State v. Hugle

104 So. 3d 598, 2012 WL 5450460
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 7, 2012
DocketNo. 2011-KA-1121
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 104 So. 3d 598 (State v. Hugle) 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. Hugle, 104 So. 3d 598, 2012 WL 5450460 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

TERRI F. LOVE, Judge.

|! This appeal arises from the defendant’s convictions for second degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for the murder conviction and to thirty years for the conspiracy charge, sentences to run consecutively. The defendant alleged that the trial court abused its discretion by denying to sever the offenses for trial and for a new trial, that a non-unanimous verdict was unconstitutional as to the conspiracy conviction, and that the defendant was denied his right of confrontation of witnesses. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying the severance of the offenses because the defendant was not prejudiced, that a non-unanimous verdict regarding conspiracy to commit first-degree murder is constitutional, and that the defendant was not denied his right to confront the witnesses and affirm.

[604]*604 FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On July 30, 2008, Dennis Hugle shot and killed Kendall Parker. Mr. Parker sustained four gunshot wounds — two non-fatal to the torso and two mortal to the head.

The Orleans Parish Grand Jury indicted Mr. Hugle for the July 30, 2008 second degree murder of Mr. Parker. Mr. Hugle was arraigned and pled not ^guilty.1

Subsequently, the Orleans Parish Grand Jury issued a four count superseding indictment.2 Count 1 of that indictment charged Mr. Hugle with the July 30, 2008 second-degree murder of Mr. Parker. In count 2, Mr. Hugle, along with his brother, Troy Hugle (“Troy”), and Tejeanne Anderson3 were charged with conspiracy to commit the first-degree murder of an eyewitness to the murder. The remaining two counts of the indictment charged Troy with being a felon in possession of a firearm — 380 handgun — having been previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in case number C06-43 in Obion County, Tennessee (count 3) and with being a felon in possession of a firearm — 9MM—having been previously convicted of possess with intent to distribute cocaine in case number C06-43 in Obion County, Tennessee (count 4). The three defendants were arraigned and pled not guilty.

During Mr. Hugle’s jury trial, the victim’s mother, Ms. Henrietta McCall, recalled witnessing a verbal confrontation between her son and Mr. Hugle on March 18, 2008, over repayment of a debt Mr. Parker allegedly owed to Mr. Hugle. When Mr. Parker informed Mr. Hugle that he had no money, Mr. Hugle threatened to blow Mr. Parker’s brains out if he did not repay Mr. Hugle’s “f — ing money.” Mr. Hugle retrieved a gun from his truck and continued to threaten Mr. Parker. Ms. McCall called the police. Mr. Hugle reported to the police that he did not have a weapon. However, Ms. McCall advised the police that Mr. Hugle returned the gun to his truck.

IsLieutenant Jimmy Bobb testified that he responded to a call of an aggravated assault in the 2200 block of Touro Street on March 18, 2008. Mr. Parker stated to Lieutenant Bobb that Mr. Hugle pointed a gun at him. Mr. Hugle admitted he had a weapon in his vehicle, which Lieutenant Bobb retrieved from the front seat of Mr. Hugle’s truck.

New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) Detective Michael Augustus conducted the investigation of the March 18, 2008 incident. Mr. Parker explained to Detective Augustus that he and Mr. Hugle co-owned a grocery store in the 2200 block of Touro Street, and that he and Mr. Hu-gle argued over money. The verbal confrontation escalated when Mr. Hugle pulled a loaded gun from the waistband of his pants and threatened to shoot Mr. Parker’s “f* * *ing brains out.” Mr. Hugle was arrested and booked with aggravated battery.4

On July 30, 2008, at approximately 7:00 p.m., NOPD Officer Quincy Broaden and his partner responded to a report of a homicide in the 5600 block of Dauphine [605]*605Street. Officer Broaden found Mr. Parker shot in the head, neck and abdomen. Mr. Parker was pronounced dead on the scene. Although Officer Broaden could not locate any witnesses, he found four bullet casings near Mr. Parker’s body.

Marvin Davis, Mr. Parker’s friend, testified that at the time of trial that he was incarcerated for a 2010 aggravated battery conviction for which he was serving a nine-year sentence and was awaiting a multiple bill hearing. Mr. Davis admitted to convictions for drug possession and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Mr. Davis stated that he was not offered any consideration for his testimony, and that he decided to testify because Mr. Parker was his friend. Mr. Davis further | testified that he had known both Mr. Hugle and Mr. Parker for over twenty years.

Mr. Davis recounted that Mr. Parker owed Mr. Hugle money. In mid-July 2008, Mr. Parker and Mr. Davis were renovating an apartment complex that Mr. Davis owned. Mr. Hugle arrived at the complex demanding the money Mr. Parker owed. Mr. Davis intervened in the confrontation and offered to assist Mr. Parker in repaying Mr. Hugle; however, Mr. Hu-gle refused Mr. Davis’ offer and threatened to kill Mr. Parker the next time he saw Mr. Parker.

The day Mr. Parker was killed, Mr. Davis along with his nine-year old son and a friend, Kristina Brossette, drove to Gregory MeMorris’ house on Dauphine Street. When Mr. Davis exited his truck, he noticed Mr. Parker standing in the driveway. Willie Hood, Mr. Davis’ cousin, revealed to Mr. Davis that Mr. Hugle just left their location. Mr. Hugle drove up as Mr. Hood and Mr. Davis spoke. As Mr. Hugle approached Mr. Parker, Mr. Hood saw that Mr. Hugle was concealing a gun close to his leg. Mr. Hood positioned himself in front of Mr. Parker and yelled at Mr. Hugle not to shoot. Mr. Hugle threatened to shoot Mr. Hood if he did not move out of the way. As Mr. Hugle approached Mr. Parker, he stated: “I’m going to kill you.” Mr. Hugle then shot the victim four times, twice in the chest and twice in the head, and drove away. Mr. Davis, his son, Ms. Brossette and Mr. Hood fled in Mr. Davis’ vehicle. Mr. Davis did not call police immediately because he feared for his safety. The day after the shooting, Mr. Davis went to Mr. Parker’s house to tell his family about the shooting, but before he could, the police arrived. Mr. Davis gave a statement to the police and identified Mr. Hugle from a photo lineup as the shooter. Mr. Hugle and Troy, contacted Mr. Davis to discover whether Mr. Davis planned to testify at Mr. Hugle’s trial.

On cross-examination, Mr. Davis denied Mr. Hugle’s claim that the only | ^reason he testified was because he hoped to receive a lenient sentence at a pending multiple bill hearing. Mr. Davis argued that his conviction for aggravated battery, which could subject him to a life sentence, occurred after Mr. Parker’s murder and did not affect his decision to testify. Mr. Davis also stated he did not request or expect to receive anything in exchange for his testimony. He chose to testify because Mr. Parker was his friend.

On re-direct, Mr. Davis recalled that he received a telephone call from Mr. Hugle’s girlfriend, Ms. Anderson, and another from Mr. Hugle while Mr. Hugle was incarcerated, both wanting to know whether Mr. Davis was going to testify. When Mr. Davis said yes, Mr. Hugle allegedly threatened him. Mr. Davis also received a visit from Troy who was seeking the same information.

Detective Harold Wischan, the lead investigator into Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
104 So. 3d 598, 2012 WL 5450460, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hugle-lactapp-2012.