State v. Overman

• Decision Date: 12 December 1973
• Docket Number: No. 36,36
• Citation: 284 N.C. 335,200 S.E.2d 604
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. James A. OVERMAN, Jr., et al.

Page 604

200 S.E.2d 604

284 N.C. 335

STATE of North Carolina v. James A. OVERMAN, Jr., et al.

No. 36.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Dec. 12, 1973.

Atty. Gen. Robert Morgan and Associate Atty. E. Thomas Maddox, Jr., Raleigh, for the State.

H. F. Seawell, Jr., Garthage, for defendants-appellants.

BOBBITT, Chief Justice.

Defendants set forth eighteen assignments of error and filed a joint brief. Assignments Nos. 4 and 5 are directed to the denial of defendants' motions to dismiss as in case of nonsuit.

We consider first whether the court erred in denying the motions of Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman. Each of these defendants was charged with the crime of accessory after the fact of the felony of rape as set forth in our preliminary statement.

G.S. § 14--7 in part provides: 'If any person shall become an accessory after the fact to any felony, whether the same be a felony at common law or by virtue of any statute made, or to be made, such person shall be guilty of a felony. . . .' An accessory after the fact under G.S. § 14--7 'is one, who Knowing that a felony has been committed by another, receives, relieves, comforts, or assists such other, the felon, or in any manner aids him to escape arrest or punishment.' (Our italics.) State v. Potter, 221 N.C. 153, 156, 19 S.E.2d 257, 259 (1942). Accord, 21 Am.Jur.2d, Criminal Law § 126 (1965); 22 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 96 (1961); Clark & Marshall, A Treatise on the Law of Crimes § 8.06 (7th ed. 1967); 1 Wharton's Criminal Law §§ 281--82, pp. 368--72 (12th ed. 1932).

To convict Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman, the State had the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt these essentials of the offense charged, namely: (1) That Overman, Jr., had actually committed the alleged crime of rape; (2) that the accused Knew that Overman, Jr., had committed the alleged crime of rape; and (3) that the accused assisted Overman, Jr., in his efforts to avoid detection, arrest and punishment. State v. Williams, 229 N.C. 348, 49 S.E.2d 617 (1948); State v. McIntosh, 260 N.C. 749, 753, 133 S.E.2d 652, 655 (1963).

There was evidence to support findings that Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman had reason to believe that Overman, Jr., had become involved with Miss Sutton; that she had sustained an injury; and that Overman, Jr., sought assistance to avoid detection and possible arrest for whatever had occurred. Too, there was evidence that they removed Miss Sutton from the vicinity of their home, put her out of their car on a public highway and abandoned her, and later made false statements to investigating officers as to what had occurred. Moreover, there was evidence sufficient to support findings that Overman, Jr., had in fact committed the alleged felony of rape. Even so, we find no evidence that Overman, Sr., or Gaynell Overman Knew that Overman, Jr., had raped Miss Sutton. Evidence (1) that Overman, Jr., left Miss Sutton in the trailer and sought the assistance of his parents (2) that Miss Sutton heard Overman, Jr., talking with someone outside while she remained inside the trailer; and (3) that Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman conversed in undistinguishable whispers when Miss Sutton was riding with them, is insufficient to support a finding that Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman knew that Overman, Jr., had raped Miss Sutton.

There is no evidence that either Overman, Sr., or Gaynell Overman were present at the time of the alleged rape. Nor was there any evidence that anything was said in their presence to the effect that such rape had occurred. Although Miss Sutton testified that she complained to them of her injured leg and asked to be taken to the hospital, she did not testify that she made any complaint to either of them that she had been raped. We note that Thomas testified that '(d)uring the period of time (he) was with Miss Sutton she did not mention anything about being raped.'

According to Miss Sutton's testimony, the conduct of Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman was ruthless and inhumane. Whether such conduct would support a prosecution for a different crime is not before us. We simply hold that the evidence was not sufficient to support their conviction as accessories after the fact to the felony of rape as charged. Their motions to dismiss as in case of nonsuit should have been granted. The convictions of Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman must be and are reversed.

Consideration of the evidence in the light most favorable to the State impels the conclusion that the motion of Overman, Jr., to dismiss as in case of nonsuit was properly overruled. Miss Sutton's testimony was sufficient to establish all essential elements of the alleged crime of rape. The credibility of her testimony was for jury determination.

There remains for consideration whether any of the other assignments disclose error prejudicial to Overman, Jr., and entitle him to a new trial.

Assignments Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are directed to designated portions of the court's instructions to the jury. None discloses prejudicial error. We note that assignment No. 14 relates solely to Overman, Sr., and Gaynell Overman.

In Assignment No. 2 defendants assert that '(t)he actions of the court as set out in Exceptions Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were comments and opinions on the evidence and were highly prejudicial to the defendants.' The incidents to which these exceptions relate occurred during the cross-examination of Miss Sutton by defense counsel.

With reference to the incident referred to in Exception No. 2, the record shows that Miss Sutton testified on direct examination that she 'hadn't known the defendant personally' before the night of Saturday, 29 January 1972, 'but (she) had been him quite a bit at dances.' Early in the cross-examination of Miss Sutton, the following occurred:

'Q. Now, you say you had never seen this man before?

'A. No, Sir.

'COURT: That isn't what she said.

'OBJECTION SUSTAINED.'

After Miss Sutton had answered that she Had not said that she had never seen defendant before 29 January 1972, the court corroborated her answer by a statement to that effect and sustained an objection which, so far as the record shows, had not been interposed by the State.

It does not appear that the court's action and comment were prejudicial to Overman, Jr. When the cross-examination proceeded, Miss Sutton testified that she had not had any dates with Overman, Jr., before the night of 29 January 1972; and that, although she did not know 'where he lived, his age, statistics, so to speak,' she had 'danced with him quite a bit when there at different times.'

With reference to the incident involved in Assignment No. 3, the record shows that Miss Sutton testified on direct examination that she became personally acquainted with defendant at the American Legion dance at West End; that he asked and was granted permission to take her home; and that they decided they would first go to a dance at Southern Pines. On cross-examination, Miss Sutton had testified that she had danced with defendant 'quite a bit' at West End and that she 'decided to leave the dance because it was a good idea to go someplace else.' Then the following occurred:

'Q. You just decided it would be a good idea to go someplace else?

'A. Is there anything wrong with that?

'Q. Don't argue with me please, just answer my questions.

'COURT: Don't argue with the witness either, Mr. Seawell.

'MR. SEAWELL: I am not.

'COURT: I disagree.'

The quoted question of the cross-examiner had just been answered by Miss Sutton. The solicitor might well have objected to the question on the ground that it invited needless repetition. Absent such objection, Miss Sutton, instead of repeating what she had just said, asked the quoted question.

Miss Sutton's response was not an answer to Mr. Seawell's question. Under these circumstances, the court enjoined Mr. Seawell not to argue with the witness and announced his disagreement when Mr. Seawell protested that he had not been arguing with the witness. Although the cross-examination of Miss Sutton at this point is lacking in clarity and finesse, the record before us does not support the view that Mr. Seawell was engaging in an argument with Miss Sutton. When considered in its entirety, the impression prevails that the entire incident was much ado about very little.

With reference to the incident to which Exception No. 4 relates, Miss Sutton testified: 'He picked me up and carried me into the trailer. I hollered several times when he was choking on me and when he knocked me down. He even said that he cut a girl's throat one time. He said he had hurt many people before. That is what he said. My leg was broken and I was in very much pain and he said he would hurt me even worse if I didn't cooperate. I laid (sic) perfectly still. I told him to leave me alone.' Then the following occurred:

'Q. Just spoke to him?

'COURT: Let her finish her answer one...