State v. Beck

CourtSupreme Court of North Carolina
DecidedDecember 15, 2023
Docket264A21
StatusPublished

This text of State v. Beck (State v. Beck) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Beck, (N.C. 2023).

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA

No. 264A21

Filed 15 December 2023

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

v. ISAIAH SCOTT BECK

Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-30(2) from the decision of a divided panel of

the Court of Appeals, 278 N.C. App. 255 (2021), vacating in part and finding no error

in part in a judgment entered on 31 October 2019 by Judge Susan E. Bray, in Superior

Court, Watauga County. On 14 December 2021, the Supreme Court allowed

defendant’s petition for discretionary review of an additional issue. Heard in the

Supreme Court on 13 September 2023.

Joshua H. Stein, Attorney General, by Robert C. Ennis, Assistant Attorney General, for the State-appellant/appellee.

Glenn Gerding, Appellate Defender, by Sterling Rozear, Assistant Appellate Defender, for defendant-appellant/appellee.

BARRINGER, Justice.

Here, we consider whether the Court of Appeals erred by vacating defendant’s

conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Upon careful

review, we hold that the trial court did not err. Therefore, we reverse the Court of

Appeals and direct the Court of Appeals to reinstate defendant’s conviction for

conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. STATE V. BECK

Opinion of the Court

I. Factual Background

In April of 2017, Daniel Silva, Javier Holloway, and defendant Isaiah Scott

Beck lived in Lexington, North Carolina. The three also knew Cameron Baker who,

at that time, lived in Boone, North Carolina. Baker knew Mackenzie Beshears, a drug

dealer selling marijuana and Xanax in Boone.

At defendant’s trial, the evidence tended to show as follows. Defendant, Silva,

and Holloway made plans to rob a drug dealer in Boone. Initially, the three did not

have a plan as to whom, specifically, they would rob. On 18 April 2017, Silva texted

Holloway, “Send me a pic with me and the gun [ ] so I can show my [a]migo.” Later

that day, Holloway texted Silva, “[hit me up as soon as possible] got a lick,” referring

to a robbery. On 24 April 2017, Holloway texted Silva saying, “Aye bro I need that AR

asap.” On 26 April 2017, Holloway texted Silva asking whether he was “try[ing to get

in] on this lick in the [a.m.].” When Silva texted back asking, “Where?”, Holloway

replied, “Boone, certified we gone come up bro we just need a ride.” Silva responded

to Holloway, “I got you” and “Be ready at 9.” Silva clarified by asking, “me you and

[defendant]?”, to which Holloway replied, “Yeah.”

While defendant, Silva, and Holloway were en route to Boone on 27 April 2017,

defendant contacted Baker and asked him if he knew where defendant “could buy

some drugs and stuff.” Baker then coordinated a meeting between Beshears and

defendant, Holloway, and Silva, to take place that day. Defendant then informed

Baker he was going to “take all the money [Beshears] got too . . . .”

-2- STATE V. BECK

At trial, Beshears testified that Baker had contacted her on 27 April 2017,

asking if she had any marijuana or Xanax for sale. Baker told Beshears that he and

a friend would be coming over to purchase the drugs. Baker later told Beshears that

only his friend Silva would meet her instead. On the afternoon of 27 April 2017,

Beshears and her boyfriend, Devon Trivette, saw Silva pull into the empty parking

lot at her apartment. Beshears spoke with Silva on the phone, identifying which

apartment was hers. Then Silva drove away unexpectedly. Beshears texted Silva,

who replied that he had become “sketched . . . out [when he saw] somebody peaking

[sic] round the corner . . . .” Silva explained that he understood from Baker that

Beshears was going to come to the parking lot to transact the sale. Beshears replied

“I’ll come down if ya want!” Roughly twenty-four minutes later, Silva returned to

Beshears’ apartment complex, parked his vehicle, and went inside Beshears’

apartment.

Upon entering Beshears’ apartment, Silva sat down on her couch. Then

defendant and Holloway, wearing all black clothing and face coverings, broke in the

door of the apartment. Defendant pointed the barrel of an AR-15 at Beshears’ head

while instructing Holloway to “grab everything.” A struggle ensued. Beshears and

Trivette were able to push defendant and Holloway out of the apartment, while their

roommate called police. Silva helped hold the door closed as Beshears and Trivette

pushed defendant and Holloway outside. Beshears testified that during the struggle,

Silva stated that he did not know the break-in was going to happen.

-3- STATE V. BECK

II. Procedural Background

Defendant was indicted on four charges: conspiracy to commit robbery with a

dangerous weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit felonious

breaking or entering, and felonious breaking or entering. At the close of the State’s

evidence, defendant moved to dismiss all charges. Pertinent to this appeal, defendant

contended that the State failed to present sufficient evidence of multiple conspiracies.

The trial court denied defendant’s motions to dismiss. A jury found defendant guilty

of all four charges.

On appeal, the Court of Appeals held that the trial court erred by denying

defendant’s motion to dismiss one of the two conspiracy charges, and vacated

defendant’s conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

State v. Beck, 278 N.C. App. 255, 261–62 (2021).1 The Court of Appeals reasoned that

the State’s evidence established one single conspiracy that continued from on or

around 18 April 2017 through the date of the breaking or entering and armed robbery

on 27 April 2017. Id. Judge Tyson issued an opinion, dissenting in part, in which he

opined that the State presented sufficient evidence to deny defendant’s motion to

dismiss the charge of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Id. at

1 We also note that the Court of Appeals erred in determining the charge of conspiracy

to commit breaking or entering would be the conspiracy charge to remain if there had been sufficient evidence of only one conspiracy. During oral argument, defendant conceded that the conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon would be the conspiracy charge to remain, if only one conspiracy charge would stand. See Oral Argument at 53:34, State v. Beck (No. 264A21) (Sept. 13, 2023).

-4- STATE V. BECK

264–65. The State appealed that issue to this Court, in accordance with N.C.G.S.

§ 7A-30(2). Defendant also filed a petition for discretionary review of an additional

issue pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-31, which this Court allowed.2

III. Standard of Review

Whether the State presented substantial evidence of conspiracy to commit

robbery with a dangerous weapon is a question of law. Therefore, we review the denial

of defendant’s motion to dismiss de novo. E.g., State v. Golder, 374 N.C. 238, 250

(2020). Substantial evidence is the “amount . . . necessary to persuade a rational juror

to accept a conclusion.” Id. at 249 (quoting State v. Winkler, 368 N.C. 572, 574 (2015)).

Substantial evidence means “more than a scintilla of evidence.” State v. Powell, 299

N.C. 95, 99 (1980). In our review of the sufficiency of evidence, we consider the

evidence in the light most favorable to the State. E.g., Golder, 374 N.C. at 250. The

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State v. Beck, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-beck-nc-2023.