State v. McGhee

739 So. 2d 222, 96 La.App. 4 Cir. 1656, 1999 La. App. LEXIS 752, 1999 WL 173250
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided March 24, 1999·No. No. 96-KA-1656·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

JjBAGNERIS, Judge.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On December 1,1993, defendant, Romal-ice C. McGhee, was charged by bill of information with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling in violation of La. R.S. 14:62.2. At his arraignment on December 6, 1993, defendant entered a plea of not guilty. A motions hearing was held on January 28, 1994 at which defendant’s motion to suppress confession was determined to be moot, and his motions to suppress identification and evidence were denied. Probable cause was found. In addition, the trial court appointed a sanity commission to determine defendant’s competency to stand trial.

After a sanity hearing on March 1, 1994, defendant was transferred to Feliciana Forensic Facility for further evaluation. Another hearing was held on February 21,-1995 at which defendant was found sane [224] and competent to stand trial. Following, defense motions were filed for the appointment of a sanity commission, such motions were granted. On September 12, 1995, defendant withdrew his prior | gplea of not guilty and entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. Defendant filed another motion for a sanity commission on September 28, 1995, which was granted by the trial court. A sanity hearing was conducted on November 3, 1995. At the conclusion of the hearing the trial judge left the matter open for further testimony; however, no other hearing was held and the matter was set for trial.

After a jury trial on April 9, 1996, defendant was found guilty as charged. On April 30, 1996, defendant filed a motion for new trial, which was denied. The court sentenced defendant to serve eight years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

The State subsequently filed a multiple bill of information, which defendant moved to quash. A multiple offender hearing was held on July 10, 1997 and defendant was adjudicated a fourth felony offender. Defendant waived delays and the trial court vacated the sentence previously imposed and sentenced defendant to serve twenty years at hard labor with credit for time served. The trial court denied defendant’s motion to quash. Defendant appeals his conviction and sentence.

II. STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

On November 13, 1993, Penny Merrick was approaching her residence when her neighbor, Norman Detrick, informed her that an unknown man was in her house. Merrick then crossed the street in front of her house and observed a man walking around her house. Defendant exited Merrick’s, at which time she approached him and inquired as to what he was doing in the house. Defendant 13responded that he was visiting the people who lived there. Merrick told defendant that she lived in the house and that the police had been called and that she got a good look at his face. Defendant turned, grabbed a bike that was on the other side of the fence and rode off.

Approximately four minutes later, a police unit arrived. Merrick recounted the incident to the officer and gave him a description of defendant. She also told the officer the direction in which defendant left. The officer drove off to search for defendant, and within a few minutes knocked on Merrick’s door and stated that he had a suspect. He asked her to look at the subject and see if the subject was the perpetrator. Merrick walked to the police car and identified defendant.

Merrick testified her home was ransacked. Her daughter’s wallet, Walkman and jewelry were missing. Clothes and a stereo were by the front door. A window in her bedroom was broken and there was a cinder block below the window that had not been there before the burglary. Merrick stated that she did not give defendant permission to enter her home. She further testified that when she spoke with defendant he appeared coherent and did not smell of alcohol.

New Orleans Police Officer Bruce God-frey testified that he responded to a call of criminal trespass at 1712 Valmont Street. When he arrived on the scene, he observed a woman standing in the middle of the block flagging him down. The woman told him that someone had just exited her house, got on a bike and fled the scene. The woman gave Godfrey a description of the perpetrator. The officer left to check the immediate area for the suspect. God-frey located defendant and |4attempted to stop him by turning on his lights and siren. Defendant did not stop, but proceeded to peddle faster and turned the corner. God-frey followed. Defendant then jumped off his bike and ran into someone’s backyard while Godfrey pursued on foot. Godfrey eventually apprehended defendant in a vacant lot. During the chase Godfrey contacted Officer Anthony Monaco for assistance. When Monaco arrived on the scene, they placed defendant in Monaco’s [225] vehicle. Defendant appeared to be alert. Godfrey advised defendant that he was detaining him as a suspect in a burglary. Defendant appeared to understand what Godfrey said. Godfrey noticed a strong smell of alcohol on defendant, however, he was able to walk without assistance.

After they placed defendant in Monaco’s vehicle, the officers relocated to Valmont Street where they contacted the victim. The victim identified defendant as the man who was in her house. The officers arrested defendant and advised him of his rights, which defendant appeared to understand. At the time of his arrest defendant was awake and alert.

After arresting defendant, Godfrey conducted a field search on defendant and found jewelry, a wallet and a walkman. The victim identified these items as belonging to her daughter. The victim stated that she did not know defendant and did not give him permission to enter her house. Godfrey observed the crime scene and witnessed that the house was ransacked. There was a broken window on the side of the house and a concrete block below the window. He called the crime lab to process the scene.

| sAfter the chase Godfrey called for an emergency medical unit. Both defendant and the officer sustained injuries during the pursuit. Defendant became unconscious immediately before the emergency medical unit arrived. He was transported to Charity Hospital. Godfrey followed the ambulance to the hospital. After three hours defendant was released to the officer’s custody and transported to Central Lock-up. Defendant was conscious in the hospital.

Officer Monaco testified he received a call from Godfrey requesting assistance in defendant’s apprehension and arrest. By the time Monaco arrived at the scene, Godfrey had defendant handcuffed and was walking out of a vacant lot where Godfrey had apprehended defendant. Godfrey placed defendant in Monaco’s police vehicle. Monaco testified that defendant appeared to be normal. Both defendant and Godfrey had cuts and bruises from the pursuit. Godfrey called for an emergency medical unit. After defendant was placed in the police vehicle, they relocated to the intersection of Danneel and Valmont Streets where they asked the victim to identify defendant as the perpetrator. Defendant was conscious when this occurred. Shortly thereafter, defendant lost consciousness. The emergency medical unit transported defendant to Charity Hospital. Godfrey went to Charity with defendant.

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State v. McGhee, 739 So. 2d 222, 96 La.App. 4 Cir. 1656, 1999 La. App. LEXIS 752, 1999 WL 173250 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

739 So. 2d 222 (State v. McGhee) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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