State v. Mason

Court of Appeals of North Carolina

State v. Mason

211 S.E.2d 501, 24 N.C. App. 568, 1975 N.C. App. LEXIS 2434

CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina

DecidedFebruary 5, 1975

DocketNo. 7414SC948

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 211 S.E.2d 501 (State v. Mason) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

State v. Mason, 211 S.E.2d 501, 24 N.C. App. 568, 1975 N.C. App. LEXIS 2434 (N.C. Ct. App. 1975).

Pincite

Opinion

MARTIN, Judge.

Defendant contends in his first assignment of error that the trial court erred in denying his motion for nonsuit on the charge of conspiracy. It is argued that the State’s evidence raised only a suspicion that the crime of conspiracy was committed.

A criminal conspiracy is the unlawful concurrence of two or more persons in a scheme or agreement to do an unlawful act or to do a lawful act unlawfully. State v. Miller, 15 N.C. App. 610, 190 S.E. 2d 722 (1972). “Direct proof of the charge is not essential, for such is rarely obtainable. It may be, and generally is, established by a number of indefinite acts, each of which, standing alone, might have little weight, but, taken collectively, they point unerringly to the existence of a conspiracy.” State v. Whiteside, 204 N.C. 710, 169 S.E. 711 (1933).

We are of the opinion, and so hold, that defendant’s motion for nonsuit.was properly overruled. State’s evidence, through testimony by one McGill, tended to show that on 15 December 1973 defendant, Joe McGill, .and Aubrey Johnson met together at a vacant lot. Defendant asked, “How can we make some money?” or “Where can we make some money?” McGill suggested the movies. According to testimony, McGill knew defendant was speaking of robbery.- Defendant indicated that he needed a gun, and McGill said, “Yes, man.” A shotgun was obtained from Johnson’s home. McGill testified that en route to the theatre defendant said, “I am going to show all how to pull a robbery.” Arriving at the Yorktown Theatre in Durham, defendant demanded money, and the theatre employee complied, [570]*570placing money into a bag held by Johnson. McGill also testified that he participated in the robbery out of a fear of defendant. We find the evidence sufficient to survive a motion for nonsuit on the charge of conspiracy.

James Beaulieu, manager of the Yorktown Theatre, was allowed to testify that defendant was one of the men who robbed his theatre and shot him. Before admitting this testimony, a voir dire examination was held to determine its admissibility. Based on ample evidence, the trial court found that the in-court identification was not the result of any impermissibly suggestive pre-trial identification procedures and that the in-court identification was based solely on what the witness saw at the time of the crime. Such a finding, supported by competent evidence, is conclusive on appeal and must be upheld. Defendant’s assignment of error in this matter is overruled.

Defendant argues the trial court erred in failing to strike a portion of testimony by Detective Moore of the Durham police. The record shows that this testimony was brought out by defendant’s counsel on cross-examination of the State’s witness. “Defendant may not complain of the admission of testimony brought out by his counsel in the cross-examination of a witness for the state . ...” 3 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Criminal Law, § 173, p. 145.

We conclude defendant’s trial was free of prejudicial error.

No error.

Judges Vaughn and Arnold concur.

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MARTIN, Judge.

Defendant contends in his first assignment of error that the trial court erred in denying his motion for nonsuit on the charge of conspiracy. It is argued that the State’s evidence raised only a suspicion that the crime of conspiracy was committed.

A criminal conspiracy is the unlawful concurrence of two or more persons in a scheme or agreement to do an unlawful act or to do a lawful act unlawfully. State v. Miller, 15 N.C. App. 610, 190 S.E. 2d 722 (1972). “Direct proof of the charge is not essential, for such is rarely obtainable. It may be, and generally is, established by a number of indefinite acts, each of which, standing alone, might have little weight, but, taken collectively, they point unerringly to the existence of a conspiracy.” State v. Whiteside, 204 N.C. 710, 169 S.E. 711 (1933).

We are of the opinion, and so hold, that defendant’s motion for nonsuit.was properly overruled. State’s evidence, through testimony by one McGill, tended to show that on 15 December 1973 defendant, Joe McGill, .and Aubrey Johnson met together at a vacant lot. Defendant asked, “How can we make some money?” or “Where can we make some money?” McGill suggested the movies. According to testimony, McGill knew defendant was speaking of robbery.- Defendant indicated that he needed a gun, and McGill said, “Yes, man.” A shotgun was obtained from Johnson’s home. McGill testified that en route to the theatre defendant said, “I am going to show all how to pull a robbery.” Arriving at the Yorktown Theatre in Durham, defendant demanded money, and the theatre employee complied, [570]*570placing money into a bag held by Johnson. McGill also testified that he participated in the robbery out of a fear of defendant. We find the evidence sufficient to survive a motion for nonsuit on the charge of conspiracy.

James Beaulieu, manager of the Yorktown Theatre, was allowed to testify that defendant was one of the men who robbed his theatre and shot him. Before admitting this testimony, a voir dire examination was held to determine its admissibility. Based on ample evidence, the trial court found that the in-court identification was not the result of any impermissibly suggestive pre-trial identification procedures and that the in-court identification was based solely on what the witness saw at the time of the crime. Such a finding, supported by competent evidence, is conclusive on appeal and must be upheld. Defendant’s assignment of error in this matter is overruled.

Defendant argues the trial court erred in failing to strike a portion of testimony by Detective Moore of the Durham police. The record shows that this testimony was brought out by defendant’s counsel on cross-examination of the State’s witness. “Defendant may not complain of the admission of testimony brought out by his counsel in the cross-examination of a witness for the state . ...” 3 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Criminal Law, § 173, p. 145.

We conclude defendant’s trial was free of prejudicial error.

No error.

Judges Vaughn and Arnold concur.

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211 S.E.2d 501, 24 N.C. App. 568, 1975 N.C. App. LEXIS 2434, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mason-ncctapp-1975.

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