
    STATE of North Carolina v. Gary William CANNON, Defendant.
    No. COA16-1059
    Court of Appeals of North Carolina.
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Special Deputy Attorney General Thomas J. Campbell, for the State.
    William D. Spence, Kinston, for defendant-appellant.
   MURPHY, Judge.

Gary William Cannon ("Defendant") appeals from his judgment for aiding and abetting larceny and attaining habitual felon status. On appeal, he contends: (1) that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charge of aiding and abetting larceny; and (2) that the trial court erred in sentencing Defendant as a habitual felon when the issue was not submitted to the jury as required by N.C.G.S. § 14-7.5 (2015). After careful review, we hold that the trial court did not err in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss. However, we agree with Defendant that the trial court erred in sentencing Defendant as a habitual felon when the issue was not submitted to the jury. We affirm Defendant's conviction for aiding and abetting larceny, vacate the habitual felon enhancement, and remand for a new sentencing hearing.

I. Background

On 14 May 2015, Shawn Sanbower ("Sanbower"), a loss prevention officer at a Wal-Mart store in Denver, North Carolina, observed Amanda Eversole ("Eversole") remove several items of clothing from store shelves and attempt to leave the store without paying. Sanbower apprehended Eversole, and then reviewed surveillance tapes. He discovered that Eversole had been in the store with William Black ("Black"), who had taken a number of items from store shelves without paying. Law enforcement was contacted. Sanbower went out to the store parking lot and saw Black, along with several law enforcement officers. Black was in the rear passenger seat of a green SUV, which was filled with goods from the Wal-Mart with a total value of $1,177.49. At the vehicle, Sanbower also observed Defendant speaking with the officers.

Deputy Ken Davis ("Deputy Davis"), from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, was one of the officers present, having arrived in response to the store's call. Deputy Davis testified that he had approached Black's vehicle and found it was full of stolen goods. Defendant then approached the vehicle and asked Davis and other officers what they were doing. Deputy Davis asked Defendant how he knew Black, and Defendant replied that he had only just met "them," and that he was paid $50.00 to drive "him" to this Wal-Mart in Denver from Gastonia. Defendant further confirmed that he owned the vehicle.

On 9 November 2015, the Lincoln County Grand Jury indicted Defendant on the charges of felony larceny, conspiracy to commit felony larceny, and aiding and abetting larceny. Defendant was also indicted for attaining habitual felon status. This matter went to trial on 12 May 2016. At the close of the State's evidence, Defendant moved to dismiss all of the charges. This motion was denied. Defendant declined to put on evidence. During the jury charge conference, the trial court dismissed the felony larceny charge on its own motion.

The jury found Defendant not guilty of conspiracy to commit larceny, but guilty of aiding and abetting larceny. The State then amended the habitual felon indictment without objection, and submitted sentencing worksheets by stipulation. Defendant "stipulated" to habitual felon status. The trial court sentenced Defendant to an active minimum sentence of 80 months to a maximum of 108 months imprisonment. The trial court waived court costs, and awarded attorney's fees as a civil judgment.

Defendant appeals.

II. Motion to Dismiss

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charge of aiding and abetting larceny. We disagree.

A. Standard of Review

"This Court reviews the trial court's denial of a motion to dismiss de novo." State v. Smith , 186 N.C.App. 57, 62, 650 S.E.2d 29, 33 (2007) (emphasis omitted). "Upon defendant's motion for dismissal, the question for the Court is whether there is substantial evidence (1) of each essential element of the offense charged, or of a lesser offense included therein, and (2) of defendant's being the perpetrator of such offense. If so, the motion is properly denied." State v. Fritsch , 351 N.C. 373, 378, 526 S.E.2d 451, 455 (2000) (quotation omitted).

The State is entitled to every reasonable inference that may be made from the evidence presented at trial. State v. Bullard , 312 N.C. 129, 160, 322 S.E.2d 370, 387-88 (1984). "The trial court does not weigh the evidence, consider evidence unfavorable to the State, or determine any witnesses' credibility.... Ultimately, the court must decide whether a reasonable inference of defendant's guilt may be drawn from the circumstances." State v. Blizzard , 169 N.C.App. 285, 289-90, 610 S.E.2d 245, 249 (2005).

B. Analysis

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charge of aiding and abetting larceny, on the grounds that the State failed to present sufficient evidence of all of the essential elements of the charge. We disagree.

"The essential elements of aiding and abetting are as follows: (1) the defendant was present at the scene of the crime; (2) the defendant intended to aid the perpetrator in the crime; and (3) the defendant communicated his intent to aid to the perpetrator." State v. Capps , 77 N.C.App. 400, 402, 335 S.E.2d 189, 190 (1985) (citation omitted).

Defendant's vehicle was parked on the far side of the parking lot, far from the store or any other cars, which would make an escape easy. Further, in addition to the goods stolen from the Wal-Mart, officers found a large quantity of Atkins drinks and cosmetics in Defendant's vehicle, which Sanbower contended were a greater quantity than one person would use. As the Dissent notes, this evidence standing alone would not withstand a motion to dismiss. However, we consider this evidence in light of Defendant's statements to law enforcement.

The State is entitled to every reasonable inference that may be made from the evidence presented at trial, Bullard , 312 N.C. at 160, 322 S.E.2d at 387-88, and we consider the reasonable inferences that may be drawn from Defendant's statement that he had just met the principals and the absurdity that a person would travel from Gastonia to Denver solely to shop at Wal-Mart for an otherwise valid purpose.

The evidence shows that Defendant claims to have been paid $50.00 to travel from Gastonia to the Wal-Mart in Denver. There is nothing in the record that suggests a need for the principals to travel to this specific Wal-Mart over any of the other Wal-Marts in Gastonia or along the myriad of routes from Gastonia to Denver. While not explicitly requested to do so by the State, we take judicial notice of the geographic distance and commercial nature of the routes between Gastonia and Denver in considering the circumstances present in this case. "Judicial notice may be taken at any stage of the proceeding." N.C.G.S. § 8C-1, Rule 201(f) (2015). Our Supreme Court has held it is appropriate to take judicial notice of the placing of towns. State v. Saunders , 245 N.C. 338, 342-43, 95 S.E.2d 876, 879 (1957) ; see State v. Brown , 221 N.C.App. 383, 387, 732 S.E.2d 584, 587-88 (2012) (taking judicial notice of the driving distance between Mebane and Durham in reviewing the sufficiency of evidence on appeal).

There is a strong case for taking such judicial notice "when almost every town in the country is connected by a ribbon of concrete or asphalt over which a constant stream of traffic flows." Saunders , 245 N.C. at 343, 95 S.E.2d at 879. "[S]o complete and so general is the common knowledge of places and distances that the court may be presumed to know the distances between important cities and towns in this State[.]" Id . at 343, 95 S.E.2d at 879.

We take judicial notice of the distance from Gastonia to Denver because the impracticality of traveling this distance and through areas with other Wal-Mart stores creates a reasonable inference of an improper purpose that, along with other incriminating aspects of the evidence, demonstrates the intent of Defendant to aid and abet larceny. Such considerations that are not pronounced in the record are exactly why we give great deference to trial judges and local juries in making ultimate findings of fact, and they are proper for us to consider by judicial notice in a de novo review of the cold record.

Trial courts and jurors are free to consider the geographic distance between cities, the modes of travel between cities, the commercial aspects of their local area, and the ubiquitous nature of Wal-Mart stores. See Saunders , 245 N.C. at 342, 95 S.E.2d at 879 ; State v. S. Ry. Co. , 141 N.C. 846, 851, 54 S.E. 294, 296 (1906) ; Brown , 221 N.C.App. at 387, 732 S.E.2d at 587-88 ; Hinkle v. Hartsell , 131 N.C.App. 833, 836, 509 S.E.2d 455, 457-58 (1998) (providing a laundry list of situations where judicial notice is appropriate). The trial court here likely did consider these things due to the obvious and reasonable inference of guilt that the trial court was free to draw.

Given the location of the vehicle in the parking lot, the items found in the vehicle, and the reasonable inference that can be made based on the geographic distance and commercial nature of the routes between Gastonia and Denver, the State met its low burden at the motion to dismiss stage.

We hold that the State presented evidence of every element of the offense of aiding and abetting larceny, and that the trial court therefore did not err in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss.

III. Habitual Felon

Defendant argues, and the State concedes, that the trial court should not have sentenced Defendant as a habitual felon when the issue was not submitted to the jury and the trial court did not accept a formal plea from Defendant.

Under Section 14-7.5 of the North Carolina General Statutes, whether a defendant is a habitual felon is submitted to the jury, or, in the alternative, the defendant may enter a guilty plea to the charge of being a habitual felon. State v. Gilmore , 142 N.C.App. 465, 471, 542 S.E.2d 694, 698-99 (2001). Therefore, since Defendant only stipulated to habitual felon status, the conviction must be vacated and remanded for resentencing.

IV. Conclusion

For the reasons stated above, we affirm Defendant's conviction for aiding and abetting larceny, and vacate the habitual felon enhancement and remand for a new sentencing hearing.

AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART; REMANDED FOR A NEW SENTENCING HEARING.

Judge DIETZ concurs by separate opinion.

Judge CALABRIA dissents by separate opinion.

DIETZ, Judge, concurring.

I agree that the trial court properly denied Cannon's motion to dismiss. In a criminal case, the trial court must deny a motion to dismiss if the State has presented substantial evidence that the defendant committed each element of the charged offense. "Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." State v. Smith , 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980).

Here, law enforcement found Cannon near his SUV in a Walmart parking lot. Cannon's SUV contained more than $1,000 worth of razors stolen from inside the Walmart. The SUV also contained separate bags containing a large number of unopened makeup packages and diet food packages. A Walmart employee testified that the makeup and diet food packages were not purchased or stolen from that Walmart.

Law enforcement asked Cannon about the stolen razors and the other goods found in his SUV. Cannon told law enforcement that he had no idea how the goods got there and that he did not have anything to do with it. He explained that he had just met Amanda Eversole and William Black when they offered to pay him $50 to drive them from Gastonia to the Walmart in Denver.

Something in this story was a lie. If Cannon had simply driven Black and Eversole from Gastonia to the Walmart in Denver-at which point Black and Eversole stole the razors without Cannon's knowledge-where did the other goods come from?

The jury, having heard Cannon's statements to the police, reasonably could have inferred that Cannon lied about taking Black and Eversole to other stores before going to Walmart because he knew Black and Eversole had stolen the makeup and diet food packages from those other stores, and Cannon did not want to implicate himself (or Black and Eversole) in those crimes, or provide law enforcement with information about where those crimes occurred.

This, combined with the details discussed in the majority opinion, such as the unusual distance traveled and the decision to park far away from the Walmart (and thus far away from security cameras or potential witnesses) is sufficient for the jury to infer that Cannon knew Eversole and Black intended to steal goods from the Walmart and that he agreed to assist them by acting as their driver. Thus, the State presented relevant evidence that a "reasonable mind might accept as adequate"

to support all the elements of aiding and abetting. Smith , 300 N.C. at 78-79, 265 S.E.2d at 169. Accordingly, the trial court properly denied Cannon's motion to dismiss.

CALABRIA, Judge, dissenting.

For the following reasons, I respectfully dissent.

Defendant was charged with aiding and abetting larceny, and moved to dismiss the charge on the ground that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence of each essential element of the charge. The majority opinion holds, however, that Defendant's statement to law enforcement, that Eversole and Black paid him to transport them from Gastonia to Denver, was sufficient evidence of Defendant's guilt. Specifically, the majority observes that "the impracticality of traveling this distance and through areas with other Wal-Mart stores creates a reasonable inference of an improper purpose that, along with other incriminating aspects of the evidence, demonstrates the intent of Defendant to aid and abet larceny."

Distance traveled, alone, is insufficient evidence to support the guilt of a defendant. The existence of taxis, and services such as Uber and Lyft, demonstrates that there are people willing to pay others to drive them long distances, and others who are willing to drive them distances for money. The majority's opinion would render such individuals guilty of aiding and abetting simply on the premise that it is "impractical[ ]" to drive such a distance, and that accepting money to do so is somehow evidence of an improper purpose.

The State's evidence established that Eversole and Black paid Defendant to drive them from Gastonia to the Wal-Mart, entered the Wal-Mart, and stole merchandise. The State had the burden of showing that Defendant was present at the scene of the crime, that Defendant intended to aid Eversole and Black, and that Defendant communicated his intent to do so. See State v. Capps , 77 N.C.App. 400, 402, 335 S.E.2d 189, 190 (1985).

Even assuming arguendo that Defendant's presence in the parking lot satisfied the element of presence, the fact that Defendant was willing to accept money to transport two individuals from Gastonia to Denver, a distance of roughly twenty-six miles, for a purpose not explicitly criminal does not satisfy the remaining two elements. It does not demonstrate that Defendant intended to aid Eversole and Black in any criminal endeavor, nor that he expressed that intent at any time, nor should it be construed to do so. I disagree with the majority that Defendant should have realized that Eversole and Black had an improper purpose in paying him fifty dollars to drive them to a Wal-Mart. Absent any evidence that Defendant was aware of their criminal aims, the State's case should not have gone to the jury.

In Capps , the evidence showed that the defendant drove his girlfriend, Debbie Hubbard, and friend, Sammy Miller, to a nightclub. Miller told the defendant that he wanted to get his clothes out of a car, and once out of the defendant's sight, Miller broke into a vehicle. The defendant was subsequently indicted for aiding and abetting Miller in the offenses of felonious breaking or entering a motor vehicle and felonious larceny, and the trial court denied the defendant's motion to dismiss.

On appeal, this Court first examined the impact of the defendant's presence at the scene of the crime. We observed that

While the State's evidence does indicate the defendant was present at the scene of the crime, the State has failed to present substantial evidence that the defendant intended to aid Miller or communicated such intent to Miller. A defendant's mere presence at the scene of the crime does not make him guilty of felonious larceny even if he sympathizes with the criminal act and does nothing to prevent it.

Capps , 77 N.C.App. at 402-03, 335 S.E.2d at 190. This Court concluded that "defendant's presence at the scene of the crime, without more, does not show intent to aid." Id . at 403, 335 S.E.2d at 191.

We then further examined the defendant's conduct, in an attempt to find evidence of the defendant's intent to aid Miller. We held that

The evidence in this case shows only that Miller told defendant he was going to get his clothes. There is no evidence that (1) defendant drove Miller to [the nightclub] with the purpose of aiding and abetting him in the commission of the larceny; (2) defendant observed Miller commit the crime; (3) defendant handled the stolen items; or (4) defendant participated in any discussions about the crime. There is no evidence from which the jury could infer that the defendant gave active encouragement to Miller, or that he made it known to Miller that he was ready to render assistance, if necessary.

Id . We concluded that, "[a]lthough there are circumstances which point suspicion toward defendant, insufficient evidence exists from which intent to aid can be inferred. The State's evidence fails to show that defendant intended to aid Miller in the crime or that defendant communicated intent to aid to Miller." Id.

I respectfully submit that the facts in this case mirror those in Capps . The State's evidence demonstrated merely that Defendant was present at the scene of the crime. It demonstrated that Defendant's intent was to drive Eversole and Black to the Wal-Mart for money. There is no evidence that (1) Defendant drove Eversole and Black to the Wal-Mart with the purpose of aiding and abetting them in the commission of the larceny; (2) Defendant observed Eversole and Black committing the crime; (3) Defendant handled the stolen goods; or (4) Defendant participated in any discussions about the crime. As in Capps , there is no evidence from which the jury could infer that Defendant gave active encouragement to Eversole and Black, or that he made it known to Eversole and Black that he was ready to render assistance, if necessary.

For these reasons, I would argue that the State failed to present substantial evidence of each element of aiding and abetting larceny. Therefore, I would argue that the trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to dismiss.  