State v. Berkley, 8113SC737

• Decision Date: 02 March 1982
• Docket Number: No. 8113SC737,8113SC737
• Citation: 287 S.E.2d 445,56 N.C.App. 163
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. Reginal Cornelius BERKLEY.

Page 445

287 S.E.2d 445

56 N.C.App. 163

STATE of North Carolina v. Reginal Cornelius BERKLEY.

No. 8113SC737.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

March 2, 1982.

Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Asst. Atty. Gen. Thomas B. Wood, Raleigh, for the State.

T. Craig Wright, Whiteville, for defendant-appellant.

WHICHARD, Judge.

By his first and second assignments of error, defendant argues the court erred in refusing to dismiss all charges at the close of the State's evidence and the close of all the evidence. Only the ruling made at the close of all evidence is subject to review. State v. Hough, 299 N.C. 245, 262 S.E.2d 268 (1980).

As to armed robbery and first-degree sexual offense, defendant was acquitted of these crimes. He was convicted of the lesser crimes of common law robbery and second-degree sexual offense; and these convictions render harmless any error with respect to the greater crimes, absent some showing that the verdicts of guilty as to the lesser crimes were affected thereby. State v. Casper, 256 N.C. 99, 122 S.E.2d 805 (1961), cert. denied, 376 U.S. 927, 84 S.Ct. 691, 11 L.Ed.2d 622 (1964); State v. DeMai, 227 N.C. 657, 44 S.E.2d 218 (1947); State v. Wynn, 25 N.C.App. 625, 214 S.E.2d 274, cert. denied, 288 N.C. 252, 217 S.E.2d 677 (1975); State v. Sallie, 13 N.C.App. 499, 186 S.E.2d 667,cert. denied, 281 N.C. 316, 188 S.E.2d 900 (1972); State v. Keyes, 8 N.C.App. 677, 175 S.E.2d 357, cert. denied, 277 N.C. 116 (1970). No such showing has been made.

As to common law robbery, defendant contends the evidence is insufficient because it failed to establish that he subjected Memory to threats of harm if Memory did not part with his money. He relies on his testimony and Memory's testimony that defendant said he took the money "for insurance that [Memory] would show up the next day" to prove that (1) he did not threaten or intend to harm Memory if Memory refused to part with the money, and (2) Memory did not part with the money as a result of his threats or from fear of harm.

Memory's testimony, however, indicated that he feared for his life and safety throughout the incident with defendant. Memory testified that defendant left him with $2, but that "he could have had it if he had wanted to." The entirety of Memory's testimony clearly permitted the inference that he parted with the $25 because of fear for his life and safety. "Intent must ... be determined from all the facts and circumstances. Absent direct evidence, specific intent is 'ordinarily to be proved by facts and circumstances from which it may be inferred and ... the jury may consider the acts and conduct of the defendant and the general circumstances existing at the time ....' " State v. Whitaker, 55 N.C.App. 666, 286 S.E.2d 640 (1982). The acts and conduct of defendant, considered in light of the general circumstances existing at the time, permitted the jury to infer that defendant took money from Memory "against his will, by ... putting him in fear." State v. Moore, 279 N.C. 455, 457, 183 S.E.2d 546, 547 (1971). The evidence thus was sufficient to sustain the conviction for common law robbery.

As to second-degree sexual offense, the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction. Defendant argues there is no evidence as to the use of force, a necessary element of the offense; but the evidence refutes his contention. Memory testified that defendant kidnapped and threatened to kill him, that a knife and a shotgun were in defendant's car, and that he ran away at one point but the defendant caught him. Memory further testified:

And he took me back to the car. He had hold of both my arms, and walked me back to the car. I was still scared. We got in the car, and I looked at him, and he looked at me. I told him that if he wouldn't kill me that I would do anything he wanted me to do. He started kissing me and I scrunched away. And then he kept on. After I had just went ahead and let him do what he wanted to....

....

I never consented to the oral sex where I told him to go ahead and do what he had to do, to let me live. I did not want him to perform the act on me. The gun and knife were in the same position at all times.

This evidence, in the light most favorable to the State, is sufficient to show that the sexual act was committed by force and against Memory's will. See State v. Carter, 265 N.C. 626, 144 S.E.2d 826 (1965); State v. Thompson, 227 N.C. 19, 40 S.E.2d 620 (1946). Defendant's first two assignments of error are overruled.

In his third assignment of error, defendant argues that the sexual offense indictment charged only second-degree sexual offense and the trial court therefore erred in instructing as to first-degree sexual offense and submitting this as a possible verdict. The indictment fails to allege any of the particular elements that distinguish first-degree and second-degree sexual offense. See G.S. 14-27.4 and .5. G.S. 15-144.2(a) (Cum.Supp.1981), however, authorizes, for sexual offense, an abbreviated form of indictment which omits allegations of these elements. See generally State v. Lowe, 295 N.C. 596, 247 S.E.2d 878 (1978) (upholding the constitutionality of G.S. 15-144.1, which authorizes an abbreviated form of indictment for rape). The indictment here sufficiently complied with G.S. 15-144.2.

The error assigned relates to the greater crime of first-degree sexual offense; and the jury acquitted defendant of that crime, convicting of the lesser crime of second-degree sexual offense. Any error with respect to submitting the question of defendant's guilt of the more serious crime is thus harmless. State v. Casper, supra; State v. DeMai, supra; State v. Wynn, supra; State v. Sallie, supra; State v. Keyes, supra. Defendant has not shown that his conviction was affected by consideration of his possible guilt of the more serious crime.

Defendant's fourth assignment of error relates to the court's explanation of the element "by force" in the instructions on first-degree sexual offense. Although defendant was acquitted of first-degree sexual offense, this alleged error cannot be summarily disregarded as harmless, because the court referred to its instructions on first-degree sexual offense in defining second-degree sexual offense, the crime of which defendant was convicted.

Specifically, defendant argues the court erred by impliedly instructing that the threat of force, as well as force itself, would be sufficient to satisfy this element. Engaging in a sexual act with another person "by force and against the will of the other person" constitutes second-degree sexual offense. G.S. 14-27.5(a)(1). The element "by force" has long been a part of the law of rape in this State. We thus look to the interpretation of this element in rape cases for guidance. In State v. Roberts, 293 N.C. 1, 13, 235 S.E.2d 203, 211 (1977), we find the following:

The force necessary to meet the latter requirement, as explained on numerous occasions by this Court, need not be physical force but may take the form of fear, fright or coercion. State v. Hines, 286 N.C. 377, 211 S.E.2d 201 (1975); State v. Primes, 275 N.C. 61, 165 S.E.2d 225 (1969). The mere threat of serious bodily harm which reasonably induces fear thereof constitutes the requisite force. State v. Burns, 287 N.C. 102, 214 S.E.2d 56 (1975); State v. Henderson, 285 N.C. 1, 203 S.E.2d 10 (1974).

Accord, State v. Burns, 287 N.C. 102, 214 S.E.2d 56, cert. denied, 423 U.S. 933, 96 S.Ct. 288, 46 L.Ed.2d 264 (1975), and cases cited. We hold that the threat of serious bodily harm which reasonably induces fear thereof likewise constitutes sufficient force for a second-degree sexual offense under G.S. 14-27.5(a)(1). The instruction challenged is thus without error.

After explaining the elements of first-degree sexual offense and giving a mandate thereon, the court instructed the jury as follows:

Now, if you do not find him guilty of first-degree sexual offense, you must consider whether he is guilty of a second-degree sexual offense.

And second-degree sexual offense differs from first-degree in that it is not necessary for the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant employed or displayed a dangerous or deadly weapon or an article which Simms Memory reasonably believed was a dangerous or deadly weapon.

So, I charge you that if you reach that possible choice of verdicts, and if you find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that ... Reginal Berkley engaged in fellatio with Simms Memory; and that he did so by threatening his life, or by otherwise threatening to maim him, or to perform any other forcible act upon him, and that this was sufficient to overcome any resistance which Simms Memory might have made; and that Simms Memory did not consent, and that it was against [his] will, it would be your duty to return a verdict of second-degree sexual offense.

If you do not so find or have a reasonable doubt, give him the benefit of that doubt and do not find him guilty of that charge.

Defendant's fifth and sixth assignments of error relate to these instructions. Defendant argues the explanation of second-degree sexual offense is inadequate and confusing and that the court misstated the element of force in the mandate as to second-degree sexual offense. We reject these arguments. The court carefully enumerated the elements of first-degree sexual offense and then explained that second-degree sexual offense differs in the omission of one designated element. In this, we find no error.

It is a well-recognized rule of law that the trial judge's charge must be construed contextually as a whole, and when, so construed, it presents the law of the case in such a manner as to leave no reasonable cause to believe the jury was misled or misinformed, an exception thereto will not be sustained. 7 N.C. Index 2d, Trial § 33.

State v. Henderson, 285 N.C. 1, 19, 203 S.E.2d 10, 22 (1974), death sentence vacated, 428 U.S. 902, 96 S.Ct. 3202, 49 L.Ed.2d 1205 (1976). We find no reasonable cause...