State v. Primus

564 S.E.2d 103, 349 S.C. 576, 2002 S.C. LEXIS 92
CourtSupreme Court of South Carolina
DecidedMay 20, 2002
Docket25471
StatusPublished
Cited by56 cases

This text of 564 S.E.2d 103 (State v. Primus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Primus, 564 S.E.2d 103, 349 S.C. 576, 2002 S.C. LEXIS 92 (S.C. 2002).

Opinions

Justice BURNETT.

Respondent James Anthony Primus (Primus) was indicted on charges of first degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and kidnapping. He was convicted of kidnapping and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (ABHAN) and sentenced to consecutive terms of thirty years and ten years, respectively. The Court of Appeals reversed. State v. Primus, 341 S.C. 592, 535 S.E.2d 152 (Ct.App.2000). The Court granted a writ of certiorari to review the Court of Appeals’ decision. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

ISSUES

I. Did the trial court have subject matter jurisdiction to convict Primus of ABHAN under an indictment for first degree CSC? 1

II. Did the Court of Appeals err by concluding the assistant solicitor’s comment during closing argument about Primus’ failure to call his uncle as a witness was prejudicial error?

DISCUSSION

I.

Did the trial court have subject matter jurisdiction to convict Primus of ABHAN under an indictment for first degree CSC?

The circuit court does not have subject matter jurisdiction to convict a defendant of an offense unless there is an indictment which sufficiently states the offense, the defendant waives presentment, or the offense is a lesser included offense of the crime charged in the indictment. State v. Owens, 346 S.C. 637, 552 S.E.2d 745 (2001). The test for determining [580]*580when an offense is a lesser included offense of another is whether the greater of the two offenses includes all the elements of the lesser offense. State v. McFadden, 342 S.C. 629, 539 S.E.2d 387 (2000). If the lesser offense includes an element which is not included in the greater offense, then the lesser offense is not included in the greater offense. Hope v. State, 328 S.C. 78, 492 S.E.2d 76 (1997). While the Court recognizes the existence of a few anomalies, it generally adheres to use of the traditional elements test. State v. Elliott, 346 S.C. 603, 552 S.E.2d 727 (2001).

Under South Carolina Code Ann. § 16-3-652(l)(a)(b) (Supp. 2001), first degree CSC requires a(l) a sexual battery and (2) aggravated force to accomplish the sexual battery2 or forcible confinement, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, burglary, housebreaking, or any other similar offense or act.3 A sexual battery is “statutorily defined to include only certain specific acts, which can be loosely described as involving penetration of some sort.” State v. Elliott, supra 346 S.C. at 606, 552 S.E.2d at 729; S.C.Code Ann. § 16-3-651(h) (1985).

ABHAN is an unlawful act of violent injury accompanied by circumstances of aggravation. State v. Fennell, 340 S.C. 266, 531 S.E.2d 512 (2000). “Circumstances of aggravation” is an element of ABHAN. Knox v. State, 340 S.C. 81, 530 S.E.2d 887 (2000). Circumstances of aggravation include the use of a deadly weapon, the intent to commit a felony, infliction of serious bodily injury, great disparity in the ages or physical conditions of the parties, a difference in gender, the purposeful infliction of shame and disgrace, taking indecent [581]*581liberties or familiarities with a female, and resistance to lawful authority. State v. Fennell, supra.

“Circumstances of aggravation” is an element of ABHAN not included in first degree CSC.4 See Knox v. State, supra (“circumstances of aggravation” is an element of ABHAN not included in second degree lynching, therefore, ABHAN is not a lesser included offense). Furthermore, even though a circumstance of aggravation may constitute an element in first degree CSC under the facts of a particular case (i.e., use of a deadly weapon), because all of the circumstances of aggravation are not elements of first degree CSC, ABHAN is not a lesser included offense. See id. (even though second degree lynching includes two circumstances of aggravation that may establish ABHAN, ABHAN is not lesser included offense because there are other circumstances of aggravation that are not included in second degree lynching); State v. Easler, 327 S.C. 121, 489 S.E.2d 617 (1997) (because each circumstance of aggravation for ABHAN is not always a necessary element of felony DUI, ABHAN is not a lesser included offense of felony driving under the influence). Accordingly, employing the traditional elements test, ABHAN is not a lesser included offense of first degree CSC.

Nevertheless, the Court most recently determined that because it had consistently held ABHAN is a lesser included offense of assault with intent to commit CSC, it would continue this ruling even though the two offenses failed the traditional elements test. State v. Elliott, supra. Similarly, the Court has repeatedly held ABHAN is a lesser included offense of first degree CSC. State v. Frazier, 302 S.C. 500, 397 S.E.2d 93 (1990); State v. Pressley, 292 S.C. 9, 354 S.E.2d 777 (1987); State v. Mathis, 287 S.C. 589, 340 S.E.2d 538 (1986); State v. Drafts, 288 S.C. 30, 340 S.E.2d 784 (1986); State v. Lambright, 279 S.C. 535, 309 S.E.2d 7 (1983). In order to have a uniform approach to CSC and ABHAN offenses, we likewise hold ABHAN is a lesser included offense of first degree CSC.

[582]*582 II.

Did the Court of Appeals err by concluding the assistant solicitor’s comment during closing argument about Primus’ failure to call his uncle as a witness was prejudicial error?

At trial, the State presented evidence that Primus forced the victim into an abandoned home and raped her. Through the testimony of a police detective, the State introduced Primus’ statement to the police; Primus cross-examined the detective. According to the detective, Primus stated he had breakfast at Shoney’s and then visited his uncle, Joe Hodges, at the time the assault occurred. Primus rested his case without testifying or offering any witnesses in his defense.

During closing argument the following transpired:

Assistant Solicitor: And the crucial period when Detective Bills told you he was most interested in was this Shoney’s and Uncle Joe Hodges’ house. Of course, you can’t hold the fact that Mr. Primus didn’t present any evidence against him, but don’t you think that would have made his alibi a lot stronger if Joe Hodges, his own unde, had come to court and said, oh, he couldn’t have been on Gum Branch Road raying this woman because he was at my house in Corey Woods?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
564 S.E.2d 103, 349 S.C. 576, 2002 S.C. LEXIS 92, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-primus-sc-2002.