Pryor v. State

2022 Ark. App. 504

656 S.W.3d 195

Rayford PRYOR, Jr., Appellant

v.STATE of Arkansas, Appellee

No. CR-22-165

Court of Appeals of Arkansas, DIVISION II.

Opinion Delivered December 14, 2022

Jerry D. Roberts, Wynne, for appellant.

Leslie Rutledge, Att'y Gen., by: Christopher R. Warthen, Ass't Att'y Gen., for appellee.

RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON, Judge

The Cross County Circuit Court revoked the probation of Rayford Pryor, Jr., and sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment. On appeal, Pryor argues that the State failed to prove that he had violated the conditions of his probation. We agree and reverse.

In May 2019, Pryor was placed on probation after pleading guilty to tampering with physical evidence, a Class D felony. On November 4, 2019, the State petitioned to revoke Pryor's probation, alleging nonpayment of fines, fees, and court costs; additional felony charges acquired on September 13, 2019; and that he is engaging in or has engaged in behavior that poses a threat to the community.

The circuit court held a revocation hearing on June 30, 2021.¹ The only two witnesses at the hearing were Officer Eric Moore of the Cross County Sheriff's Department and Sergeant Steven Hallmark of the Wynne Police Department. Officer Moore testified to an incident that occurred at the home of Veronica Crumely on September 13, 2019. Officer Moore testified that he found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in or near a shed in the back of Crumely's home where Pryor and others were located. Officer Moore did not testify that Pryor had acquired additional felony charges or that Pryor was engaged in behavior that poses a threat to the community.

Sergeant Hallmark testified that Pryor told him where the methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located in the shed. On cross-examination, Sergeant Hallmark testified that Pryor never admitted having the items in his possession and that he could not state that the items belonged to Pryor. Sergeant Hallmark testified that he did not arrest anyone that day. After hearing the testimony from the two law enforcement officers, the court found that the allegations in the petition had been proved and sentenced Pryor to six years’ imprisonment. This appeal followed, and Pryor challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the revocation of his probation.

A circuit court may revoke a defendant's probation at any time prior to the expiration of the period of probation if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has inexcusably failed to comply with a condition of the probation. Springs v. State , 2017 Ark. App. 364, 525 S.W.3d 490 ; Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-308(d) (Supp. 2021). The State's burden of proof in a revocation proceeding is less than is required to convict in a criminal trial, and evidence that is insufficient for a conviction may be sufficient for a revocation. Vangilder v. State , 2018 Ark. App. 385, 555 S.W.3d 413. When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged on appeal from an order of revocation, the circuit court's decision will not be reversed unless its findings are clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. McClain v. State , 2016 Ark. App. 205, 489 S.W.3d 179. On appeal, Pryor argues that the bases relied on by the circuit court to revoke his probation are unsupported by the evidence.

The State first alleged...