eleven that are not required to obtain a conviction under count five Hence, the

Blockburger test is satisfied here

'|22 In addressing the People’s concerns that consolidation of four counts into one would fail

to People ofthe Virgin Islands v Shamall Fleming Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Case No ST 22 CR 012 Memorandum OpiniOn

to accurately capture Fleming’s criminal conduct, this Court finds that consolidation will merely

simplify the Information and reduce repetitive charges Fleming is only charged with using a single

weapon, the machete, against a single victim so removing the repetitive charges of possession of

such weapon during the distinct acts of Violence in perpetration of one great crime will not

ultimately alter the crimes charged Therefore consolidating the four disputed charges into a single

charge will more accurately encapsulate the charges against Fleming

‘123 Finally, considering judicial economy and efficiency consolidation of the weapon charges

eliminates the need for the Court and the parties to address jury instructions for four identical

charges of possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a violent crime for the

same units of prosecution The Court therefore finds it prudent to consolidate the four disputed

charges into one

IV CONCLUSION

1124 For the reasons provided, this Court finds that consolidation is appropriate at this stage

Accordingly, counts seven, nine, and eleven, each charging Fleming with violating 14 V I C {3

2251(a)(2)(B), shall be consolidated into count five An appropriate order of even date follows

Dated January 2023 r / I A ' III A[7 ' enee Gu I a Judge of the Sup 9 or t of the Virgin slands ATTEST Tamara Charles Clerk of th Co rt

B&M' é/Latoya C acho Court Clerk Supervnsor fl/gfiw

ll IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST THOMAS AND ST JOHN

PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ) ) Plaintiff ) v ) CASE NO ST 22 CR 012 ) SHAMALL FLEMING ) ) Cite as 2023 V I Super 2U Defendant ) ) ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court upon Defendant Shamall Fleming’s Motion to Dismiss” filed on July 29, 2022 Defendant moves this Court to dismiss counts five (5), seven (7), nine (9), and eleven ( l l) or in the alternative, to consolidate them into one charge The People of the Virgin Islands filed their Opposition on August 1, 2022 Consistent with the Memorandum Opinion of even date, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant s motion to consolidate the dangerous weapon charges into one count is GRANTED, and it is further ORDERED that Counts 7 9 and 1 1 are CONSOLIDATED into count 5 and it is further ORDERED that within one week of the date of entry of this Order the People SHALL file the First Amended Information consolidating the respective counts and reflecting a total of nine counts; and it is further ORDERED that copies of the Memorandum Opinion and this Order shall be directed to Assistant Attorney General Anna B Scott, Esquir nd Territorial Public Defender Mary Ann Matney, Esquire I Dated January 3% 2023 Renee bs Carty Judge of the uperior Court of the Vi in Islands ATTEST Tamara Charles Clerk of t C urt

By a ,Latoya amacho Court Clerk Sup isor ”Z /&@3 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS District of St. Thomas/St. John

People of the Virgin Islands Case Number: ST-2022-CR-00012 Charges: 14 V.I.C. 299(2) vs. 16 V.I.C 91(b); 14 V.I.C. 296 (3) 16 V.I.C 91(b); 14 V.I.C. 622(1) Shamall Fleming 16 V.I.C 91(b); 14 V.I.C. 1700 16 V.I.C 91(b); 14 V.I.C. 2251(a)(2)(B) 14 V.I.C. 1701(2); 16 V.I.C 91(b) 14 V.I.C. 2251(a)(2)(B); 14 V.I.C. 295(3) 16 V.I.C 91(b); 14 V.I.C. 2251(a)(2)(B) 14 V.I.C. 297(2); 16 V.I.C 91(b) 14 V.I.C. 2251(a)(2)(B); 14 V.I.C. 622(1) 16 V.I.C 91(b)

NOTICE of ENTRY of Memorandum Opinion To: Anna B. Scott, Esquire Mary Ann Matney, Esquire

Please take notice that on January 24, 2023 a(n) Memorandum Opinion dated January 24, 2023 was entered by the Clerk in the above-titled matter.

Dated: January 24, 2023 Tamara Charles Clerk of the Court By:

Audrey C. Brin Court Clerk II