IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA16-1107
Filed: 20 June 2017
Pitt County, Nos. 14CRS3412, 3452, 57851-54
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
v.
WILLIE JAMES LANGLEY, Defendant.
Appeal by defendant from judgment entered 28 January 2015 by Judge W.
Russell Duke, Jr. in Pitt County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 5
April 2017.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Kimberly N.
Callahan, for the State.
Cheshire Parker Schneider & Bryan, PLLC, by John Keating Wiles, for
defendant-appellant.
MURPHY, Judge.
Willie James Langley (“Defendant”) appeals from his judgment for assault
with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to
kill inflicting serious injury, two counts of attempted first degree murder, possession
of a firearm by a felon, discharge of a weapon into an occupied motor vehicle, and
attaining habitual felon status. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred by
(1) denying Defendant’s Motion for a Mistrial; (2) giving jury instructions that
constructively amended the habitual felon indictment; and (3) proceeding on a facially
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Opinion of the Court
defective habitual felon indictment. After careful review, we hold that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant’s Motion for a Mistrial as any error
was invited by Defendant. However, we agree with Defendant that the trial court
proceeded on a facially deficient habitual felon indictment. Therefore, we order that
the judgment regarding the habitual felon conviction be vacated and the case be
remanded for resentencing on the underlying felonies without the habitual felon
enhancement, and we need not reach the issue of whether the trial court’s jury
instructions materially varied from the allegations in the habitual felon indictment.
Factual Background
On 24 September 2014,1 Jesse Atkinson, Sr., Jesse Atkinson, Jr., and a friend
of Atkinson Jr.’s, Kion, drove to Vance Street in Greenville in a car belonging to Kion.
When they arrived, the men parked the car; Kion exited and the Atkinsons remained
in the car. A few minutes later, a blue car, containing Defendant and Mr. Davron
Lovick, passed by, then U-turned and pulled up beside Kion’s car. Defendant began
to fire a gun at the Atkinsons through the rolled-down driver’s side window.
Atkinson, Sr. was shot in his right calf and left thigh.
Although the above acts resulted in the charges now in dispute, Defendant
bases his appeal primarily on conduct that took place at trial, after jury deliberation
began. Approximately an hour into deliberation, the foreman sent a question to the
1The offense conduct took place from the late hours of 24 September 2014 into the early
morning hours of 25 September 2014.
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trial judge: “With the charge of assault with a deadly weapon of Atkinson, Jr. with
intent to kill does the law state intent to kill only or does it include inflicting serious
bodily injury as well?” In response, the trial court returned the jury to the courtroom
and reread the pertinent instructions. Just over an hour later, the jury sent another
question: “With the two attempted first degree murder charges do they have to have
the same verdict?” The trial court told the jury they did not, and provided them with
a written copy of the instructions for each offense. Before recessing for the evening,
the trial court instructed the jurors not to deliberate on the case, except when they
were all together in the jury room, and not to look at the television, read the
newspaper, or listen to the radio.
The next morning, the foreperson immediately sent the following note to the
court: “[O]ne juror Google’d intent to kill on the internet to try to understand the law,
and, second, can we get clarification on the underlined item on page four of Court’s
Exhibit Number 1?” The judge again returned the jury to the room and inquired:
All right, now, first, I’m going to address the first one.
Which juror Google’d intent?
All right, now, Ladies and Gentlemen, at the beginning of
the case, I think y’all remember, that you are to follow the
law as given to you by the Court; do y’all remember that?
Remember me asking you that? And this is the reason.
And it’s because everyone tried for the same crime in North
Carolina should be treated in the same way and have the
same law applied to him. That’s only fair. Now, I’m going
to ask each one of you to pledge to me that, that’s what
you’re going to do. Now, if all of you can accept and follow
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Opinion of the Court
the law as given to you by the Court, a North Carolina
Judge, North Carolina Court, if you can do that, please,
raise your hand.
(All twelve jurors raise their hands.)
Thank you. And can you disregard any other definition of
intent to kill or anything else other than what I give you
because it is, I can assure, the accepted law in North
Carolina. It is applied in every case. Can you disregard
any other law other than the law that’s given to you by the
Court? And if you can just raise your hand, please.
(All twelve jurors raise their hands.)
Thank you. Now, the underlined word is the legal effect. If
the Defendant intended to harm one person but instead
harmed a different person the legal effect would be the
same as if the Defendant had harmed the intended victim.
And, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have given you the
instructions that - and I’ve given you that the Defendant
intended to commit first degree murder. That’s an element
of the charge of attempted first degree murder. And I’ve
defined for you intent. And then I’ve defined for you what
happens when someone else is hurt or harmed other than
the person who was intended - the Defendant intended to
kill or harm. And I’m going to just ask you to apply the law
as I’ve given it to you here. Do y’all understand?
(All jurors nod their heads affirmatively.)
Judge Duke then turned to the second question, explaining the underlined item on
page four of Court’s Exhibit Number 1.
Once the jury exited the courtroom, Defendant moved for a mistrial and the
following exchange took place:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, as to the way you
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Opinion of the Court
presented, I felt like you just restated what you had
already said. However, given the question - given the
nature of what happened, I feel like I need to move for the
Court to declare that this is a mistrial, that the jurors have
gone outside of the Court’s instructions to follow the law as
given to them. They have gone on the Internet to look up
the law. It is unclear whether they went to the Internet
last night and did research and deliberated outside of the
jury room. It’s unclear whether other jurors asked this
juror to Google or look on the Internet to find the law and
declare what the law is. I think at this point the jury has
been tainted and I would ask for a mistrial.
THE COURT: Well, her question - the foreman’s question -
let me read it back to you - her question says, one juror -
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes, your Honor, but the -
THE COURT: Now, I’ll bring them back here and quiz them
all. What do you say?
[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I think your instructions to
them were sufficient, your questions to them, if they would
agree to follow only the law that you have given them is
sufficient.
THE COURT: I do, too. I’m going to deny your motion.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes, sir, thank you.
(Emphasis added). After 43 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict,
finding Defendant guilty of all counts charged.
Following the verdict, the habitual felon phase of the trial began. The
indictment listed Defendant as being a habitual felon on the basis of the following:
[1. T]hat on or about September 11, 2006, the defendant
did commit the felony of Felony Larceny, in violation of
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Opinion of the Court
North Carolina General Statute 14-72(a), and that on or
about February 15, 2007, the defendant was convicted of
Felony Larceny in the Superior Court of Pitt County, North
Carolina; and
[2. T]hat on or about October 08, 2009, the defendant did
commit the felony of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, in
violation of North Carolina General Statute 14-87, and
that on or about September 21, 2010, the defendant was
convicted of the felony of Common Law Robbery in the
Superior Court of Pitt County, North Carolina; and
[3. T]hat on or about August 24, 2011, the defendant did
commit the felony of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, in
violation of North Carolina General Statute 14-87.1, and
that on or about May 5, 2014, the defendant was convicted
of the felony of Common Law Robbery in the Superior
Court of Pitt County, North Carolina . . . [.]
(Emphasis added). As evidence, the State called an Assistant Clerk of Superior Court
of Pitt County, Cathy Watson, to describe the judgment relevant to each of the
convictions listed in the habitual felon indictment. The trial court admitted and
published each judgment to the jury. In the trial court’s charge to the jury, it
instructed that the jury should return a guilty verdict if it found the following true
beyond a reasonable doubt:
[1.] That he committed the offense of felony larceny on 11
September 2006 and was convicted of felony larceny on 15
February 2007;
[2.] That he committed the offense of common law robbery
on 8 October 2009 and was convicted of common law
robbery on 21 September 2010; and
[3.] That he committed the offense of common law robbery
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Opinion of the Court
on 24 August 2011 and was convicted of common law
robbery on 5 May 2014.
(Emphasis added). The jury found Defendant guilty of attaining habitual felon status
and the trial court consolidated Case Nos. 14CRS57851-52, 3452, and 3454 into a
judgment on a Class B2 felony, sentencing Defendant to a term of imprisonment of
238 to 298 months, followed by a consecutive sentence 14CRS57853 to a term of
imprisonment of 110 to 144 months, followed by another consecutive sentence in
14CRS57854 to a term of imprisonment of 110 to 144 months. Defendant gave notice
of appeal on 29 January 2015.
Analysis
On appeal, Defendant presents three arguments: (1) the trial court erred by
denying his Motion for Mistrial; (2) the trial court erred by giving jury instructions
that constructively amended the habitual felon indictment; and (3) the trial court
proceeded on a facially deficient habitual felon indictment. We only reach (1) and (3)
given our determination that the trial court proceeded on a facially deficient habitual
felon indictment, and we need not scrutinize the appealed jury instructions.
I. Juror Misconduct
Defendant first argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his
motion for a mistrial based on juror misconduct. We disagree because we find that
any error was invited by Defendant.
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A trial judge “must declare a mistrial upon the defendant’s motion if there
occurs during the trial an error or legal defect in the proceedings, or conduct inside
or outside the courtroom, resulting in substantial and irreparable prejudice to the
defendant's case.” N.C.G.S. § 15A-1061 (2015). We review a trial court’s decision to
grant or deny a motion for mistrial on the basis of juror misconduct for abuse of
discretion. State v. Salentine, 237 N.C. App. 76, 80-81, 763 S.E.2d 800, 804 (2014).
“An abuse of discretion occurs ‘only upon a showing that the judge’s ruling was so
arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.’ ” Id. at 81,
763 S.E.2d at 804 (quoting State v. Dial, 122 N.C. App. 298, 308, 470 S.E.2d 84, 91,
disc. review denied, 343 N.C. 754, 473 S.E.2d 620 (1996)).
“When juror misconduct is alleged, it is the trial court’s responsibility ‘to make
such investigations as may be appropriate, including examination of jurors when
warranted, to determine whether misconduct has occurred and, if so, whether such
conduct has resulted in prejudice to the defendant.’ ” Salentine, 237 N.C. App. at 80-
81, 763 S.E.2d at 804 (quoting State v. Aldridge, 139 N.C. App. 706, 712, 534 S.E.2d
629, 634, appeal dismissed and disc. review denied, 353 N.C. 269, 546 S.E.2d 114
(2000)). Generally, an examination is required “where some prejudicial content is
reported.” State v. Harrington, 335 N.C. 105, 115, 436 S.E.2d 235, 240 (1993) (citation
omitted). When conducting an examination, the trial court has discretion to
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Opinion of the Court
determine the scope and procedure thereof. State v. Burke, 343 N.C. 129, 149, 469
S.E.2d 901, 910 (1996).
Whether misconduct occurred depends on “the facts and circumstances in each
case.” State v. Drake, 31 N.C. App. 187, 190, 229 S.E.2d 51, 54 (1976). “Not every
violation of a trial court’s instruction to jurors is such prejudicial misconduct as to
require a mistrial.” State v. Wood, 168 N.C. App. 581, 584, 608 S.E.2d 368, 370
(citation omitted), disc. review denied, 359 N.C. 642, 614 S.E.2d 923 (2005)). The trial
court’s decision “should only be overturned where the error is so serious that it
substantially and irreparably prejudiced the defendant, making a fair and impartial
verdict impossible.” State v. Gurkin, 234 N.C. App. 207, 211, 758 S.E.2d 450, 454
(2014). “Ordinarily one who causes (or we think joins in causing) the court to commit
error,” invites the error, and “is not in a position to repudiate his action and assign it
as ground for a new trial.” State v. Payne, 280 N.C. 170, 171, 185 S.E.2d 101, 102
(1971).
Here, it is undisputed that juror misconduct took place. The dispute is whether
the misconduct resulted in such substantial and irreparable prejudice to Defendant’s
case that the trial judge was required to declare a mistrial. Defendant argues that
the trial court abused its discretion, depriving Defendant of his right to an impartial
jury. We disagree, because Defendant invited any error that occurred and prevented
further remedial efforts that may have been conducted by the trial court.
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When Defendant moved for mistrial, the trial court offered to continue the
inquiry, even offering to interview each juror. Defendant did not respond to the trial
judge’s offer, yet, now, on appeal suggests that such an inquiry may have adequately
protected Defendant’s interests by contrasting the present case with State v. Bethea,
173 N.C. App. 43, 617 S.E.2d 687 (2005), where the judge examined specific jurors
involved in misconduct before questioning and instructing the entire jury to address
the misconduct.
While we recognize the growing problem of juror misconduct through the use
of easily accessible electronics and potential Due Process and Equal Protection
concerns, Defendant has prevented us from further review. Even assuming arguendo
that the trial court abused its discretion in this instance, Defendant is not in a
position to repudiate the action and argue that it is grounds for a new trial since he
did not accept the trial court’s offer to continue the inquiry when the judge offered to
do so. Therefore, if any error took place, Defendant invited it. Payne, 280 N.C. at
171, 185 S.E.2d at 102.
II. Habitual Felon Indictment
Defendant argues that the habitual felon indictment was defective on its face.
We agree.
The facial validity of an indictment may be challenged “at any time, even if it
was not contested in the trial court” because an indictment that is invalid on its face
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Opinion of the Court
does not confer the trial court with jurisdiction. State v. Wallace, 351 N.C. 481, 503,
528 S.E.2d 326, 341 (2000). Valid indictments must charge all essential elements of
the charged offense. State v. Mason, 279 N.C. 435, 440, 183 S.E.2d 661, 664 (1971).
A valid habitual felon indictment must include: “[1] the date that prior felony offenses
were committed, [2] the name of the state or other sovereign against whom said felony
offenses were committed, [3] the dates that pleas of guilty were entered to or
convictions returned in said felony offenses, and [4] the identity of the court wherein
said pleas or convictions took place.” N.C.G.S. § 14-7.3 (2015) (emphasis added). The
Supreme Court of North Carolina paraphrased N.C.G.S. § 14-7.3 in State v. Cheek,
when it held that a habitual felon indictment fully comported with the statute:
by setting forth the three prior felony convictions relied on
by the State, the dates these offenses were committed, the
name of the state against whom they were committed, the
dates defendant’s guilty pleas for these offenses were
entered, and the identity of the court wherein these
convictions took place.
339 N.C. 725, 729-30, 453 S.E.2d 862, 865 (1995) (emphasis added). “Nothing in the
plain wording of N.C.G.S. § 14-7.3 requires a specific reference to the predicate
substantive felony in the habitual felon indictment.” Id. at 728, 453 S.E.2d at 864.
However, for a habitual felon indictment to fully comport with statutory
requirements there must be two dates listed for each prior felony conviction put forth
in the habitual felon indictment – both the date the defendant committed the felony
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and the date the defendant was convicted of that same felony in the habitual felon
indictment. N.C.G.S. § 14-7.3; Cheek, 339 N.C. at 729-30, 453 S.E.2d at 865.
Here, the habitual felon indictment, as written, failed to meet the statutory
requirements. The indictment listed Defendant as being a habitual felon on the basis
of the following:
[1. T]hat on or about September 11, 2006, the defendant
did commit the felony of Felony Larceny, in violation of
North Carolina General Statute 14-72(a), and that on or
about February 15, 2007, the defendant was convicted of
Felony Larceny in the Superior Court of Pitt County, North
Carolina [(“Conviction 1”)]; and
[2. T]hat on or about October 08, 2009, the defendant did
commit the felony of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon,
in violation of North Carolina General Statute 14-87, and
that on or about September 21, 2010, the defendant was
convicted of the felony of Common Law Robbery in the
Superior Court of Pitt County, North Carolina
[(“Conviction 2”)]; and
[3. T]hat on or about August 24, 2011, the defendant did
commit the felony of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon,
in violation of North Carolina General Statute 14-87.1, and
that on or about May 5, 2014, the defendant was convicted
of the felony of Common Law Robbery in the Superior
Court of Pitt County, North Carolina [(“Conviction
3”)] . . . [.]
On its face, the indictment did not provide the offense date for Conviction 2 or
Conviction 3. Instead, for both of these convictions, the indictment alleged offense
dates for robberies with a dangerous weapon, and then gave conviction dates for two
counts of common law robbery. There is nothing in the indictment alleging Defendant
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committed the crime of common law robbery on 8 October 2009 and was subsequently
convicted on 21 September 2010; or 24 August 2011 and was subsequently convicted
on 5 May 2014.
It would be an impermissible inference to read into the indictment that
common law robbery took place on 8 October 2009 or 24 August 2011 because that is
not what the grand jury found when it returned its bill of indictment. The State
cannot rest on an assertion that Defendant committed an offense on a date that it
never presented to the grand jury. This would be a gross violation of Defendant’s
right to grand jury presentment. N.C. Const. art. I § 22.
As the State emphasized, it is true that N.C.G.S. § 14-7.3 does not require that
a habitual felon indictment list the predicate felony. However, we are not considering
a case in which whether the predicate felony was listed is at issue. The issue is that
the grand jury did list an offense that was committed on a date certain, and it was
not the same crime of which the grand jury found Defendant had been convicted. The
indictment listed no offense dates for the felonies resulting in Conviction 2 or
Conviction 3.
The dates of offense and the corresponding dates of conviction are essential
elements of the habitual felon indictment because of the temporal requirements of
N.C.G.S. § 14-7.1:
The commission of a second felony shall not fall within the
purview of this Article unless it is committed after the
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conviction of or plea of guilty to the first felony. The
commission of a third felony shall not fall within the
purview of this Article unless it is committed after the
conviction of or plea of guilty to the second felony.
The State did not meet the requirements of the habitual felon indictment set
out by statute as it did not provide an offense date for the crime the State convicted
Defendant for committing. Defendant’s habitual felon indictment, defective on its
face, must be vacated. State v. Petersilie, 334 N.C. 169, 175, 432 S.E.2d 832, 836
(1993). Our decision to vacate the judgment for the habitual felon indictment on this
ground makes it unnecessary to address whether the jury instructions materially
varied from the fatally defective indictment.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we conclude that the trial court proceeded on a
facially deficient habitual felon indictment. Thus, we vacate the habitual felon
conviction and remand the case for resenting on the underlying felonies without the
habitual felon enhancement.
NO ERROR IN PART; JUDGMENT VACATED AS TO THE HABITUAL
FELON INDICTMENT; REMANDED FOR A NEW SENTENCING HEARING ON
THE UNDERLYING FELONIES WITHOUT THE HABITUAL FELON
ENHANCEMENT.
Judges CALABRIA and DIETZ concur.
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