State v. Miller

571 So. 2d 603, 1990 WL 192903
Supreme Court of Louisiana·Decided December 3, 1990·No. 90-K-0673·Published·Cited by 65 cases

Opinion

571 So.2d 603 (1990)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Lee E. MILLER.

No. 90-K-0673.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

December 3, 1990.

*604 William Guste, Atty. Gen., Harry F. Connick, Dist. Atty., Michele Smith, Janet Ahern, Pamela Moran, Asst. Dist. Attys., for State of La., plaintiff-applicant.

Patrick A. Talley, Sherri B. Manuel, New Orleans, for Lee E. Miller, defendant-respondent.

COLE, Justice.

Lee E. Miller, defendant herein, was accused of grabbing a twelve-year old boy and forcing the boy to accompany him to an abandoned house, where he tried unsuccessfully to rape the boy. His trial for attempted aggravated rape ended with a jury verdict of acquittal on July 22, 1986. The state then brought defendant to trial on a simple kidnapping charge, a violation of La.R.S. 14:45, and on August 18, 1986 he was convicted as charged. During the trial for simple kidnapping, the court permitted testimony about the rape attempt without informing the jury of the prior acquittal or providing any limiting instruction.

Defendant was sentenced to five years at hard labor for simple kidnapping. However, following a multiple bill hearing, defendant was adjudicated a multiple offender. His original sentence was then vacated and he was resentenced under the provisions of La.R.S. 15:529.1 to ten years at hard labor without benefit of probation or good time. On appeal, defendant's kidnapping conviction was reversed on the ground that the due process guarantee of fundamental fairness was violated by introduction of the evidence relating to the alleged rape attempt. The case was remanded for a new trial. State v. Miller, 558 So.2d 1349 (La.App. 4th Cir.1990). On application by the state, this court granted certiorari. State v. Miller, 564 So.2d 307 (La.1990). The primary issue presented is whether the defendant's prior prosecution for attempted rape constituted former jeopardy of the present simple kidnapping charge.

During the simple kidnapping trial, the state attempted to show that on March 27, 1986, the twelve-year-old boy, Tracy Hawthorne, was walking down the street when he was grabbed by defendant and accused of stealing defendant's tools. Hawthorne testified that defendant grabbed him by the waist and neck, told him to be quiet, and took him to an abandoned house three blocks away. Hawthorne further testified defendant, after making Hawthorne take off his shoes and pants, said he was going to have anal intercourse with him. However, when defendant started to remove something from his pocket, Hawthorne got away and ran to a friend's house nearby to report the incident. The friend's stepfather, Wayne Reed, testified Hawthorne showed up at the house in tears from a blow to the back of the head and stated "a man tried to take his booty."

Defendant testified Hawthorne had stolen his tools and keys, which were left in front of his house when he went back inside to turn off the stove. An eyewitness corroborated this testimony. Shortly thereafter, defendant saw the boy and either accosted him or called him back. In any case, defendant testified the boy had some of defendant's tools in his pocket or hand. Defendant asked the boy to take him to the boy's mother, and the boy led him to the homes of various relations who refused to have anything to do with the matter. To recover the tools, the boy led defendant to an abandoned house where *605 defendant was set upon by several other youths. Defendant admitted threatening to "whip [Hawthorne's] ass" and grabbing the boy by his pants, which came off with the boy's shoes when he ran away. The boy ran out of the house and defendant followed. Defendant chased the other youths through the project while Hawthorne went next door to his friend's house.

Other testimony indicated the keys, tools, and other evidence in the abandoned house were apparently removed during the day in question and then replaced by Reed and Hawthorne when the police ordered them to do so prior to taking photographs. Sometime that day, Reed and Hawthorne saw defendant get into a truck. There is no indication, however, that defendant was trying to escape. Defendant testified the driver of the truck, for whom he had been waiting when the tools were stolen, was taking him to give an estimate on a small electrical job. Later in the day, defendant voluntarily reported to the police when he heard the police were looking for him.

Defendant was subsequently charged with one count of attempted aggravated rape, R.S. 14:27, 14:42, and one count of simple kidnapping, R.S. 14:45. The counts were severed and tried separately. On July 22, 1986, on evidence substantially the same as that noted above, a jury acquitted defendant of attempted aggravated rape. On August 18, 1986, a second jury found defendant guilty of simple kidnapping.

Prior to the second trial, the defense filed a motion to quash the indictment on double jeopardy grounds. The motion was denied. At that hearing, the defense also filed a Motion to Elect, asking the court "to compel the State to elect the subsection of La.R.S. 14:45 under which it intends to prosecute." The trial court granted the motion and the state answered orally that it would proceed under the first two subsections of R.S. 14:45(A), which provide that simple kidnapping is:

(1) The intentional and forcible seizing and carrying of any person from one place to another without his consent; or
(2) The intentional taking, enticing or decoying away, for an unlawful purpose, of any child not his own and under the age of 14 years, without the consent of its parent or the person charged with its custody ...

According to the minutes, the defense indicated it "was satisfied" with the State's answer.

The trial commenced and defendant was subsequently convicted by a six-member jury of simple kidnapping. Defendant appealed claiming, inter alia, the trial court had erred in admitting the testimony concerning the attempted aggravated rape because defendant has been acquitted of that charge. Defendant argued the admission of this evidence subjected him to double jeopardy and was both irrelevant and prejudicial, thereby depriving him of a fair and impartial trial. Defendant also claimed the state's use of the testimony to fulfill the "unlawful purpose" element of R.S. 14:45(A)(2) violated his double jeopardy rights. The Fourth Circuit reversed defendant's conviction on the ground, as above noted, that the introduction of evidence of attempted aggravated rape, without informing the jury of the prior acquittal or providing any limiting instructions, had violated defendant's due process guarantee of fundamental fairness. On the double jeopardy issue, the court found no violation because the state prosecuted defendant under two subsections of R.S. 14:45, one of which does not require a showing of an "unlawful purpose."

This Court granted certiorari to review the decision of the Fourth Circuit. We now affirm, but for reasons different than those given by the Court of Appeal. We hold that the State's use of evidence of the attempted aggravated rape to prove the "unlawful purpose" element of simple kidnapping under La.R.S. 14:45(A)(2) violated the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. Art. 1, § 15, La.Const. (1974).

Both the Louisiana and the United States Constitutions provide that no person shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or liberty for the same offense. U.S. Const. amend. V; La. Const. art. 1, § 15 (1974). Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 59

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