State v. Berkeley

788 So. 2d 647, 2001 WL 579824
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 30, 2001
Docket00-KA-1900
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 788 So. 2d 647 (State v. Berkeley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Berkeley, 788 So. 2d 647, 2001 WL 579824 (La. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

788 So.2d 647 (2001)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Augustus J. BERKELEY.

No. 00-KA-1900.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

May 30, 2001.

*649 Robert F. Fleming, Jr., Jerry Fontenot, Metairie, LA, Kevin V. Boshea, James A. Williams, Davidson S. Ehle, III, Michelle H. Hesni, Gretna, LA, Attorneys for Defendant/Appellant, Augustus J. Berkeley.

Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, Rebecca J. Becker, Terry M. Boudreaux, Appellate Counsel, Assistant District Attorneys, Spiro G. Latsis, Donald A. Rowan, Jr., Trial Counsel, Assistant District Attorneys, Gretna, LA, Attorneys for Plaintiff/Appellee, The State of Louisiana.

Panel composed of JAMES L. CANNELLA, SUSAN M. CHEHARDY and JAMES C. GULOTTA, pro tempore.

CHEHARDY, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On June 3, 1998, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney filed a bill of information charging defendant, Augustus J. Berkeley, with first degree negligent injuring of Marie Mansfield, a violation of La. R.S. 14:39.2. Defendant was arraigned on November 23, 1998, and pled not guilty. On June 15 and 16, 1999, the case was tried before a six-person jury, which unanimously found defendant guilty as charged. Defendant was sentenced on October 19, 1999 to imprisonment at hard labor for five years, with the sentence suspended, and defendant was placed on active probation for five years.[1] This appeal ensued.

*650 FACTS

Deputy Scott DeJong of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office testified that on March 1, 1998, he responded to a call regarding a severe accident with injury at the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and Martin Behrman Street in Metairie. When DeJong arrived at the scene, he observed defendant behind the wheel of a black compact pickup truck facing west in the middle lane of Veterans Boulevard. DeJong observed a Toyota Camry on the median. The female behind the wheel of the Camry was unconscious and had to be extricated from her vehicle with the "jaws of life."[2]

DeJong testified that at the scene of the accident, defendant was uncooperative, had slurred speech and smelled of alcoholic beverages. Defendant was not confused, incoherent or unaware of what happened, but he was reluctant to answer any questions. DeJong gave defendant the alphabet test at the scene, which defendant failed.[3] DeJong could not give defendant any other field sobriety tests because those required a person to be able to stand. Defendant fractured his ankle in the accident and could not stand on two feet. DeJong also interviewed the passenger in defendant's car. DeJong also smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on him and noticed that his speech was also slurred.

After investigating the accident scene, DeJong went to the hospital. He testified that he again saw defendant, and that he still smelled alcohol on defendant at the hospital. DeJong stated that his work involves dealing with "drunks" on a nightly basis, and that he is familiar with people who have been drinking alcohol. DeJong was joined at the hospital by a Louisiana State Trooper, Alexis Sovinsky. They both advised defendant that he was under investigation and that they had reason to believe that he had been drinking. Sovinsky read defendant his rights from a Miranda[4] form. Defendant refused several times to give a blood sample before he was sedated.

Marie-Therese Mansfield, who was seventeen years old at the time of the accident, testified that on March 1, 1998, she was at choir practice at Brother Martin High School. After practice, she brought a fellow choir member home and headed towards the Wendy's located near the Orleans/Jefferson Parish line to get something to eat. Ms. Mansfield has no recollection of the accident.

Ms. Mansfield testified that as a result of the accident, she sustained a concussion, several facial lacerations, cuts on her forehead, a torn liver, a bruised bladder, several pelvic fractures, one of which required surgery, and many bruises all over her *651 body. She stated that she has no feeling on her left calf, nor in the incision in her pelvic region. Ms. Mansfield further testified that she has a permanent plate and two screws inserted into her left hip. She testified that she has recurring pain because of her injuries, for which she takes medication. She was in the hospital for three weeks after the accident. After she left the hospital, she was on crutches for eight weeks. Ms. Mansfield also testified that her gynecologist told her that she would never be able to deliver a child naturally because of the injuries to her pelvis. Her medical records were admitted into evidence at trial.

Trooper Alexis Sovinsky of the Louisiana State Police also testified, and his testimony largely corroborated that of Deputy DeJong. Sovinsky arrived at the hospital to assist DeJong with the investigation. Sovinsky stated that he detected an odor of alcoholic beverage on defendant as he spoke to him at the hospital. He said that he could not give defendant a field sobriety test which detected movement in the eye because defendant was lying down, which would give a false reading. Sovinsky asked defendant if he would voluntarily submit to having blood drawn, and he refused. He read defendant his Miranda rights, as well as his rights relating to the chemical test for intoxication. Sovinsky further testified that defendant's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred.

DISCUSSION

On appeal, defendant first argues that the evidence was legally insufficient to prove that he committed first degree vehicular negligent injury. He argues specifically that the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

The standard for reviewing the sufficiency of evidence was set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). In Jackson, the Court held that due process requires the reviewing court to determine "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781 (emphasis in original).

In the instant case, defendant was convicted of first degree vehicular negligent injuring, a violation of La. R.S. 14:39.2, which provides in pertinent part:

A. First degree vehicular negligent injuring is the inflicting of serious bodily injury upon the person of a human being when caused proximately or caused directly by an offender engaged in the operation of, or in actual physical control of, any motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance whenever any of the following conditions exists:
(1) The offender is under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
(2) The offender's blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or more by weight based upon grams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood.
(3) The offender is under the influence of any controlled dangerous substance listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V as set forth in R.S. 40:964, or any abused substance.
B. The violation of a statute or ordinance shall be considered only as presumptive evidence of negligence as set forth in Subsection A.
C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
788 So. 2d 647, 2001 WL 579824, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-berkeley-lactapp-2001.