State of Missouri v. John C. Young, Jr. ( 2019 )

In the
Missouri Court of Appeals
Western District
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
)
Respondent, ) WD81706
)
v. ) OPINION FILED:
) November 26, 2019
JOHN C. YOUNG, JR., )
)
Appellant. )
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri
The Honorable Bryan Round, Judge
Before Division Three: Alok Ahuja, Presiding Judge, Gary D. Witt, Judge and Anthony
Rex Gabbert, Judge
Appellant John Young, Jr. ("Young") appeals his conviction of multiple offenses by
the Jackson County Circuit Court following a jury trial. Young alleges three points of error
on appeal: (1) the court erred in accepting the jury's verdicts as to the lesser included
offense of involuntary manslaughter, together with the guilty verdicts for unlawful use of
a weapon and armed criminal action, because the verdicts were inconsistent; (2) the court
erred in entering convictions for both unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action,
because this constituted double jeopardy; and (3) the court erred in refusing to submit
Young's proposed instruction regarding self-defense under the castle doctrine's provision
regarding protection of vehicles. We affirm.
Factual and Procedural Background1
This case arises from a "road rage" incident with tragic consequences. On May 25,
2017, Christopher Hutson ("Hutson") and Tailor Monroe ("Monroe") were driving home
to Lee's Summit from Overland Park, Kansas, on Interstate 435, in a gold Chevrolet Impala.
Due to traffic backups caused by an accident ahead, the couple exited early onto State Line
Road. The couple did not know how to proceed so they used a GPS program on Monroe's
cell phone and were driving slowly. The windows of the Impala were rolled down and
Hutson was driving. Hutson stopped at the traffic signal at 103rd Street and Wornall Road
in the left turn lane. Young, driving a blue Chevrolet Cruze, stopped at the light in the lane
to the right of Hutson, on the passenger side, and yelled at Hutson to "learn how to f***ing
drive." Hutson responded by throwing a coffee or soda cup out of his car towards Young's
car. Young proceeded straight through the light on 103rd Street. Hutson also yelled: "What
the f*** did this nig*** just say?" although Monroe testified that Young's car was already
gone at that point.
Hutson exited the left turn lane and also proceeded straight on 103rd Street. He
started following Young, "riding his bumper," but Monroe testified that they did not come
into contact with Young's car. According to Monroe, both vehicles were going "pretty
fast." Monroe cautioned Hutson not to follow so closely because Monroe was pregnant
1
On appeal from a jury-tried case, we view the facts in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict. State
v. Peal, 393 S.W.3d 621, 623 n.1 (Mo. App. W.D. 2013).
2
and feared getting hurt. Monroe testified that after the warning, Hutson then slowed his
car and stopped following Young.
Both cars turned off of 103rd Street onto Holmes. As Young approached the ramp
to get onto Interstate 435, Hutson pulled up next to Young's car to "say what he had to say."
Monroe saw that Young had a gun in his hand and turned to tell Hutson about the gun. At
that point, Young fired into Hutson's vehicle, striking both Monroe and Hutson in the head.
The shot grazed Monroe's head but entered Hutson's skull going through his brain but not
exiting. Young continued onto Interstate 435.
Hutson's car rolled across the center line, coming to a rest in front of the exit ramp
for traffic coming off of Interstate 435 onto Holmes blocking traffic. Hutson eventually
died from the gunshot wound.
Young did not stop or call authorities. Instead, he returned to his workplace making
no mention of the events that just transpired. It wasn't until early the next week that Young
confided in a family friend, Robert Biagioli ("Biagioli"), about the shooting. Young told
Biagioli that he felt like he was defending his life when he shot into Hutson's car because
Hutson had aimed a gun at him. On Wednesday evening, Biagioli showed Young news
footage of the shooting which included photos of Young's car, taken from surveillance
cameras in the area. Biagioli advised Young to contact an attorney and go to the police.
The next day, Young asked Biagioli if he could keep some personal belongings at Biagioli's
house. Young placed a black bag in Biagioli's basement. At a later time, Young showed
him that there was a gun in the bag and told him it was the gun from the shooting. Biagioli
3
told Young he needed to obtain counsel and turn himself into authorities. Young stayed
the night at Biagioli's house.
The next morning, police arrested Young after locating him with vehicle tracker
information provided by Young's employer. During a search of Young's residence, police
found a box and receipt for the gun that Young had left at Biagioli's house. On June 8,
Biagioli turned the gun over to police. Ballistics testing established that the bullet that
killed Hutson was fired from the gun recovered from Biagioli.
Young was charged with: Count I - second degree felony murder (victim Hutson)
under section 565.0212, with the underlying felony being unlawful use of a weapon charged
in Count III, Count II - armed criminal action under section 571.015 related to Count I,
Count III - unlawful use of a weapon under section 571.030, Count IV - armed criminal
action under section 571.015 related to count III, Count V - assault in the second degree
(victim Monroe) under section 565.052, Count VI - armed criminal action under 571.015
using the related count V, Count VII - failure to report a shooting under 577.068, Count
VIII - tampering with physical evidence under 575.100.
A jury trial was held on February 20, 2018. Young presented no evidence in his
defense, but was able to elicit evidence regarding his claim of self-defense through
Biagioli's testimony. The jury found Young guilty on Count I of the lesser-included offense
of first degree involuntary manslaughter, section 565.024, guilty on Count II of armed
criminal action associated with Count I, guilty on Count III of unlawful use a weapon,
2
All statutory references are to RSMo 2016 as updated through January 1, 2017.
4
guilty on Count IV of armed criminal action related to Count III, guilty on Count V of the
lesser included offense of fourth degree assault, section 565.056, not guilty of Count VI of
armed criminal action related to Count V, not guilty of Count VI of failure to report a
shooting and guilty of Count VIII of tampering with physical evidence.
The court sentenced him to concurrent terms of ten years' imprisonment for
involuntary manslaughter and its related count of armed criminal action, concurrent terms
of twenty years' imprisonment for unlawful use of a weapon and its related count of armed
criminal action, a concurrent term of one year imprisonment for fourth degree assault, and
a consecutive term of four years' imprisonment for tampering with physical evidence,
resulting in a total sentence of 24 years' imprisonment. This appeal followed.
I.
Young's first point on appeal alleges that the circuit court erred in accepting the
jury's verdict as to unlawful use of a weapon, Count III, and armed criminal action, Count
IV, because they were inconsistent with the jury's "not guilty verdict" on murder in the
second degree, the greatest offense instructed under Count I. According to Young, because
the language in the instruction for murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a
weapon were "nearly identical," "the state's failure to prove all of the elements of the felony
murder charge meant that the jury also necessarily found that the state had failed to prove
each of the elements of unlawful use of weapon." We disagree.
Standard of Review
A claim of inconsistent verdicts requires an appropriate objection to be preserved
for appeal. State v. Forrest, 183 S.W.3d 218, 230 (Mo. banc 2006). To be preserved, the
5
objection must be raised before the jury is discharged. State v. Flemons, 144 S.W.3d 877,
881 (Mo. App. W.D. 2004). As no objection was raised in this case, we may only review
for plain error. "To warrant relief under plain error review, an appellant must show
'manifest prejudice affecting his substantial rights.'" State v. Bratton, 92 S.W.3d 275, 277
(Mo. App. W.D. 2002) (quoting State v. Parker, 856 S.W.2d 331, 332 (Mo. banc 1993)).
Review is only warranted where a claim on its face "establishes substantial grounds for
believing that manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice has occurred." Id. "Not all
prejudicial error can be deemed plain error." Id.
Discussion
The State charged Young with murder in the second degree, however, under Count
I, the jury was also instructed as to the lesser included offenses of voluntary manslaughter
and involuntary manslaughter. As to Count I, the jury ultimately returned a verdict of
guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Young argues that the jury's verdict on Count I
constituted an affirmative finding of not guilty as to murder in the second degree and this
was inconsistent with findings of guilt as to Counts III and IV which contained similar
elements.
The jury instruction for Count I, murder in the second degree provided:
As to Count I, if you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt:
First, that defendant committed unlawful use of a weapon, as
submitted in Instruction No. 19, and
Second, that the defendant caused the death of Christopher Hutson by
shooting him, and
6
Third, that Christopher Hutson was killed as a result of the
perpetration of that unlawful use of a weapon,
then you will find the defendant guilty under Count I of murder in the second
degree.
However, unless you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt each and all of these propositions, you must find the
defendant not guilty of murder in the second degree.
(emphasis added). On Count III, unlawful use of a weapon, the jury was instructed:
As to Count III, if you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt:
First, that on or about May 25, 2017, in the County of Jackson, State
of Missouri, the defendant knowingly discharged a firearm
from a blue Chevrolet Cruz[e], and
Second, that as a result of the above described conduct Christopher
Hutson suffered injury or death,
Third, the defendant did not act in lawful self-defense as submitted in
Instruction No. 13
then you will find the defendant guilty under Count III of unlawful use of a
weapon.
However, unless you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt each and all of these propositions, you must find the
defendant not guilty of that offense.
In turn, Count IV, armed criminal action, is reliant on a finding of guilt as to the unlawful
use of a weapon:
As to Count IV, if you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt:
First, that defendant committed the offense of unlawful use of a
weapon, as submitted in Instruction No. 19, and
7
Second, that defendant committed that offense by, with or through,
the knowing use, assistance or aid of a deadly weapon, and
Third, the defendant did not act in lawful self-defense as submitted in
Instruction No. 13
then you will find the defendant guilty under Count IV of armed criminal
action.
However, unless you find and believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt each and all of these propositions, you must find the
defendant not guilty of that offense.
The charge of felony murder in the second degree, as charged and instructed in this
matter required the jury to find that Hutson was killed as a result of the unlawful use of a
weapon. However, involuntary manslaughter, which the jury determined Young was guilty
of, did not require such a finding. Young posits that by finding Young guilty of involuntary
manslaughter, the jury had to have first affirmatively acquitted him of murder in the second
degree. The key difference between the instruction for felony murder in the second degree
and the instruction for involuntary manslaughter was the element that Hutson's death
resulted from unlawful use of weapon. Young argues that because the jury acquitted him
of murder in the second degree, the jury necessarily acquitted him of both the unlawful use
of a weapon charge and the armed criminal action charge that was based on the unlawful
use of a weapon charge. Therefore, Young asserts that the jury's decision regarding the
instructed offenses charged under Count I was inconsistent with its findings of guilt as to
Count III and IV. Thus, Young argues that the finding of guilty as to Counts III and IV
must be reversed.
8
This argument both misconstrues the nature of a finding by a jury of guilt for a lesser
included offense and also the deference to which we give jury verdicts. As the State notes,
Missouri's instruction for murder in the second degree is not "acquittal first." State v.
Johnson, 284 S.W.3d 561, 574 (Mo. banc 2009). Missouri's instructions allow for the jury
to consider a lesser offense if it does "not find the defendant guilty of the greater offense."
Id. There are multiple reasons why this may happen: the jury is deadlocked on guilt as to
the greater offense, it may be the result of compromise, or an exercise of lenity by the jury.
Although the jury considered the greater offense of murder in the second degree, it
was not required to unanimously find that the State failed to prove all of the elements of
that charge beyond a reasonable doubt and "acquit" Young of that offense before it could
consider the lesser-included offenses of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Instead,
the jury instructions stated that "if you do not find the defendant guilty of" the preceding
greater offense, "you must consider whether he is guilty of" the lesser offense. Thus,
Young is incorrect in his premise that the verdicts were inconsistent based on his argument
that the jury had affirmatively found him not guilty or acquitted him of unlawfully using a
deadly weapon in failing to find him guilty of felony murder under Count I. Therefore, it
was not inconsistent for the jury to find him guilty of that offense in Count III and
additionally Count IV which relied on the conviction under Count III. To the extent this
appears logically inconsistent, our courts have accepted such a result as manifestations of
jury members reaching a compromise or exercising lenity. See Bratton, 92 S.W.3d at 278.
In this case, the record reflects that the jury twice informed the court that it was
unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to all counts. It was only after the "hammer
9
instruction"3 was read to the jury that it reached a unanimous verdict as to each count. It
is reasonable to presume that the members of the jury exercised some compromise and
possibly lenity in reaching its unanimous verdict for involuntary manslaughter and any
perceived inconsistency was not the result of an affirmative finding by the jury that the
State failed to prove the element of unlawful use of a weapon.
This Court in Bratton addressed an almost identical scenario. In Bratton, the
defendant was charged with robbery in the first degree and armed criminal action. Id. at
276. The verdict director for robbery in the first degree required the jury to find that "in
the course of taking the property, the defendant or another person used or threatened the
immediate use of a dangerous instrument against [Victim]." Id. Similarly, the verdict
director for armed criminal action required the jury to find that "the defendant . . .
committed that offense by or with or through the use, or assistance or aid of a dangerous
instrument." Id. The jury ultimately returned a verdict that found the defendant guilty of
robbery in the first degree, but not guilty of armed criminal action. Id. The trial court
noted that "the verdicts were 'somewhat intellectually inconsistent'" but the defense did not
object to receiving the verdict. Id. As no objection to the verdict was raised below, this
Court reviewed the claim for plain error. Id. at 277. Ultimately, this Court accepted the
State's argument that "[a]n inconsistent verdict among several charges does not require
reversal if there is sufficient evidence to support the finding of guilt on each charge." Id.at
278. The Court held that "[t]here was sufficient evidence to support convictions on both
3
MAI-CR 4th 412.10.
10
counts, but apparently the jury decided to exercise some lenity as to Count II [armed
criminal action]. We find no prejudice to Bratton's rights." Id.
In reaching its decision, the Court in Bratton discussed the Missouri Supreme Court
case of State v. Peters, 855 S.W.2d 345 (Mo. banc 1993). In Peters, the jury was instructed
on first degree assault, second degree assault, and dependent counts of armed criminal
action for each type of assault. Id. at 347. The jury initially returned verdicts of not guilty
of assault, but guilty of the dependent armed criminal action. Id. The trial court refused
to accept the inconsistent verdicts and sent the jury back for further deliberations; the jury
ultimately returned a verdict of guilty for second degree assault and armed criminal action.
Id. The Supreme Court held that the trial court did not err in sending the jury back for
further deliberations. Id. at 349. Thus, this Court in Bratton noted that it might not have
been error for the trial court to have sent the verdicts back for further deliberations but that
did not necessitate a finding that failing to do so constituted error. Bratton, 92 S.W.3d at
277-78. The court noted that, if sent back, the jury in Bratton was just as likely to return a
verdict of guilt as to both as it was to return with acquittal on both.4 Further, an important
4
It is worth noting that this is the same approach taken by the Supreme Court of the United States. In both
Dunn v. United States, 284 U.S. 390 (1932), overruled on other grounds by Sealfon v. United States, 332 U.S. 575
(1948), and United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57 (1984), the Court declined to overturn what appeared to be
logically inconsistent jury verdicts. In both cases the Court noted that consistency in a jury verdict is not necessary.
Dunn, 284 U.S. at 393-94; Powell, 469 U.S. at 65. Instead, "[w]e interpret the acquittal as no more than [the jury's]
assumption of a power which they had no right to exercise, but to which they were disposed through lenity." Dunn
284 U.S. at 393. The Supreme Court specifically noted that "the possibility that the inconsistent verdicts may favor
the criminal defendant as well as the Government militates against review of such convictions at the defendant's
behest." Powell, 469 U.S. at 65. Additionally, criminal defendants are already "afforded protection against jury
irrationality or error by the independent review of the sufficiency of the evidence undertaken by the trial and
appellate courts." Id. at 67.
11
distinction between this case and Peters is that, as discussed above, the jury did not acquit
Young of the predicate murder in the second degree.
Missouri courts have continually found that "when a defendant is tried on a multiple
count charge involving crimes with different elements, the jury's verdict does not have to
be logically consistent." State v. Ford, 367 S.W.3d 163, 168 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012)
(quoting State v. Owens, 270 S.W.3d 533, 540 (Mo. App. W.D. 2008)). "So long as the
charge for which he is convicted is supported by sufficient evidence, logical inconsistency
is not a ground for rejecting an individual verdict." Ford, 367 S.W.3d at 168. In Ford, the
defendant was acquitted of stealing, but convicted of second degree burglary. Id. at 167.
The Court noted that while the crimes were similar, they each had distinct elements, and it
is entirely possible that the result was not necessarily illogical to the jury. Id. at 168. See
also State v. Byrd, 389 S.W.3d 702 (Mo. App. E.D. 2012) (verdicts rejecting murder in the
second degree in favor of involuntary manslaughter and convicting defendant of child
endangerment was not inconsistent due to differing elements of the crimes).
Young argues that this is an "inconsistent" verdict and, pursuant to State v.
Zimmerman, 941 S.W.2d 821 (Mo. App. W.D. 1997), the verdicts must be rejected and
sent back to the jury for further deliberations. In Zimmerman, the jury returned verdict
forms, which found the defendant not guilty on Count I and not guilty of Count II, and the
court initially orally granted judgment accordingly and discharged the jury. Id. at 822.
After the jury was discharged, it was discovered that the jury had also returned an
instruction form along with the remaining instructions where they found the defendant
guilty of a lesser-included offense under Count I. Id. The trial court proceeded to, over
12
the State's objection, enter a final judgment of acquittal on both charges. The not guilty
verdict form on Count I did not specify that it was for the charged offense or was a finding
of not guilty as to the charged offense and all lesser included offenses, it read "As to Count
I, we, the jury, find the defendant Stephen N. Zimmerman not guilty." Id. at 823. The
verdict was inconsistent because the defendant could not be both not guilty of Count I and
guilty as to the same count. Id. at 823. This Court agreed and reversed and remanded for
a new trial as to Count I only. Id. In Zimmerman, it was impossible for the Court to resolve
or ignore the inconsistency because it could not enter both verdicts, therefore, a new trial
was necessary. Here, as to Count I, the jury was given a single instruction finding the
defendant not guilty as to Count I, but separate instructions for the jury to enter its findings
as to guilt on the principal charge and each lesser included offense submitted. The jury did
not sign the not guilty instruction as to Count I, but properly signed the guilty instruction
as to the single lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter.
In this case, although there may be an intellectual inconsistency--as there was in
Bratton--the inconsistency does not prevent the verdict being entered and may easily be
explained by jury compromise or lenity. We find Zimmerman distinguishable.
Young also argues that this case falls within an exception to the Bratton reasoning
regarding logically inconsistent verdicts. Young contends that "where a finding of guilt on
one count depends on the jury's verdict on another count" an inconsistent verdict must be
reversed. State v. Owens, 270 S.W.3d 533, 540 (Mo. App. W.D. 2008). For example, in
Owens, the defendant was charged with sodomy in the second degree and attempted victim
tampering. Id. at 535. The jury found the defendant not guilty of sodomy but guilty of
13
attempted victim tampering. Id. at 536. On appeal, this Court vacated his conviction
explaining that, given the nature of the victim tampering offense, a finding that the target
was in fact the victim of an underlying crime was a dependent or "constituent element" of
victim tampering. Id. at 540 (quoting State v. Staten, 478 S.W.2d 265, 266 (Mo. 1972).
The fact finder must first determine that there is a victim before it can find that that victim
was tampered with. Id. (further noting that victim tampering and witness tampering at that
time were different and separate offenses under the criminal code). Similarly, in Flemons,
the defendant sought plain error review of his unlawful use of a weapon conviction.
Flemons, 144 S.W.3d at 881. The jury found him not guilty of possession of a controlled
substance with the intent to distribute but guilty of the charge of unlawful use of a weapon.
Id. The instruction for unlawful use of a weapon, however, required a finding that
defendant used a weapon while "committing the offense of possession of more than five
grams of marijuana with the intent to distribute, deliver, or sell." Id. at 882. This Court
found that on its face the guilty verdict for unlawful use of a weapon was dependent on the
jury determining that the defendant was guilty of the predicate offense of marijuana
possession. Id.
Young is incorrect that findings of guilt in Counts III and IV were dependent upon
a finding a guilty as to murder in the second degree. No element of Count III or IV required
a finding of guilt as to murder, nor did any instruction requiring the jury to find that Counts
III and IV could only be considered if Young was found guilty of murder in the second
14
degree.5 Unlike in Owens and Flemons, there was no clear acquittal of the predicate
offense in this case. It would be mere conjecture to find that by convicting on the lesser-
included offense the jury found Young not guilty of unlawful use of a weapon. While it
would have been possible for the jury to enter a more logically consistent verdict, the jury
instructions did not require such an outcome. Instead, this case is more akin to Bratton
because while the verdicts may be "somewhat intellectually inconsistent" it reflects the
jury's compromise or lenity and does not require reversal.
We find that Young's substantial rights were not violated. There was sufficient
evidence to support his convictions on all the counts, but we presume that the jury exercised
some compromise or lenity as to Count I. The trial court did not err in accepting the jury's
verdict and entering judgment accordingly.
II.
Young's second point on appeal alleges that the trial court erred in accepting the
jury's verdict as to Count III, unlawful use of a weapon, and Count IV, armed criminal
action, because they violated his right to be free from double jeopardy. Young contends
that his acquittal as to murder in the second degree under Count I precluded the jury finding
him guilty as to the compound offenses.
5
Had the jury in this case found Young guilty of Murder in the Second Degree under Count I but not guilty
of Unlawful Use of a Weapon under Count III, the verdict would have been inconsistent because the instruction for
second degree murder under Count I required the jury to specifically find under paragraph "First," that Young
"committed unlawful use of a weapon as submitted in Instruction No. 19."
15
Standard of Review
"Whether an individual's right to be free from double jeopardy has been violated is
a question of law, which this Court reviews de novo." State v. Walker, 352 S.W.3d 385,
387 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011) (citing State v. Daws, 311 S.W.3d 806, 808 (Mo. banc 2010)).
However, the State contends that Young failed to raise this specific argument below and
has thus has not preserved the issue for appeal. We agree.
"The double jeopardy clause 'contains two distinct protections for criminal
defendants: (a) protection from successive prosecutions for the same offense after either
an acquittal or a conviction and (b) protection from multiple punishments for the same
offense.'" Daws, 311 S.W.3d at 808 (quoting State v. Flenoy, 968 S.W.2d 141, 143 (Mo.
banc 1998)). The objection raised by Young in his pre-trial Motions to Dismiss contended
that if convicted of both Count I, murder in the second degree, and Count III, unlawful use
of a weapon, he would be subject to multiple punishments for the same crime in violation
of his right to be free from double jeopardy. Additionally, in his Motion for New Trial,
Young asserted that the jury's finding of guilt as to Counts III and IV and the lesser-
included offense in Count I of involuntary manslaughter constituted being punished twice
for the same crime. The issue raised on appeal argues that the jury's finding of guilt as to
Counts II and IV were essentially successive prosecutions for the same offense because the
jury had acquitted him of unlawful use of a weapon in Count I. While related, this is a
distinct and separate argument not raised before the trial court. Even if not preserved, "if
a double jeopardy claim is determinable from the face of the record, it is entitled to plain
error review." State v. Brandon, 523 S.W.3d 476, 480 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016) (citing State
16
v. Liberty, 370 S.W.3d 537, 546 (Mo. banc 2012)). Under Rule 30.20, we will reverse only
if there is manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice as a result of the error.
Discussion
"A criminal defendant's right to be free from double jeopardy is derived from the
Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and applies to the states through the
Fourteenth Amendment." State v. Reynolds, 502 S.W.3d 18, 25 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016);
U.S. CONST. amends. V and XIV. "The proper test for assessing whether successive
prosecutions violate double jeopardy is the Blockburger test, also known as the 'same-
elements' test." Daws, 311 S.W.3d at 808. Two charges constitute the same offense for
double jeopardy purposes unless "each provision requires proof of a fact which the other
does not." Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932). Article I, section 19
of the Missouri Constitution specifically protects against a defendant being retried for the
same offense after acquittal. State v. Johnson, 245 S.W.3d 288, 293 (Mo. App. W.D.
2008).
Young contends that because he was "acquitted" as to the charge of murder in the
second degree in Count I, which included the allegation that Young unlawfully used a
weapon to shoot and kill Hutson, a subsequent finding of guilt as to unlawful use of a
weapon and armed criminal action amounted to being retried for the same offense. We
question the application of a successive prosecution claim's applicability to a single
prosecution with multiple counts within the context of one trial. While murder in the
second degree had within it the element of "unlawful use of a weapon" there were other
elements not present in the elements of the crimes of unlawful use of a weapon or armed
17
criminal action making them factually distinct and, consequently, double jeopardy does not
bar punishment for both.
More importantly, Young attempts to argue that by acquitting him of murder in the
second degree, the jury must have found that he did not commit the offense of unlawful
use of a weapon and thus when he was acquitted of the offense in Count I but found guilty
of the same actions in the later Counts III and IV. As noted in greater detail above, this is
an inaccurate account of what occurred. The jury need not have acquitted Young of murder
in the second degree, much less the specific element of "unlawful use of a weapon," before
it could consider the lesser-included offense of involuntary manslaughter.
Young contends that the issue presented in this case is one of first impression and
there are no cases specifically addressing this question. Instead, Young relies on what he
believes to be analogous cases from other jurisdictions. However, the cases cited by Young
are cases of a retrial after acquittal in a prior trial. E.g., Wilson v. Czerniak, 355 F.3d 1151
(9th Cir. 2004); Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436 (1970); Yeager v. United States, 557 U.S.
110 (2009). These cases are easily distinguishable from this case in which there was no
acquittal or retrial. Young was not acquitted of murder in the second degree by the jury's
finding of guilt in a lesser included offense. Our Supreme Court has specifically held that,
The second-degree murder jury instruction in Missouri, MAI-CR3d 314.04,
is not an acquittal first instruction. Wise, 879 S.W.2d at 517. The instruction
does not require the defendant to be found "not guilty" on the greater offense,
first-degree murder, before the lesser-included offense, second-degree
murder, is considered. Id. Instead, a lesser-included offense may be
considered if the jury does "not find the defendant guilty of the greater
offense." Id. Thus, a lesser-included offense may be considered when the
jury is deadlocked on the greater offense. Id.
18
State v. Johnson, 284 S.W.3d 561, 574 (Mo. banc 2009).
Young's argument is premised entirely on the erroneous argument that the jury must
have acquitted him of the greater offense before it considered the lesser included offense,
thus it must fail. This was not a "retrial." Because Young's argument is based on a false
premise, we need not address whether Young is correct in suggesting that the above cases
may be applied to challenge successive counts in the same prosecution in addition to
successive trials.
The circuit court did not err in overruling Young's motion to dismiss and otherwise
accepting the jury's verdict of guilt as to Counts III and IV on double jeopardy grounds.
III.
Young's final point on appeal alleges that the trial court erred in refusing to submit
Young's proposed self-defense instructions based on his right to use deadly force to defend
against an unlawful entry into his car because the evidence established that Young
reasonably believed that Hutson was attempting to enter his car and assault him.
Standard of Review
The defendant claims error in failing to give a self-defense instruction. "This
Court reviews de novo a trial court's decision whether to give a requested
jury instruction." State v. Jackson, 433 S.W.3d 390, 395 (Mo. banc 2014);
accord State v. Comstock, 492 S.W.3d 204, 205-06 (Mo. App. 2016). "The
circuit court must submit a self-defense instruction 'when substantial
evidence is adduced to support it, even when that evidence is inconsistent
with the defendant's testimony,' [State v. Westfall, 75 S.W.3d 278, 281 (Mo.
banc 2002)], and failure to do so is reversible error." [State v. Smith, 456
S.W.3d 849, 852 (Mo. banc 2015)]. "In determining whether the circuit court
erred in refusing to submit an instruction on self-defense, the evidence is
viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant." Id.
State v. Bruner, 541 S.W.3d 529, 534 (Mo. banc 2018) (internal footnote omitted).
19
Discussion
Following the close of State's evidence an extensive record was made regarding
whether Young would elect to testify in his own defense. Young elected not to testify. On
appeal, Young contends this was done, in part, based on the State's agreement that it would
not object to the submission of a self-defense instruction based upon Young's assertion to
Biagioli that Young shot at Hutson because he believed Hutson was aiming a gun at
Young.6 At trial, Young requested both self-defense instructions based on Young's
assertion that Hutson had a gun but also based on the so-called "castle doctrine." The trial
court did give the jury a general self-defense instruction but declined to give an instruction
regarding the castle doctrine. On appeal, Young argues that he was also entitled to the
second self-defense instruction based on the castle doctrine. Section 563.031.2(2) provides
that a person may use deadly force upon another person "who unlawfully enters, remains
after unlawfully entering, or attempts to unlawfully enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle
lawfully occupied by such person[.]"
To successfully inject the issue of self-defense, it must be supported by evidence.
Section 556.061(3)(a). Young asserts that Hutson's chase of Young's vehicle, Hutson's
attempt to bring his car alongside Young's car, along with some evidence that suggests the
bumpers of the cars may have touched,7 created an inference that Hutson had taken a
6
This was done despite substantial witness testimony that there was not a gun in Hutson's vehicle. The
four testifying bystanders on the scene testified that they never saw a gun in or around the Impala. Monroe testified
that neither she nor Hutson had a gun. The police officer that responded to the scene testified that when he did a
visual inspection of the car he did not see any weapons or ammunition. He also testified that Monroe did not have
any weapons or ammunition.
7
Biagioli testified that in relaying the events "I think [Young] said they bumped into the back of his car."
Officers also testified that there may have been "slight" damage to the bumper of Young's car and that there was a
"mark" on Hutson's front license plate and some gold paint missing from the front bumper. However, the jury also
20
substantial step to unlawfully enter Young's car to assault him. Even viewing the evidence
in the light most favorable to the defendant, we disagree Young submitted sufficient
evidence to support a submission of the castle doctrine. Even assuming that Hutson's
bumper did hit Young's bumper, there was no testimony that there was ever an attempt, or
even an opportunity, for Hutson to exit his car much less enter Young's. There may be a
circumstance in which hitting another vehicle may give rise to a castle doctrine defense if
it is done with sufficient force to stop the other vehicle to allow entry. However, there is
no evidence that there was any intent or attempt to do so here, and, even assuming the
vehicles did touch, the only evidence suggests that it was a minor impact. Because Young
submitted no evidence to support a theory of self-defense under the castle doctrine, he was
not entitled to receive such an instruction.
Young did receive a self-defense instruction based on Young's assertion to Biagioli
that Hutson had first pointed a gun at Young and he feared for his life. The trial court did
not err in declining to also give a self-defense instruction based on the castle doctrine, of
which there was no evidence submitted.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we affirm.
__________________________________
Gary D. Witt, Judge
All concur
heard testimony from Detective Donna Drake that paint samples of blue paint taken from Hutson's Impala were
tested against Young's automobile and found that the blue paint did not come from Young's car. Monroe testified
that the vehicles never touched.
21