1. Kidnapping--indictment
The trial court erred in instructing the jury on first-degree kidnapping where the
indictment alleged only second-degree kidnapping.
2. Kidnapping--indictment--disjunctive instruction improper
In a kidnapping case where the indictment alleged only that the victims were unlawfully
removed, the trial court erred by instructing the jury in the disjunctive that it could find
defendant guilty if it found he unlawfully confined, restrained, or removed a person from one
place to another. Even if the evidence amply supports the trial court's instruction, it is improper
to convict a defendant upon a theory not supported by the bill of indictment.
3. Confessions and Incriminating Statements--Miranda warning--not in custody
The trial court did not err in failing to suppress two of defendant's statements because
Miranda warnings are not required simply because the person questioned is one whom the police
suspect. Although the officer went to defendant's home to arrest him, defendant was not in
custody because he voluntarily went to the officer's patrol car and discussed the incident, he was
explicitly told he was not under arrest, he sat in the front seat of the patrol car, and he made the
alleged statements spontaneously and not in response to questioning.
Judge WALKER concurring.
Appeal by defendant Earl Kenneth Dominie, Jr. from judgment
entered 8 April 1997 by Judge George L. Wainwright, Jr., in Moore
County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 29 April
1999.
Michael F. Easley, Attorney General, by Bruce S.
Ambrose, Assistant Attorney General, for the State.
Paul Pooley, for defendant-appellant.
WYNN, Judge. The record on appeal in this case shows that around 8:30
p.m. on 12 December 1996, two women--mother and daughter--entered
their car parked in a Wal-Mart lot after just completing a
shopping trip. However, before they were able to drive away,
defendant Earl Kenneth Dominie, Jr. jumped into the back seat and
instructed the daughter to drive until they reached a "real dark,
deserted area where there is nothing."
The daughter complied and upon reaching the described area,
the defendant robbed the women and ordered them out of the car.
The daughter, however, pleaded with the defendant by stating my
mama is old and she can't walk up there to where there's some
lighting. Can't we just drive up to the . . . shopping center
and we'll let you have the car, we'll get out. The defendant
agreed and allowed her to drive to a fairly well lit residential
area that was approximately one-quarter mile from the shopping
center. There, the women got out of the car and the defendant
drove the car away.
Lieutenant Arthur Frye of the Aberdeen Police Department
investigated the incident. On 8 January 1997, after concluding
that the defendant was a suspect, Lt. Frye, along with other
police officers, went to a mobile-home park where the defendant
was believed to be living. Lt. Frye testified that he went to
the park to arrest the defendant for the 12 December crime. At the defendant's mobile home, the defendant agreed to
speak with Lt. Frye who escorted him to the patrol car. However,
before discussing the incident with the defendant, Lt. Frye
informed him that he was not under arrest. Indeed, Lt. Frye's
conversation with the defendant took place in the front seat of
the patrol car--an area off-limits to arrested individuals. In
the patrol car, Lt. Frye informed the defendant of the incident
at Wal-Mart and notified him that the two women had identified
him out of a lineup as the culprit. The defendant responded: "I
guess I f--ked up this time". He asked whether he could
apologize to the two women. Lt. Frye informed him that things
don't work that way and arrested him.
The defendant was tried and convicted by a jury for two
counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of armed robbery,
and one count of common-law robbery. At sentencing, the trial
judge consolidated the armed robbery conviction with one of the
first-degree kidnapping convictions and consolidated the
common-law robbery conviction with the other first-degree
kidnapping conviction.
[1]On appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court
erred in instructing the jury on first-degree kidnapping where
the indictment alleged only second-degree kidnapping. The State
agrees with the defendant's argument and therefore concedes thisissue on appeal. However, contrary to the defendant, the State
contends that this matter should be remanded for re-sentencing
under a conviction for second-degree kidnapping. See State v.
Dawkins, 305 N.C. 289, 287 S.E.2d 885 (1982); State v. Corley,
310 N.C. 40, 311 S.E.2d 540 (1984). We would ordinarily agree
with the State that this should be remanded only for
re-sentencing on the lesser offenses of second-degree kidnapping
but the defendant makes a further argument that the State also
recognizes as having merit.
[2]The defendant also argues that the trial court erred in
instructing the jury on the kidnapping charges in the disjunctive
where the indictment alleged only that the victims were
unlawfully removed.
The defendant's indictment read:
The jurors for the State upon their oath
present that on or about the date of offense
shown and in the county named above defendant
named did unlawfully, willfully and
feloniously did kidnap [Wanda Marion
Ring/Vera Wood Marion], a person who attained
the age of 16 years, by unlawfully removing
her from one place to another, without her
consent, and for the purpose of facilitating
the commission of a felony, robbery with a
dangerous weapon.
Although the indictment stated that the defendant unlawfully
removed the victims, the trial court instructed the jury that
they could find him guilty of kidnapping if they found that heunlawfully confined a person--that is, imprisoned her within a
given area--restrained a person--that is, restricted her freedom-
-or removed a person from one place to another. Therefore, even
though the indictment charged the defendant with kidnapping for
removing the victims, the trial court informed the jury that
the defendant committed kidnapping if he confined, restrained,
or removed the victims.
The defendant contends this instruction constitutes
reversible error. As the State recognizes, he is correct under
our Supreme Court's holding in State v. Tucker, 317 N.C. 532, 346
S.E.2d 417 (1986).
In Tucker, the defendant was indicted for, inter alia,
kidnapping. The indictment stated that he "unlawfully . . .
kidnapp[ed] [the victim] . . . by unlawfully removing her from
one place to another, without her consent. . .." Id. at 537, 346
S.E.2d at 420. (emphasis in original). Like the trial judge in
this case, the trial judge in Tucker instructed the jury that the
defendant could be found guilty of first-degree kidnapping if
they found that "the defendant unlawfully restrained [the
victim], that is, restricted [her] freedom of movement by threat
or force." (emphasis added). Id. Our Supreme Court, after
noting that the evidence amply supported the judge's instruction,
nonetheless reversed defendant's conviction because theinstructions constituted prejudicial error. Id. at 537-38, 346
S.E.2d at 420. Specifically, the Court stated that it was
improper to convict a defendant upon an abstract theory not
supported by the bill of indictment. Id. That is, a defendant
could not be convicted upon the theory that he "restrained or
removed" the victim when the bill of indictment stated that he
was charged only with "removing" her. We note that the State
cites our recent decision in State v. Raynor, 128 N.C. App. 244,
495 S.E.2d 176 (1998), contending that it supports a position
contrary to Tucker. However, both the State and the concurring
opinion recognize that a decision of this Court cannot overrule
an explicit holding of our Supreme Court. So, to the extent that
Raynor is cited as law contrary to Tucker, we are bound to follow
only Tucker.
As in Tucker, the facts before us indicate that the trial
judge committed prejudicial error by instructing the jury that
the defendant could be found guilty if he confined, restrained or
removed the victims. Further, as demonstrated by State v. Brown,
312 N.C. 237, 321 S.E.2d 856 (1984), this error is so prejudicial
as to warrant a new trial. Accordingly, following the directives
of our Supreme Court, we vacate the defendant's first-degree
kidnapping convictions and remand this matter for a new trial.
[3]In the interests of judicial economy, we also addressthe defendant's last argument challenging the trial court's
failure to suppress two statements he allegedly made
involuntarily and without being provided proper Miranda warnings.
"This Court has consistently held that the rule of Miranda
applies only where a defendant is subject to custodial
interrogation." State v. Gaines, 345 N.C. 647, 661, 483 S.E.2d
396, 404, cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 248, 139 L. Ed.2d 177 (1997).
When determining whether a defendant is subject to custodial
interrogation, "the definitive inquiry is whether there was a
formal arrest or a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree
associated with formal arrest." Id. at 662, 483 S.E.2d at 405;
see also Stansbury v. California, 511 U.S. 318, 128 L. Ed.2d 293
(1994). Significant to the case sub judice, Miranda warnings are
not required "simply because the questioning takes place in the
station house, or because the questioned person is one whom the
police suspect." Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495, 50 L.
Ed. 2d 714, 719 (1977).
In the instant case, the defendant voluntarily went with Lt.
Frye to his patrol car and discussed the Wal-Mart incident with
him. The defendant was explicitly told that he was not under
arrest and was placed in the front seat of the patrol car, an
area where arrested suspects rarely, if ever, sit. Further, thestatements the defendant seeks to suppress--"I guess I f--ked up"
and his offer to apologize to the victims--were not made in
response to questions, but rather were spontaneously made.
These facts support the trial judge's conclusion that the
defendant was not in custody at the time the statements were made
and therefore the defendant was not required to receive Miranda
warnings. In so ruling, we note the fact that Lt. Frye went to
the defendant's home to arrest him is irrelevant. See Oregon,
429 U.S. at 495, 50 L. Ed. 2d at 719. Accordingly, we find no
merit to this assignment of error.
In conclusion, we are compelled by our Supreme Court's prior
decisions to hold that the trial court committed prejudicial
error by instructing the jury on first-degree kidnapping and by
instructing the jury on the kidnapping charges in the
disjunctive. Moreover, because defendant's convictions for armed
robbery and common-law robbery were consolidated with his
first-degree kidnapping convictions for sentencing purposes, we
must remand this matter for re-sentencing upon those convictions.
First Degree Kidnapping, 97CRS464--New Trial.
First Degree Kidnapping, 97CRS467--New Trial.
Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, 97CRS466--No Error On
Conviction, Remand For Re-Sentencing.
Common Law Robbery, 97CRS465--No Error On Conviction, Remand For Re-Sentencing.
Judge HUNTER concurs.
Judge WALKER concurs with a separate opinion.
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