State v. Harris

243 S.W.3d 508, 2008 Mo. App. LEXIS 88, 2008 WL 169376
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 22, 2008
DocketNo. WD 67312
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 243 S.W.3d 508 (State v. Harris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Harris, 243 S.W.3d 508, 2008 Mo. App. LEXIS 88, 2008 WL 169376 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

JOSEPH M. ELLIS, Judge.

Aaron Harris challenges two of his three convictions for first-degree assault, § 565.050.1 For the following reasons, we reverse Appellant’s convictions and sentences on those two counts.

In 2005, Daniel Bailey was living with his mother and grandmother at 505 Magnolia Street in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Bailey had been dating M.M. since November 2004, and both had previously been threatened and attacked by Steve Harris, who was M.M.’s ex-boyfriend and Appellant’s cousin.

On April 7, 2005, M.M. filed an ex parte order of protection against Steve Harris. When she got home at 8:00 p.m. that evening, M.M. discovered that her house had [510]*510been broken into and called the police. Later that evening, at 11:14 p.m., she received a death threat from a man disguising his voice.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., Bailey was awakened by Appellant ringing the doorbell at his house. Bailey did not recognize Appellant, but he opened the door quickly to avoid waking up his mother and grandmother. Appellant was standing with his hand behind his back, weaving back and forth as if he were intoxicated. When Bailey asked how he could help Appellant, Appellant stated that he was looking for Jessica. Bailey informed him that no one named Jessica lived there and started to close the door. Appellant then quickly forced open the door and struck Bailey in the face with his fist and a knife, cutting Bailey’s face. During the course of the ensuing fight, Appellant repeatedly punched Bailey, slashed his arm with the knife, and stabbed him in the back. As Bailey lay on the floor in the hallway, Appellant kicked him and told him “not to f* * * with Steve.” Appellant then left. Appellant’s attack on Bailey lasted about one minute. Bailey had to be hospitalized as a result of his injuries and sustained permanent scarring from each of the knife wounds.

Appellant was subsequently arrested and charged by indictment in the Circuit Court of Jackson County with three counts of first-degree assault and one count of armed criminal action. The first assault count alleged that Appellant “knowingly caused serious physical injury to Daniel Bailey by stabbing him in the face.” The second count alleged that he “knowingly caused serious physical injury to Daniel Bailey by stabbing him in the arm.” The final assault count alleged that Appellant “knowingly caused serious physical injury to Daniel Bailey by stabbing him in the back.”

Appellant was tried by a jury on April 10 and 11, 2006, and was found guilty as charged. He was subsequently sentenced to concurrent terms of twelve years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on all of the four counts.

In his sole point on appeal, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in entering convictions and sentences against him on three counts of first-degree assault rather than just one. He claims that these convictions and sentences punished him multiple times for the same offense, thereby improperly exposing him to double jeopardy.

Because this issue was not preserved for appellate review, Appellant asks this Court to review for plain error. “Rule 30.20 provides, in pertinent part, that ‘[wjhether briefed or not, plain errors affecting substantial rights may be considered in the discretion of the court when the court finds that manifest injustice or [a] miscarriage of justice has resulted therefrom.’ ” State v. Beggs, 186 S.W.3d 306, 311 (Mo.App. W.D.2005). “In determining whether to exercise its discretion under plain error review, the appellate court looks to determine whether on the face of the appellant’s claim substantial grounds exist for believing that the trial court committed a ‘plain’ error, which resulted in manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice.” Id. (internal quotation omitted). “Plain errors are evident, obvious, and clear, and we determine such errors exist based on the facts and circumstances of each case.” State v. Fewell, 198 S.W.3d 691, 693 (Mo.App. S.D.2006) (internal quotation omitted).

“The constitutional protection to be free from double jeopardy is a personal right or privilege which is waived if not timely and properly asserted at trial.” State v. Dennis, 153 S.W.3d 910, 918 (Mo.App. W.D.2005) (internal quotation and [511]*511brackets omitted). “Nevertheless, the right to be free from double jeopardy is a constitutional right that goes to the very power of the State to bring the defendant in the court to answer the charge brought against him.” Id. (internal quotation omitted). “Thus, there is an exception to the general rule that the claim is waived when the court can determine from the face of the record that the court had no power to enter the conviction.” Id. (internal quotation omitted). Accordingly, we review Appellant’s claim for plain error.

The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment, made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, “prevents a criminal defendant from being subjected to multiple punishments for the same offense.” State v. Dravenstott, 138 S.W.3d 186, 190 (Mo.App. W.D.2004). In this regard, “the interest to be protected is limited to ensuring that the total punishment does not exceed that authorized by the legislature.” Id. (internal quotations and brackets omitted). “Double jeopardy analysis regarding multiple punishments is, therefore, limited to determining whether cumulative punishments were intended by the legislature.” Dennis, 153 S.W.3d at 918 (internal quotation omitted).

“A person commits the crime of assault in the first degree if he attempts to Mil or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to another person.” § 565.050.1. The State contends that each blow landed by the Appellant with the knife was a separate, voluntary act for which Appellant formed a separate intent to physically harm the victim. The State argues that “Appellant had the brief moment it took him to raise the sharp object before striMng [Bailey] a second and third time with it to form the intent to cause serious physical injury anew.” This argument has no merit.

“In the context of an assault case, separate offenses can arise from a single set of facts each time the defendant forms an intent to attack the victim.” State v. Tyler, 196 S.W.3d 638, 641 (Mo.App. W.D.2006). “If the defendant has an opportunity to reconsider his actions, each assault separated by time is considered a separate offense.” Id.; see also State v. Barber, 37 S.W.3d 400, 404 (Mo.App. E.D.2001) (“Where the defendant has the opportunity to reconsider his actions, a crime is separate in time.”). “Similarly, when the charges are based on different acts or a separate mens rea is newly formed, the conduct gives rise to an additional crime.” Tyler, 196 S.W.3d at 641. Factors to consider in determining whether multiple instances of offensive physical contact constitute multiple crimes include “time, place of commission, and, preeminently, the defendant’s intent, as evidenced by his conduct and utterances.” State v. Childs,

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Bluebook (online)
243 S.W.3d 508, 2008 Mo. App. LEXIS 88, 2008 WL 169376, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-harris-moctapp-2008.