State v. Smith

370 S.W.3d 891, 2012 WL 1759976, 2012 Mo. App. LEXIS 673
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 15, 2012
DocketNo. ED 96865
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 370 S.W.3d 891 (State v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Smith, 370 S.W.3d 891, 2012 WL 1759976, 2012 Mo. App. LEXIS 673 (Mo. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

KENNETH M. ROMINES, J.

Facts and Procedural History

Appellant Charles A. Smith (“Smith”) was found guilty of forcible rape (Count I), aggravated stalking (Count II), four counts of violation of a protective order (Counts III, IV, V, VI), and domestic assault in the second degree (Count VII). We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence at trial showed that Smith and J.K. were romantically involved. Approximately a week before Christmas 2009, J.K. told Smith that she wanted to end the relationship, but they continued to see each other. On 26 December 2009, J.K. and Smith went to dinner and both later returned to J.K’s apartment. J.K. agreed to allow Smith to sleep on the couch, and she retired to her bedroom. According to J.K’s testimony, Smith barged into the bedroom, lunged at her, raped her, and strangled her until she blacked out. He also threw her on the bed. When Smith later passed out, J.K. left the apartment and called the police.

The police met J.K. in an alley next to the apartment complex, and she reported the incident. The officers conducted an investigation that night which included waking Smith up and interviewing him. Sergeant Antonio Triplett did not notice any bruising on J.K.’s neck. The officers ultimately determined that no serious crime had been committed and transported Smith to his sister’s house. J.K. left to stay at a friend’s house.

The following morning a police detective met J.K. and noticed bruising on her neck. The detective drove J.K. to the hospital. A medical examination revealed that she had hemorrhages on the skin on her neck, a knee injury, and bruising on her arm. During a separate examination, another physician determined that her vocal chords were extremely swollen.

On 6 January 2010, J.K. obtained a full order of protection against Smith. The order of protection prohibited Smith from [894]*894having any communication with J.K. in any manner, through any medium.

On or about 17 January 2010, Smith washed J.K’s car and left a note on the windshield. In the note, Smith stated that he noticed J.K’s car needed to be cleaned and that he knew he was taking a huge chance by cleaning it. It stated that he “did a honible thing [to J.K.]” and asked her not to turn him in.

On or about 23 January 2010, J.K. was getting into her car which was parked in the lot near her apartment. Smith noticed her, ran up the steps near the parking lot, scrunched down in the stairway, and smiled at J.K.

On or about 25 January 2010, Smith left a handwritten letter in J.K’s mailbox. Between 7 February and 14 February, Smith left two cards in J.K’s mailbox. The letter and cards did not have any postage and stated that Smith was sorry for his actions against J.K.

The jury found Smith guilty of one count of aggravated stalking (Count II), four counts of violation of a protective order (Counts III-VI), and one count of domestic assault in the second degree (Count VII). The jury found Smith not guilty on the charge of forcible rape. The trial court sentenced Smith as a prior and persistent offender to seven (7) years in the department of corrections on Count II, one (1) year on Count III, one (1) year on Count VI, one (1) year on Count V, one (1) year on Count VI, and ten (10) years on Count VII. Counts III-VI were to be served concurrent to each other, but consecutive to Counts II and VII. Count II and VII were to be served consecutively. In total, Smith received eighteen (18) years in the department of corrections. Aggrieved, Smith now appeals. To avoid repetition, additional facts are provided as needed in the discussion section.

Discussion

I. Double Jeopardy

In Smith’s first point on appeal, he argues that his convictions for violations of an order of protection (Counts III, V, and VI) and aggravated stalking for the same conduct constitute a double jeopardy violation. We agree and vacate the convictions for Counts III, V, and VI.

Smith requests that we review for plain error pursuant to Rule 30.20. Plain error review is discretionary. State v. Edberg, 185 S.W.3d 290, 293 (Mo.App.S.D.2006). A defendant is not entitled to relief pursuant to the plain error rule unless he demonstrates that the error so substantially affected the defendant’s rights that a manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice would inexorably result absent a correction of the error. State v. Stewart, 343 S.W.3d 373, 376 (Mo.App.S.D.2011). Plain error review involves a two-step analysis. Id. First, we determine whether the trial court committed evident, obvious and clear error affecting the defendant’s substantial rights. Id. If the defendant does not get past the first step, our inquiry ends. Id. If we determine that a plain error occurred, however, we then must decide whether the error actually resulted in manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice. Id.

The “right to be free from double jeopardy is a constitutional right that goes to the very power of the State to bring the defendant in the court to answer the charge brought against him.” State v. Neher, 213 S.W.3d 44, 48 (Mo. banc 2007). As such, a claim of a double jeopardy violation “that can be determined from the face of the record is entitled to plain error review on appeal after trial.” Id. Because Smith’s claim can be reviewed from the [895]*895face of the record, plain error review is appropriate here.

The double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment guarantees that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life and limb.” U.S. Const, amend. V. This clause provides two distinct protections for criminal defendants: “(a) protection from successive prosecutions for the same offense after either an acquittal or a conviction and (b) protection from multiple punishments for the same offense.” Stewart, 343 S.W.3d at 377.

Missouri also has codified a statutory double jeopardy protection. In relevant part, it provides that “when the same conduct of a person may establish the commission of more than one offense he may be prosecuted for each such offense. He may not, however, be convicted of more than one offense if ... [o]ne offense is included in the other.” § 556.041. An offense is included when “it is established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged.” § 556.046. An offense is a lesser included offense if it is impossible to commit the greater without necessarily committing the lesser. State v. Derenzy, 89 S.W.3d 472, 474 (Mo. banc 2002).

In considering whether one offense is included in another, our courts apply the “same elements” test established in Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932) and codified at §§ 556.041 and 556.046.1(1). State v. Burns, 877 S.W.2d 111, 112 (Mo. banc 1994).

“[W]e simply determine the elements of the offenses at issue and compare them.

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Bluebook (online)
370 S.W.3d 891, 2012 WL 1759976, 2012 Mo. App. LEXIS 673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-smith-moctapp-2012.