State v. Sterling

131 So. 3d 295, 2013 La.App. 5 Cir. 287, 2013 WL 6504462, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 2566
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 12, 2013
DocketNo. 13-KA-287
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 131 So. 3d 295 (State v. Sterling) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Sterling, 131 So. 3d 295, 2013 La.App. 5 Cir. 287, 2013 WL 6504462, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 2566 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

STEPHEN J. WINDHORST, Judge.

^Defendant, Darren Sterling, was charged with four counts of attempted first degree murder (Counts 1 through 4)1 and one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (Count 5). Thereafter, the trial judge severed Count 5.2

Defendant was tried before a twelve-person jury that found defendant guilty of aggravated battery on Count 1 and not guilty on Counts 2, 3, and 4. Pursuant to a multiple bill hearing, the trial court found defendant to be a “fifth felony offender” and defendant was sentenced to imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for 50 years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.3 After the denial of defendant’s motion to reconsider sentence, this appeal followed. For the reasons stated below, we affirm defendant’s conviction and sentence.

Facts and Procedural History

On December 31, 2010, Andrea Franklin was locking the door of her hair salon while talking to Tranda Crier, a customer, when defendant, Ms. Franklin’s long-time live-in boyfriend, pulled up in a car and approached her. Defendant 13made a comment to Ms. Franklin about her throwing his personal belongings out of the house and then he hit her in the head, causing her sunglasses and one of her earrings to fall off. Defendant then stepped back, pulled a gun from his pants, and shot Ms. Franklin twice in the abdomen. Afterward, Ms. Franklin ran to Ms. Crier’s car, and defendant ran behind her. Ms. Franklin jumped into the front passenger seat of the car, sat on one of Ms. Crier’s daughters, and closed the door. Defendant shot into the car, and the bullet shattered the glass and grazed Ms. Franklin’s arm and breast.

Assignments of Error & Discussion

In his first assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial judge erred by denying his motion for a new trial. He claims that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict of aggravated battery and the State did not rebut his claim of self-defense.

Defendant filed a motion for judgment of acquittal arguing that the evidence did not reasonably permit a finding of guilty. Defendant additionally filed a motion for a new trial pursuant to La.C.Cr.P. art. 851(1) and (5), arguing that the verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence, and that the ends of justice would be served by the granting of a new trial. A hearing was [299]*299held on defendant’s motions wherein defense counsel informed the court that both motions were based on the same argument. The motions were denied without reasons.

A post-verdict judgment of acquittal shall be granted only if the court finds that the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the State, does not reasonably permit a finding of guilty. La. C.Cr.P. art. 821B. The question of sufficiency of the evidence is properly raised by a motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal. See La.C.Cr.P. art. 821; State v. Hampton, 98-331 (La.4/23/99), 750 So.2d 867, 880, cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1007, 120 S.Ct. 504, 145 L.Ed.2d 390 (1999); State v. Bazley, 09-358 (La.App. 5 Cir. 1/11/11), 60 So.3d 7, 17, writ denied, 11-282 (La.6/17/11), 63 So.3d 1039. Thus, the denial of defendant’s motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal based on the sufficiency of the evidence is properly before this Court on review.

A motion for a new trial is based on the supposition that injustice has been done to the defendant, and, unless such is shown to have been the case, the motion shall be denied, no matter upon what allegations it is grounded. La.C.Cr.P. art. 851. The trial court’s ruling on a motion for a new trial will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear showing of an abuse of discretion. State v. Delagardelle, 06-898 (La.App. 5 Cir. 4/11/07), 957 So.2d 825, 829, writ denied, 07-1067 (La.11/21/07), 967 So.2d 1154. On motion of the defendant, the court shall grant a new trial whenever the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence. La.C.Cr.P. art. 851(1). When a motion for a new trial is based on the verdict being contrary to the law and the evidence, there is nothing for review on appeal. State v. Condley, 04-1349 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/31/05), 904 So.2d 881, 888, writ denied, 05-1760 (La.2/10/06), 924 So.2d 163. However, both the Louisiana Supreme Court and this Court have addressed the constitutional issue of the sufficiency of the evidence under this circumstance. Id. Therefore, the denial of defendant’s motion for a new trial based on the sufficiency of the evidence will be addressed by this Court on review.

In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court must determine that the evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, or a mixture of both, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, was sufficient to convince a rational trier of fact that all of the elements of the crime have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Neal, 00-674 (La.6/29/01), 796 So.2d 649, 657, cert. denied, 535 U.S. 940, 122 S.Ct. 1323, 152 L.Ed.2d 231 (2002); State v. Mickel, 09-953 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/11/10), 41 So.3d 532, 534, writ denied, 10-1357 (La.1/7/11), 52 So.3d 885.

In cases involving circumstantial evidence, the trial court must instruct the jury that, “assuming every fact to be proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.” La. R.S. 15:438. The reviewing court is not required to determine whether another possible hypothesis of innocence suggested by the defendant offers an exculpatory explanation of events. The reviewing court must determine whether the possible alternative hypothesis is sufficiently reasonable that a rational juror could not have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Mitchell, 99-3342 (La.10/17/00), 772 So.2d 78, 83; State v. Washington, 03-1135 (La.App. 5 Cir. 1/27/04), 866 So.2d 973, 977.

[300]*300Defendant was charged with attempted first degree murder, but was convicted of the responsive verdict of aggravated battery (Count 1). To support a conviction of aggravated battery, the State must prove: (1) the defendant intentionally used force or violence against the victim; (2) the force or violence was inflicted with a dangerous weapon; and (3) the dangerous weapon was used in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm. La. R.S. 14:34; State v. Rainey, 98-436 (La.App. 5 Cir. 11/25/98), 722 So.2d 1097, 1102, writ denied, 98-3219 (La.5/7/99), 741 So.2d 28. A dangerous weapon is any instrumentality which, in the manner used, is calculated or likely to produce death or great bodily harm. La. R.S. 14:2A(3).

Defendant contends that his actions were justified because they were committed in self-defense. The fact that an offender’s conduct is justifiable, although otherwise criminal, shall constitute a defense to prosecution for any crime | abased on that conduct. La. R.S. 14:18. The use of force or violence upon the person of another is justifiable when committed for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the person, provided that the force or violence used must be reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent such offense. La. R.S. 14:19A.

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Bluebook (online)
131 So. 3d 295, 2013 La.App. 5 Cir. 287, 2013 WL 6504462, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 2566, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sterling-lactapp-2013.