State v. Thomas M.

1

State of West Virginia, Plaintiff Below, Respondent v. James Thomas M., Defendant Below, Petitioner

No. 21-0550

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

October 17, 2022

Randolph County 18-F-133

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Petitioner James Thomas M.^[1] appeals the June 11, 2021, sentencing order of the Circuit Court of Randolph County following a jury trial where he was convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse by a parent.^[2] On appeal, he raises three assignments of error.

In his first assignment of error, petitioner challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his convictions. This Court has stated that "[a] convicted defendant who presses a claim of evidentiary insufficiency faces an uphill climb." State v. LaRock, 196 W.Va. 294, 303 470 S.E.2d 613, 622 (1996). We have noted that "this Court's review is highly deferential to the jury's verdict." State v. Thompson, 240 W.Va. 406 414, 813 S.E.2d 59, 67 (2018). Further,

[t]he function of an appellate court when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, is sufficient to convince a reasonable person of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, the relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

A criminal defendant challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction takes on a heavy burden. An appellate court must review all the evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, in the light most favorable to the prosecution and must credit all inferences and credibility assessments that the jury might have drawn in favor of the prosecution. The evidence need not be inconsistent with every conclusion save that of guilt so long as the jury can find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Credibility determinations are for a jury and not an appellate court. Finally, a jury verdict should be set aside only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To the extent that our prior cases are inconsistent, they are expressly overruled.

Syl. Pts. 1 and 3, State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995).

The evidence supporting petitioner's conviction included his own recorded confession along with the testimony of three additional witnesses. This evidence was more than sufficient to carry the State's burden. Thus, reviewing the jury's verdict in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we refuse to disturb the jury's verdict, and find that petitioner's sufficiency challenge is without merit.

Next, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to suppress a recorded statement that he gave after confessing his criminal acts to a West Virginia State Police trooper. Although he acknowledged, after giving his statement, that he was treated fairly during custodial interrogation and affirmed that he was under no duress, he maintains that the court's finding that his statement was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent was in error.^[3] We have determined that the test in determining if a statement was voluntarily made is whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the law enforcement officers have overborne the will of the accused.^[4]Upon our review, there is no indication that law enforcement made any promises to petitioner, utilized any psychological ploys, coaxed any statements, or misstated any facts in exchange for his confession. Instead, the transcript that was thoroughly reviewed by the circuit court reflects that the officer clarified statements made by petitioner and allowed him to tell his version of the facts. The circuit court credited the officer's testimony from the pretrial hearing, wherein the officer denied using coercive tactics and explained that petitioner understood the situation, had no apparent confusion, and asked no questions. Based on the evidence presented, we find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the statement and, therefore, this assignment of error is unavailing.

Finally, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to dismiss,^[5] on the ground that three terms of court passed in 2019 without trial, in violation of West Virginia Code § 62-3-21 ("the three-term rule"). The court denied petitioner's motion to dismiss, finding the matter was delayed because petitioner requested additional time to supplement his motion for a bill of particulars due to double jeopardy concerns, but then failed to comply with the court's order "requiring counsel for the [d]efendant to supplement or brief the issues asserted in his motion[.]" Notably, petitioner never complied with the court's order to file a more detailed motion, and did not decide until the third term of 2019 that he would not pursue that motion. Thus, any delay during the 2019 terms of court was the consequence of petitioner's actions, not the State's.^[6] Finally, the court noted that petitioner was not prejudiced by any delay because "it is a delay that is for his benefit to determine the number of charges[.]"^[7] Upon our review, we do not find that the circuit court's ruling was clearly erroneous, and, therefore, we refuse to disturb it on appeal.

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

Affirmed.

CONCURRED Chief Justice John A. Hutchison Justice Elizabeth D. Walker Justice Tim Armstead Justice William R. Wooton Justice C. Haley Bunn

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^[1] We use initials where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See W.Va. R.A.P. 40(e). Petitioner appears by counsel J. Brent Easton. The State of West Virginia, by counsel Patrick Morrisey and Mary Beth Niday, filed a response in support of the circuit court's order.

^[2] Petitioner's conviction stemmed from an incident on August 29, 2018.

^[3] In State v. Campbell, 246 W.Va. 230, --, 868 S.E.2d 444, 451 (2022), this Court noted that [w]e apply an abuse of...