State v. Caliste

125 So. 3d 8, 2012 La.App. 4 Cir. 0533, 2013 WL 4759278, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1785
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided September 4, 2013·No. No. 2012-KA-0533·Published·Cited by 9 cases

Opinion

TERRI F. LOVE, Judge.

| ,This appeal arises from the defendant’s conviction of attempted second degree murder. Defendant contends that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction, that the identifications were suggestive and unreliable, and that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendant’s Motion to Continue Trial. Defendant also asserts that the State made inappropriate remarks during closing statements, which warranted a mistrial and that his sentence to serve thirty years imprisonment at hard labor without probation, parole, or suspension, to run concurrently with any other sentence he may be serving, and with credit for time served was excessive.

For the above-mentioned reasons, we find that sufficient evidence was presented at trial to convince a rational trier of fact of Mr. Caliste’s guilt. We further find that the identifications of Mr. Caliste as the shooter were reliable. Also, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Mr. Caliste’s Motion to Continue Trial. The trial court afforded Mr. Caliste the proper remedy after the State’s remarks regarding the “Bloods” during closing argument and Mr. Caliste did not preserve his right to appellate review of an allegedly excessive sentence. Accordingly, we affirm.

| ¿FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

An altercation occurred in the Viola Nightclub (“Viola”) at the corner of Decatur and Bienville Streets during a party given by Shive Magazine, which is owned by Gerelle Caliste’s sister. Dejuan Crawford, his brother, and friends attended the party to promote Mr. Crawford’s music. Mr. Crawford witnessed an altercation between his brother and another man. A person in the crowd allegedly tossed a red bandana onto the floor of the Viola in the area of the altercation. Mr. Crawford, his brother, and friends were escorted out of the Viola. While walking towards his car located in the Sugar Lot parking area (“Sugar Lot”) at the corner of Bienville and North Peters Street and talking to his brother on the cell phone, Mr. Crawford was shot multiple times.

Mr. Caliste was charged with the attempted second degree murder of Mr. Crawford. Mr. Caliste entered a not guilty plea. The trial court found probable cause and denied Mr. Caliste’s Motions to Suppress the Evidence and Identification. On the first day of trial, Mr. Caliste’s counsel filed a Motion to Continue, which the trial court denied. Counsel for Mr. Caliste also requested a mistrial during the trial, which was denied. The jury found Mr. Caliste guilty as charged. The trial court denied a Motion for Post-Verdict Judgment of Acquittal and a Motion for a New Trial. Mr. Caliste was sentenced to serve thirty years imprisonment at hard labor without probation, parole, or [11] suspension, to run concurrently with any other sentence he may be serving, and with credit for time served. Mr. Caliste’s counsel filed a Motion for Appeal and a Motion to Reconsider Sentence. Mr. Cal-iste’s motion for appeal was granted. However, the trial court did not rule on the Motion to Reconsider Sentence.

| ^Testimony of Dejuan Crawford

Mr. Crawford testified that he, his brother, and some friends were inside the Viola at the corner of Decatur and Bien-ville Streets, during a party given by Shive Magazine to promote Mr. Crawford’s music. Mr. Crawford witnessed an altercation between his brother and another man. The men exchanged words and someone in the Viola tossed a red bandana in the area of the altercation. Mr. Dejuan testified that the “Bloods” toss a red bandana signify murder. Mr. Crawford, his brother, and friends were subsequently asked to leave the Viola. Mr. Crawford escorted his brother to his car, which was parked near Cafe du Monde. Mr. Crawford then walked to his car, parked in the Sugar Lot at the corner of Bienville and North Peters Street, while talking to his brother on the phone.

When Mr. Crawford reached the Sugar Lot, he was approached by Mr. Caliste holding a pistol. Mr. Caliste asked Mr. Crawford if he “sweated that.” Mr. Crawford told Mr. Caliste that he did not understand the meaning of “sweated that.” Mr. Caliste then shot Mr. Crawford, causing him to fall to the ground. Mr. Crawford was unconscious and did not remember being shot twice more.1 However, before being shot, Mr. Crawford viewed Mr. Caliste’s face and was able to identify Mr. Caliste in a six-person photographic lineup. Mr. Crawford also identified Mr. Caliste in court.

Testimony of Detective Tindell Murdock, Jr.

Several New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) police officers were in the area of the shooting because of an earlier fight that occurred alongside the Viola. Detective Tindell Murdock, Jr., who was working a paid detail at the Viola, 14was alerted to the altercation by a concerned citizen at approximately 3:00 a.m.2 Detective Mur-dock radioed for additional NOPD units. Most of the crowd dispersed prior to the arrival of the additional NOPD units. However, some of the subjects were still arguing. Detective Murdock followed one of the subjects to the corner of Bienville and North Peters Streets because the subject was making threats. Detective Mur-dock then heard a single gunshot. Detective Murdock located where the gunshot came from and observed Mr. Caliste3 stand over Mr. Crawford and fire two more shots while in the well-lit Sugar Lot.

Detective Murdock and several NOPD officers chased Mr. Caliste. Mr. Caliste looked in the direction of Detective Mur-dock before running; therefore, Detective [12] Murdock was able to ascertain Mr. Cal-isteis facial features. Because a number of other NOPD officers were pursuing Mr. Caliste, Detective Murdock ended his pursuit to tend to Mr. Crawford. Detective Murdock called EMS, secured the scene, and located two spent bullet casings. A third bullet casing was never located.

After Mr. Caliste was apprehended, he was taken to the scene where Detective Murdock positively identified Mr. Caliste as the person who shot Mr. Crawford two times while Mr. Crawford was on the ground. Detective Murdock noted that Mr. Caliste had removed his white t-shirt. Detective Murdock identified Mr. Caliste in court.

Testimony of Sergeant Keith Joseph

Sergeant Keith Joseph, one of the NOPD officers who responded to | ¿Detective Murdock’s call for extra NOPD units, was facing in the direction of the Sugar Lot when the first gunshot rang out. Sergeant Joseph clearly saw Mr. Caliste, observed Mr. Caliste standing over Mr. Crawford, and witnessed Mr. Caliste shoot Mr. Crawford twice. Sergeant Joseph pursued Mr. Caliste in his NOPD vehicle. While in pursuit, Sergeant Joseph broadcast a description of Mr. Caliste over his radio and informed other NOPD officers that Mr. Caliste still had a gun in his hand. Sergeant Joseph exited his vehicle and ordered Mr. Caliste to stop. Mr. Caliste faced him, allowing Sergeant Joseph to view Mr. Caliste’s face. Sergeant Joseph lost sight of Mr. Caliste when he ran behind the floodwall at St. Louis Street.4 Once Mr. Caliste was arrested and taken back to the scene, Sergeant Joseph positively identified Mr. Caliste. Sergeant Joseph also identified Mr. Caliste in court.

Testimony of Leonard Acklin

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State v. Caliste, 125 So. 3d 8, 2012 La.App. 4 Cir. 0533, 2013 WL 4759278, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1785 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

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