State v. Ferrell

741 S.W.2d 712, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 4755, 1987 WL 988
Missouri Court of Appeals·Decided October 20, 1987·No. No. WD 39195·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

MANFORD, Judge.

This is a direct appeal from a jury conviction for attempted burglary, first degree, in violation of § 564.011, RSMo 1986. Appellant was sentenced to seven years. Judgment affirmed.

Appellant presents three points which, in summary, charge the trial court erred (1) in giving MAI-CR2d 1.02 and 2.20 regarding the definition of reasonable doubt; (2) in failing sua sponte to declare a mistrial because of the final argument of the prosecution; and (3) in admitting the testimony by a state’s witness of appellant’s oral confession.

The sufficiency of the evidence to sustain appellant’s conviction is not challenged, and if such a challenge had been made, it would have been without merit. The pertinent facts, in summary, are as follows:

One David Weiss, the victim herein, returned home from his employment at about 1:00 p.m. on August 11, 1986. Because he had been awake since 3:30 a.m., Weiss went to sleep. He was awakened by a noise at the front of his apartment. He got up, proceeded to the front door, observed one of the locks on the front door move, and observed the door move as a result of being pried upon from the outside. He opened the front door, confronted appellant, and placed appellant under arrest. Weiss confronted appellant about what he (appellant) was using to pry open the door, and according to Weiss’s testimony, he “pulled out a screwdriver and admitted that he had tried to get into [Weiss’s] apartment.” Weiss summoned help from his neighbors.

A later investigation revealed pry marks on the front door of Weiss’s apartment. The screwdriver, an imprint of the pry marks, and photographs of the scene were introduced into evidence. After a hearing upon his right to testify, appellant declined to do so. The evidence closed. The jury returned its verdict. Judgment and sentence were entered upon the verdict. This appeal followed. Any additional facts deemed necessary to the disposition of this appeal will be set forth infra.

Appellant’s first point requires no detailed discussion because it is subject to summary disposition under the rule announced in State v. Guinan, 732 S.W.2d 174, 177-78 (Mo. banc 1987). There is no merit to appellant’s point one and it is ruled against him.

Appellant’s second point charges that the trial court “plainly erred in failing to order a mistrial, sua sponte, in that [the] state’s closing argument was deliberately presented in a manner to prejudice the jury against the defendant ...”

After making rather bald and overly broad assertions on this appeal that the prosecution’s argument went beyond the bounds of fairness, it is apparent from the record that appellant, in his motion for new trial, specifically complained of the following statements:

The prosecution stated, “You know we sat through voir dire yesterday and we asked questions and you heard all this.” ‘How many people have been burglarized?’ And you heard how many people had been burglarized. Well, we finally got one of these burglars, attempted burglar, we finally got one.” Appellant objected to this argument and his objection was sustained.

On this appeal, appellant has attempted to broaden his complaint regarding the prosecution’s final argument. None of appellant’s complaints, except those regarding the above-quoted remarks, have been preserved for review, and he seeks review of them under the plain error rule, Rule 29.12.

Concerning the above-quoted remarks, appellant presented a timely objection which was sustained. In addition, the jury was admonished to disregard the remarks. Appellant did not seek a mistrial, and received all the relief he sought. In review of the entire matter, had appellant presented a motion for mistrial which, in turn, had [714] been overruled, said ruling, under the facts and circumstances, would not have been prejudicial error directing reversal by this court. It follows that the trial court did not commit plain error for failing, sua sponte, to direct a mistrial relative to the above-quoted statements. Appellant received adequate relief and suffered no prejudice by the trial court’s ruling.

It is not necessary to set forth in detail the other remarks, which appellant now claims were prejudicial, and complains that the trial court should have, sua sponte, ordered a mistrial. It suffices to say that this court has reviewed the entire argument. Appellant must show that errors in closing argument had a decisive effect on the jury. State v. Newlon, 627 S.W.2d 606, 616 (Mo. banc 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 884, 103 S.Ct. 185, 74 L.Ed.2d 149 (1982), reh. denied, 459 U.S. 1024,103 S.Ct. 391, 74 L.Ed.2d 520 (1982). Appellant herein has failed to carry his burden. The record herein reveals overwhelming evidence of appellant’s guilt, thus “no injustice or miscarriage of justice will result from a refusal to invoke the plain error rule.” State v. Goode, 721 S.W.2d 766, 770 (mo.App.1986). Appellant has failed to show that the plain error now complained of imposed so substantially upon his rights that a miscarriage of justice or manifest injustice will result if uncorrected. State v. Driscoll, 711 S.W.2d 512, 515 (Mo. banc 1986), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 107 S.Ct. 329, 93 L.Ed.2d 301 (1986). This was appellant’s burden. There is no merit to appellant’s point two and it is ruled against him.

Appellant’s final point charges the trial court with plain error in admitting appellant’s confession through the testimony of the victim.

It is noted that appellant filed no pre-trial motion to suppress, raised no objection at trial, and did not present this issue in his motion for new trial. Thus, he seeks review of the matter under the plain error rule. Rule 29.12. As can be observed infra, the disposition of this issue is such that had appellant properly preserved the issue, he would be entitled to no relief anyway.

Further consideration of the facts surrounding this issue must be set forth. It should be noted that appellant was arrested pursuant to a “citizen’s arrest” initially, and not by or through any action or conduct by a law enforcement officer. The victim herein, David Weiss, opened the front door of his apartment and found appellant at the door. Weiss testified as follows:

A. [Weiss] Well, he lost his balance and was trying to walk away. I said, “Hold it right there. I know what you’re up to. I know that you’re trying to get in my apartment.” And he said, “No, man. No, man. I’m not trying to do that.” And he provided a piece of paper, a rental agreement, a mimeographed rental agreement. And he was walking back, and I said, “Stay right there. You’re under arrest. I know what you’re trying to do.”

Weiss was then asked if any other conversation took place, and Weiss responded:

Q. [By Aundre Herron, Asst. Prosecuting Attorney]: All right. Now, once you said to the defendant you knew what he was up to, did any other conversation take place?
A. I asked him, “What were you using to try to get into my apartment?”

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State v. Ferrell, 741 S.W.2d 712, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 4755, 1987 WL 988 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987).

741 S.W.2d 712 (State v. Ferrell) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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