{ "id": 4175612, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. MERVIN VERRON ARMSTRONG", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Armstrong", "decision_date": "2010-04-20", "docket_number": "No. COA09-1276", "first_page": "399", "last_page": "420", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "203 N.C. App. 399" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "138 N.C. App. 252", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11079314 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/138/0252-01" ] }, { "cite": "614 S.E.2d 555", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12633179 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "558", "parenthetical": "quoting Andrews v. Fulcher Tire Sales & Serv., 120 N.C. App. 602, 605, 463 S.E.2d 425, 427 (1995)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/614/0555-01" ] }, { "cite": "631 S.E.2d 208", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12636089 ], "weight": 14, "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "355" }, { "page": "211" }, { "page": "353" }, { "page": "210" }, { "page": "356" }, { "page": "212" }, { "page": "356" }, { "page": "211" }, { "page": "212" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/631/0208-01" ] }, { "cite": "442 S.E.2d 493", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "497" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "336 N.C. 284", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2539559 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "291" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/336/0284-01" ] }, { "cite": "380 S.E.2d 390", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "394" }, { "page": "395" }, { "page": "395-96" }, { "page": "394" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 N.C. App. 240", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526974 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "247" }, { "page": "247" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/94/0240-01" ] }, { "cite": "407 S.E.2d 550", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 N.C. 504", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2555016, 2553096, 2553330, 2554193 ], "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/329/0504-02", "/nc/329/0504-03", "/nc/329/0504-01", "/nc/329/0504-04" ] }, { "cite": "372 S.E.2d 517", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "519" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "323 N.C. 318", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2566216 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "322" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/323/0318-01" ] }, { "cite": "404 S.E.2d 6", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "11" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 N.C. App. 687", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525485 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "696" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/102/0687-01" ] }, { "cite": "463 S.E.2d 425", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "427" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "120 N.C. App. 602", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11916972 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "605" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/120/0602-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 N.C. App. 368", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8437072 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "369", "parenthetical": "quoting Andrews v. Fulcher Tire Sales & Serv., 120 N.C. App. 602, 605, 463 S.E.2d 425, 427 (1995)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/171/0368-01" ] }, { "cite": "506 S.E.2d 274", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "276" }, { "page": "276" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "131 N.C. App. 220", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11198507 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "223" }, { "page": "223" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/131/0220-01" ] }, { "cite": "112 L. Ed. 2d 113", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. 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App. 596", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 5314447 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "601" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/106/0596-01" ] }, { "cite": "178 N.C. App. 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8377705 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "356" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/178/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-179", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(g)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-3", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 2, "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)" }, { "page": "(a)(l)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-138.1", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(d)", "parenthetical": "the DWI statute" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "572 S.E.2d 838", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "841" }, { "page": "841" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 N.C. App. 718", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9251970 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "722" }, { "page": "722" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/154/0718-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ala. Code \u00a7 32", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ala. Code", "weight": 10, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "209 S.E.2d 284", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court instructed the jury that defendant was presumed guilty" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "285 N.C. 760", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8570594, 8570511, 8570639, 8570546, 8570680 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court instructed the jury that defendant was presumed guilty" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/285/0760-03", "/nc/285/0760-01", "/nc/285/0760-04", "/nc/285/0760-02", "/nc/285/0760-05" ] }, { "cite": "207 S.E.2d 278", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "282", "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court instructed the jury that defendant was presumed guilty" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "22 N.C. App. 590", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11309807 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "596", "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court instructed the jury that defendant was presumed guilty" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/22/0590-01" ] }, { "cite": "451 S.E.2d 574", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "597", "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court once instructed the jury to find the defendant guilty if they had reasonable doubt" }, { "page": "597" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "338 N.C. 526", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2517613 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "565", "parenthetical": "holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court once instructed the jury to find the defendant guilty if they had reasonable doubt" }, { "page": "565" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/338/0526-01" ] }, { "cite": "163 L. Ed. 2d 79", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "546 U.S. 830", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5908388, 5877157, 5965639, 5991912, 5911081, 6017962, 5986893, 6006128, 5881009, 3806768, 5989878, 5985271, 3809625, 5970362 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/546/0830-10", "/us/546/0830-12", "/us/546/0830-03", "/us/546/0830-13", "/us/546/0830-06", "/us/546/0830-07", "/us/546/0830-02", "/us/546/0830-14", "/us/546/0830-04", "/us/546/0830-01", "/us/546/0830-11", "/us/546/0830-05", "/us/546/0830-09", "/us/546/0830-08" ] }, { "cite": "604 S.E.2d 886", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "907" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "359 N.C. 131", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 3803286 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "165" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/359/0131-01" ] }, { "cite": "674 S.E.2d 707", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "713", "parenthetical": "holding that there was prejudicial error where trial court twice identified defendant as an accomplice to the crime, which was \"the only issue in dispute at trial\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "76 S.E.2d 313", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "318" }, { "page": "318" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "238 N.C. 34", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8598343 ], "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "40" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/238/0034-01" ] }, { "cite": "69 S.E.2d 233", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "234" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "235 N.C. 173", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622283 ], "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "174" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/235/0173-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. 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Stat.", "year": 2009, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "545 S.E.2d 724", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "352 N.C. 681", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 684881, 685105, 685010, 684922, 685020 ], "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/352/0681-03", "/nc/352/0681-05", "/nc/352/0681-01", "/nc/352/0681-02", "/nc/352/0681-04" ] }, { "cite": "530 S.E.2d 859", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 6, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "861" }, { "page": "862" }, { "page": "862" }, { "page": "862" }, { "page": "863" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "681 S.E.2d 271", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "272", "parenthetical": "explaining the merger of offenses where defendant is convicted of both a greater and a lesser-included offense" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "363 N.C. 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150675 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "536", "parenthetical": "explaining the merger of offenses where defendant is convicted of both a greater and a lesser-included offense" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/363/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "582 S.E.2d 679", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "682" }, { "page": "682" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "159 N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 11079314 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "256" }, { "page": "257" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/138/0252-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1518, "char_count": 52667, "ocr_confidence": 0.742, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.13691744190491414 }, "sha256": "51b7e3ef165da3d6c1eb5ebbb6e52735f6458221c9c67dbdb001feeceb8fa624", "simhash": "1:9faa656c774edcf6", "word_count": 8541 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:32:21.116750+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge MARTIN and Judge STEPHENS concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. MERVIN VERRON ARMSTRONG" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "WYNN, Judge.\nDefendant Mervin Verr\u00f3n Armstrong appeals from his convictions on the charges of second-degree murder, driving while impaired (\u201cDWI\u201d), and driving while license revoked (\u201cDWLR\u201d) arising out of an automobile crash in which his passenger was killed. Upon review, we uphold Defendant\u2019s convictions.\nAt 6:50 p.m. on 28 February 2007, Robert Litzinger, Sr., a refrigeration service technician, drove a company panel truck southbound on South Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after Litzinger observed a black Toyota Corolla driven by Defendant approach from General Drive, a side street to the left, Litzinger\u2019s truck collided with the right side of Defendant\u2019s car in a T-Bone collision.\nTodd Howard Passoms saw the collision as he drove southbound on South Tryon Street approximately 100 feet behind Litzinger. Passoms stated that Defendant\u2019s vehicle approached from a side street; did not stop at the stop sign at the intersection with South Tryon Street; traveled across both northbound lanes; failed to stop or pause in the median before entering the southbound lanes; and traveled directly into Litzinger\u2019s path. Passoms stated that he could not tell whether Litzinger applied his brakes, but noted there was no way that Litzinger would have had time.\nThe collision caused Litzinger\u2019s truck to flip onto the driver\u2019s side and come to rest in the far right lane of the street. Passoms pulled over, ran to Defendant\u2019s vehicle, and observed extensive damage to the car. The passenger in the front seat, Terrence Antonio Pretty, sat motionless and had no discernable pulse. It was later determined that Pretty had died from accident-related blunt trama injuries. Passoms then checked on Defendant, who was unconscious in the driver\u2019s seat. Passoms smelled a mild odor of alcohol in the front compartment of the vehicle. Passoms then called 911.\nParamedics John Marlow and Randall Burch responded to the scene at approximately 7:10 p.m. Marlow verified that Pretty was deceased. Charlotte Fire Department crew members extracted Defendant from the Toyota and Paramedics put him in an ambulance. Burch and Marlow stated that they smelled alcohol on Defendant\u2019s breath. Defendant exhibited no injuries other than a laceration on his face and scratches on his arms but he was unresponsive. Defendant was placed on IVs, and paramedics administered saline to elevate his blood pressure. Paramedics also administered Narcan, an anti-opiate, because Defendant was unresponsive and exhibited signs of trauma, and because his pupils were pin points \u2014 another sign of opiate overdose.\nNeither Marlow nor Burch knew the precise chemical composition of Narcan, but both stated that Defendant was not given any alcohol. Burch testified that Narcan does not contain any alcohol. Jennifer Mills, a forensic chemist of thirty years, testified as an expert for the State. She stated on cross-examination that she did not know of any medicines that could have increased Defendant\u2019s blood-alcohol level.\nOfficer Steven Ashley Williams of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrived on the scene at approximately 7:15 p.m. Inside Defendant\u2019s car, Officer Williams discovered opened and unopened beer cans and an opened pint of gin. While investigating the scene, Officer Williams noted that Litzinger\u2019s truck had left skid marks, and that there was a stop sign on General Drive at the intersection with South Tryon Street.\nMatthew Pressley, an officer and certified chemical analyst with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, arrived at the hospital at approximately 8:15 p.m. and spoke with Defendant. Defendant acknowledged being in a collision but denied driving. Officer Pressley observed that Defendant had slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and glassy bloodshot eyes. Officer Pressley charged Defendant with DWI and DWLR.\nAt 8:39 p.m., Officer Pressley requested that Defendant submit to a blood draw. Defendant consented but refused to sign the rights form and declined to call any witnesses. Officer Pressley requested that Jamie Thomason, a hospital nurse, draw Defendant\u2019s blood for alcohol testing. The sample indicated a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.24. Thomason had previously drawn Defendant\u2019s blood for medical purposes at 7:45 p.m. That sample indicated a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.26. Defendant was not given anything containing alcohol during treatment before his blood was drawn.\nOfficer Jesse Wood testified at trial that DMV records showed that Defendant\u2019s license had been indefinitely suspended as of December 2005 and that Alabama court records indicated that Defendant had been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in 1994, 1998, and 1999.\nDefendant recalled Officer Williams as an accident reconstruction expert. Officer Williams testified that in March of 2007, he estimated Litzinger\u2019s pre-impact speed at fifty-five miles per hour.\nPaul Glover, a research scientist and the head of the Forensic Test for Alcohol Branch of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, testified for the State that Narcan neither contains alcohol nor affects blood-alcohol level.\nOn 2 July 2007, Defendant was indicted for second-degree murder, felony death by motor vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, transportation of an open container of an alcoholic beverage after consuming alcohol, DWI, and DWLR. Defendant was tried at the 1 December 2008 Criminal Session of Superior Court in Mecklenburg County. At the close of all evidence, the State dismissed the felony death by motor vehicle and open container charges. The jury found Defendant guilty of second-degree murder, DWI, and DWLR. The trial court consolidated the murder and DWLR convictions for judgment and sentenced Defendant as a prior record level II offender.\nA few days after judgment was entered against Defendant, Juror Lisa Breidenbach came forward with evidence of juror misconduct. An evidentiary hearing was held 15 December 2008. Juror Breidenbach testified that during deliberations another juror stated that she had looked up Narcan on the internet and learned that it had no effect on the body as to alcohol content. In light of this testimony, Defendant filed a motion for appropriate relief (\u201cMAR\u201d) on 17 December 2008.\nThe trial court issued an order in which it found as a fact that Juror Sarah Bumgarner did commit the alleged misconduct. The trial court found that the misconduct violated Defendant\u2019s constitutional rights. However the trial court denied the MAR on the ground that the constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.\nOn appeal, Defendant raises six arguments in which he contends the trial court: (I) violated double jeopardy principles when it entered judgment on both the murder and the DWI convictions; (II) erred in its instructions on proof of knowledge in the DWLR charge; (III) erred in allowing the DWLR case to go to the jury because there was insufficient evidence of the knowledge element; (IV) erred in assigning prior record points to Defendant\u2019s three out-of-state convictions; (V) erred in admitting the expert opinion testimony of Paul Glover; and (VI) erred in denying Defendant\u2019s motion for appropriate relief.\nI\nDefendant first argues that his DWI conviction must be vacated because entry of judgments in that case and in the second-degree murder case violates double jeopardy principles and the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.\nAt trial, the trial court submitted the DWI case to the jury, instructing the jury on the three requisite elements. The trial court then submitted the second-degree murder case to the jury using pattern jury instruction 206.32, which has as its fourth element that the defendant violated a state law governing the operation of motor vehicles. See N.C.P.I. 206.32 (2001). The law against DWI was the only motor vehicle law submitted as the fourth element of the murder charge. The jury found Defendant guilty of DWI and second-degree murder.\nDefendant argues that because all of the elements of DWI were included within the elements of second-degree murder, the DWI merged into the murder. Defendant concludes from this that entry of judgment on both offenses violates double jeopardy principles.\n\u201cThe double jeopardy clause prohibits (1) a second prosecution for the same offenses after acquittal; (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and (3) multiple convictions for the same offense.\u201d State v. Ezell, 159 N.C. App. 103, 106, 582 S.E.2d 679, 682 (2003). Defendant argues that he was subject to multiple convictions for the same offense, citing State v. Lopez, 363 N.C. 535, 536, 681 S.E.2d 271, 272 (2009) (explaining the merger of offenses where defendant is convicted of both a greater and a lesser-included offense). We have recognized, however, that \u201cdouble jeopardy does not prohibit multiple punishment for two offenses \u2014 even if one is included within the other under ... if both are tried at the same time and the legislature intended for both offenses to be separately punished.\u201d Ezell, 159 N.C. App. at 107, 582 S.E.2d at 682.\nWe confronted an argument similar to Defendant\u2019s in State v. McAllister, 138 N.C. App. 252, 530 S.E.2d 859, appeal dismissed, 352 N.C. 681, 545 S.E.2d 724 (2000). Defendant in McAllister was convicted of DWI and second-degree murder. Id. at 255, 530 S.E.2d at 861. On appeal, he argued \u201cthat his Fifth Amendment right to protection from Double Jeopardy was violated when he was punished twice for impaired driving because each element of that offense was necessary to prove the second degree murder offense and he was sentenced for both offenses.\u201d Id. at 255, 530 S.E.2d at 862. This Court specifically rejected that argument, stating \u201c[w]e disagree and believe that the legislature intended to create two separate offenses. We note that punishment for second degree murder is controlled by structured sentencing while punishment for driving while impaired is exempted from the structured sentencing provisions.\u201d Id. at 256, 530 S.E.2d at 862.\nDefendant attempts to distinguish McAllister by contending that in that case, the defendant argued that the DWI was the basis for the malice element of second-degree murder, whereas Defendant here argues that under the particular jury instructions given, DWI was the fourth element of second-degree murder. Strictly speaking, DWI is not an element of second-degree murder at all, the jury instructions in this case notwithstanding. See N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-17 (2009); McAllister, 138 N.C. App. at 256, 530 S.E.2d at 862. Moreover, the trial judge correctly instructed the jury that they could not find Defendant guilty of second-degree murder without also finding malice. Thus, Defendant\u2019s attempt to distinguish McAllister on this basis is unavailing.\nDefendant argues further that in McAllister there was other evidence of malice in addition to the DWI. We have elsewhere recognized that sufficient evidence of malice existed in a second-degree murder prosecution where a defendant drove while impaired after prior convictions for driving while impaired, and the defendant drove while his license was revoked. State v. McBride, 109 N.C. App. 64, 68, 425 S.E.2d 731, 734 (1993). Evidence of both of these factors was presented in this case. Consequently, \u201cthere was evidence to support a finding of malice in the present case other than the fact that defendant was driving while impaired[.]\u201d McAllister, 138 N.C. App. at 257, 530 S.E.2d at 863.\nApplying McAllister, we hold that Defendant\u2019s conviction and sentencing for DWI and second-degree murder did not violate double jeopardy principles.\nII\nDefendant next argues that he is entitled to a new trial in the DWLR case because the trial court\u2019s jury instruction on proof of knowledge was erroneous in law and unconstitutionally peremptory.\nDefendant was charged with driving while his driver\u2019s license was revoked under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-28(a) and pled not guilty. During the charge conference, the trial court indicated it would use the pattern instruction on DWLR.\nPattern Jury Instruction 271.10 states:\nProof beyond a reasonable doubt that the State complied with the three requirements of the notice provisions permits, but does not compel you to find that defendant received the notice and thereby acquired knowledge of the suspension. The State must prove the essential elements of the charge, including the defendant\u2019s knowledge of the suspension, from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.\nN.C.P.I. 271.10 (2001). In the present case, after agreeing to give the above instruction, the trial court instead charged the jury as follows:\nProof beyond a reasonable doubt occurs with [sic] the State has complied with the three requirements of the notice provision which does tell you that the Defendant received notice and thereby acquired the knowledge of the suspension. Therefore, the State has proved the essential elements of the charge, including the Defendant\u2019s knowledge of the suspension, from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.\nDefendant argues that the instruction given was an incorrect statement of the law, and that it unconstitutionally directed a verdict of guilty against defendant. Immediately following the contested instruction, the trial court continued,\nSo, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the alleged date the Defendant drove a motor vehicle on the highway while his driver\u2019s license was suspended, and that the Defendant knew on that date that his license was suspended because at least four days before the alleged offense, the Department of Motor Vehicles had deposited a notice of the suspension in the United States mail, in an envelope with postage pre-paid, and addressed to the Defendant at his address as shown by the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles, it would be your duty to return a verdict of guilty. If you do not so find, or if you have a reasonable doubt about one or more of these things, it would be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty.\nThis section of the jury instruction tracks the language of the pattern jury instruction for DWLR. See N.C.P.I. 271.10 (2001).\n\u201cThe rule is that the trial court in charging a jury may not give an instruction which assumes as true the existence or nonexistence of any material fact in issue.\u201d State v. Cuthrell, 235 N.C. 173, 174, 69 S.E.2d 233, 234 (1952). \u201cWhen a judge undertakes to define the law he must state it correctly, and if he does not, it is prejudicial error sufficient to warrant a new trial.\u201d State v. Stroupe, 238 N.C. 34, 40, 76 S.E.2d 313, 318 (1953). \u201cThis Court has uniformly held that where the court charges correctly in one part of the charge, and incorrectly in another part, it will cause a new trial, since the jury may have acted upon the incorrect part of the charge.\u201d Id. at 40-41, 76 S.E.2d at 318; see also State v. Castaneda, \u2014 N.C. App. \u2014, \u2014, 674 S.E.2d 707, 713 (2009) (holding that there was prejudicial error where trial court twice identified defendant as an accomplice to the crime, which was \u201cthe only issue in dispute at trial\u201d).\nOn the other hand, our Supreme Court has recognized situations in which an erroneous instruction does not warrant reversal. \u201cWhere the instructions to the jury, taken as a whole, present the law fairly and clearly to the jury, we will not find error even if isolated expressions, standing alone, might be considered erroneous.\u201d State v. Morgan, 359 N.C. 131, 165, 604 S.E.2d 886, 907 (2004), cert. denied, Morgan v. North Carolina, 546 U.S. 830, 163 L. Ed. 2d 79 (2005). \u201cThis Court has repeatedly held that a lapsus linguae not called to the attention of the trial court when made will not constitute prejudicial error when it is apparent from a contextual reading of the charge that the jury could not have been misled by the instruction.\u201d State v. Baker, 338 N.C. 526, 565, 451 S.E.2d 574, 597 (1994) (holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court once instructed the jury to find the defendant guilty if they had reasonable doubt); see also State v. Collins, 22 N.C. App. 590, 596, 207 S.E.2d 278, 282, cert. denied, 285 N.C. 760, 209 S.E.2d 284 (1974) (holding there was no prejudicial error where the trial court instructed the jury that defendant was presumed guilty).\nIn the present case, the trial court erroneously instructed the jury that the State had proved Defendant\u2019s knowledge of the suspension. But the trial court immediately afterward correctly instructed the jury that if the State had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant had received notice of the suspension, it would be the duty of the jury to render a verdict of not guilty. Moreover, the trial court stated at the beginning of the entire instruction that \u201c[t]he State must prove to you that the Defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d At the end of the instruction, the trial court charged, \u201c[i]t is your exclusive province to find the true facts of the case and to render a verdict reflecting the truth as you find it.\u201d\nThis situation is analogous to Baker and Collins where \u201cthe trial court repeatedly instructed the jury that the State had the burden of proving defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d Baker, 338 N.C. at 565, 451 S.E.2d at 597. Contrary to Defendant\u2019s assertions, the trial court did not explicitly direct a verdict of guilty against Defendant, and \u2014 in view of the instruction taken as a whole \u2014 we cannot conclude that the lapsus linguae did so implicitly. Accordingly, we hold that \u201c[rjeading the charge in its entirety, we are convinced the jurors could not have been misled . . . .\u201d Id. Defendant has consequently failed to demonstrate prejudicial error regarding the jury instruction.\nIll\nDefendant next argues that his DWLR conviction must be vacated because there was insufficient evidence of the knowledge requirement.\nAt the close of the State\u2019s evidence, Defendant moved to dismiss the second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges. At the close of all the evidence, Defendant renewed his motion to dismiss the charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Defendant at trial never moved to dismiss the charge of DWLR.\nOur Rules of Appellate Procedure specify how a defendant preserves the alleged error of insufficient evidence.\n(3) Sufficiency of the Evidence. In a criminal case, a defendant may not make insufficiency of the evidence to prove the crime charged the basis of an issue presented on appeal unless a motion to dismiss the action, or for judgment as in case of nonsuit, is made at trial.\nN.C. R. App. P. 10(a)(3) (2010). Defendant did not move at trial for a dismissal of the DWLR. Defendant has therefore failed to preserve this issue for appellate review.\nIV\nDefendant next argues that he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing in the murder case because the trial court erroneously assigned prior record points to Defendant\u2019s three out-of-state convictions and sentenced him as a prior record level II offender. Defendant contends that the assignment of points was error because (1) the Alabama offenses are not substantially similar to an offense classified as a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor in North Carolina; and (2) the State failed to prove the Alabama offenses are classified as misdemeanors in Alabama.\nDuring the trial and sentencing hearing the State submitted evidence tending to show that Defendant had three prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol in Alabama, violations of Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191, in the 1990s. The State submitted to the trial court for consideration the text of the relevant Alabama statute. No evidence offered at trial shows that Alabama classifies violations of Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 as misdemeanors. The only prior convictions Defendant had were the three prior Alabama convictions.\nAt the end of the sentencing hearing in the murder case, the trial court concluded that the Alabama offenses were substantially similar to the DWI provisions of the North Carolina statutes. The trial court treated the offenses as Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanors and assigned one prior record point to each of the three Alabama convictions. The trial court thus found a total of three prior record level points and concluded that Defendant was a prior record level II offender for sentencing purposes.\nOur Structured Sentencing statute provides:\nIf the State proves by the preponderance of the evidence that an offense classified as a misdemeanor in the other jurisdiction is substantially similar to an offense classified as a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor in North Carolina, the conviction is treated as a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor for assigning prior record level points.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1340.14(e) (2009). The same statute specifies that \u201c[ejxcept as otherwise provided in this subsection, a conviction occurring in a jurisdiction other than North Carolina ... is classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor if the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred classifies the offense as a misdemeanor.\u201d Id. Under the statute, a conviction classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor would not receive any prior record level points. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1340.14(b)(5) (2009).\nDefendant argues that the Alabama offenses were not \u201csubstantially similar to an offense classified as a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor in North Carolina.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1340.14(e) (2009). Defendant contends that DWI in North Carolina is not classified as a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor. It follows that Defendant\u2019s prior convictions in Alabama could not be analogized to DWI convictions in North Carolina which would justify the assignment of one prior record level point each under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1340.14 (b)(5).\nDefendant overlooks the fact that this Court determined in State v. Gregory, 154 N.C. App. 718, 722, 572 S.E.2d 838, 841 (2002), \u201cthat a DWI conviction is a Class 1 misdemeanor.\u201d It is true that the Gregory Court made this determination for the purposes of interpreting a rule of North Carolina evidence, but we find the reasoning equally applicable here. The Court in Gregory began by observing that DWI is a misdemeanor under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-138.1(d) (the DWI statute). Id. \u201cIf the offense is a misdemeanor for which there is no classification, it is as classified in G.S. 14-3.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1340.23(a) (2009). \u201cAny misdemeanor that has a specific punishment, but is not assigned a classification\u201d is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor \u201c[i]f that maximum punishment is more than six months imprisonment.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-3(a) (2009). \u201cThe maximum punishment permitted by statute for misdemeanor DWI is imprisonment for \u2018a minimum term of not less than 30 days and a maximum term of not more than 24 months.\u2019 \u201d Gregory, 154 N.C. App. at 722, 572 S.E.2d at 841 (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-179(g) (2001)). Therefore, DWI is a Class 1 misdemeanor and Defendant\u2019s argument to the contrary must fail.\nDefendant argues further that the State did not produce any evidence that the DWI offenses were classified as misdemeanors in Alabama. The State observes that the Alabama statutes offered to the trial court in State\u2019s exhibit No. 39 all provided that a first conviction of driving while under the influence could result in imprisonment for up to one year. See Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1984); Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1994); Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1998). Following the reasoning from Gregory, because the Alabama convictions could have resulted in imprisonment for more than six months, those convictions were properly classified as misdemeanors. See N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-3(a)(l) (1999). Indeed, Alabama does classify DWIs as misdemeanors. See Ala. Code \u00a7 13A-l-2(9) (1999) (defining \u201cmisdemeanor\u201d as \u201c[a]n offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment not in excess of one year may be imposed\u201d). Thus, Defendant\u2019s Alabama convictions were properly classified as misdemeanors.\nAccordingly, there is no merit to Defendant\u2019s argument that the trial court erroneously assigned prior record points to Defendant\u2019s out-of-state convictions.\nV\nDefendant next argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the trial court erroneously admitted Paul Glover\u2019s testimony. Defendant asserts that the error was prejudicial because Glover\u2019s evidence was crucial to the jury\u2019s finding of malice in the second-degree murder conviction.\nBefore trial, the State provided discovery to Defendant which did not list Glover as either a lay or expert witness. On direct examination during the State\u2019s case, two paramedics and a nurse testified that they did not administer any alcohol to Defendant but that Defendant was given Narcan on the way to the hospital. On cross-examination, these witnesses admitted they did not know the chemical composition of Narcan or what all of the side effects of the drug might be.\nNear the end of the State\u2019s case and acknowledging that there had been no discovery regarding Glover, the State moved to call Glover as an expert witness on alcohol physiology and pharmacology. Glover had no prior connection to Defendant\u2019s case but was found by prosecutors in the courthouse while he was testifying in a different case. The trial court sustained Defendant\u2019s objection, and Glover was not allowed to testify as an expert as part of the State\u2019s case-in-chief.\nOnce the State rested, Defendant presented his case-in-chief. This consisted of recalling State\u2019s witness Officer Steven Williams to provide evidence regarding accident reconstruction. On rebuttal, the State again moved to call Paul Glover, this time as a lay witness, to testify that Narcan contains no alcohol and has no effect on blood-alcohol level. Defendant objected, alleging that the State was attempting to offer expert opinion without saying Glover was an expert.\nThe trial court held a voir dire of Glover. Glover testified that he was the branch head and a research scientist for the Forensic Test for Alcohol, a branch of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. He indicated that he was neither a doctor nor a pharmacologist, but that in each case in which he had been called to testify, he testified as an expert. When asked about Narcan, Glover replied that \u201cI have been able to read what the PDR [Physician\u2019s Desk Reference] says about it.\u201d He clarified that even before this review, he did know how Narcan is used and what it does and that it has no effect on alcohol. \u201cI am qualified,\u201d he said, \u201cas an expert on the effects of.. . drugs in DWI cases.\u201d\nAt the end of the voir dire, Defendant objected to the testimony, on the grounds that Glover\u2019s opinion was \u201cbased on no greater knowledge than any other witness\u201d since he had merely reviewed the PDR. When the State observed that other witnesses had already testified to the ingredients of Narcan, Defendant argued that \u201cthis witness is thus cumulative.\u201d The trial court overruled Defendant\u2019s objection and allowed Glover to testify as a lay witness to the effect of Narcan on blood-alcohol level.\nDefendant now argues that the trial court erred in allowing Glover to testify because Glover\u2019s evidence was (1) expert opinion masquerading as lay testimony; (2) inadmissible because he was not qualified in the area of his testimony; and (3) inadmissible because his proffered method of proof was not sufficiently reliable.\nDefendant relies on State v. Blankenship, 178 N.C. App. 351, 631 S.E.2d 208 (2006), for the proposition that expert opinion masquerading as lay testimony is not admissible. This somewhat overstates our holding in Blankenship. In that case, the State sought to call a witness as an expert without having complied with the notice requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-903(a)(2). Id. at 355, 631 S.E.2d at 211. \u201cThe trial court stated that since Agent Razzo would not be giving his opinion as to the specific facts of defendant\u2019s case, and he had not performed any tests or examinations on any of the evidence in the case, he would be permitted to testify as a fact witness.\u201d Id. Upon calling the witness to the stand, the State attempted to tender the witness as an expert. Id. The trial court refused to accept the witness as an expert but permitted the witness to testify, over defendant\u2019s objection, \u201cconcerning the manufacturing process of methamphetamine.\u201d Id.\nOn appeal, defendant argued that the trial court erred when it allowed Agent Razzo to testify and found that the State had not violated discovery procedures. Id. at 353, 631 S.E.2d at 210. This Court agreed that the witness was testifying as an expert and that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing him to testify as such since \u201cdefendant was not provided sufficient notice that the State would be presenting any expert witnesses.\u201d Id. at 356, 631 S.E.2d at 212. The issue in Blankenship was thus whether the trial court erred in permitting the witness to testify at all without the State having complied with discovery requirements. Id. Blankenship did not establish a new rule of evidence to prohibit categorically all expert opinion disguised as lay testimony, as Defendant suggests.\nAlthough Defendant somewhat misstates the import of Blankenship, we cannot ignore its obvious similarity to the facts before us. As in Blankenship, the State here sought to introduce expert testimony without having complied with the discovery requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-903(a)(2). As in Blankenship, the trial court refused to allow the State to tender the witness as an expert, but allowed the same person to testify as a lay witness. Finally, as in Blankenship, Defendant argues on appeal that the trial court erred in allowing the witness to testify. To determine whether the trial court erred as in Blankenship, we must determine whether Glover in fact testified as an expert.\n\u201cIf the witness is not testifying as an expert, his testimony in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to those opinions or inferences which are (a) rationally based on the perception of the witness and (b) helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony or the determination of a fact in issue.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 701 (2009). \u201cIf scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 702(a) (2009).\nBlankenship explained its determination of the witness\u2019s status as an expert thus:\nAlthough the trial court permitted Agent Razzo to testify as a so-called lay witness, we hold that he. in fact qualified as, and testified as, an expert witness. The jury was permitted to hear testimony about his extensive training and experience in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine and clandestine laboratory investigations, along with his specialized knowledge of the manufacturing process of methamphetamine. Also, the State specifically tendered Agent Razzo as an expert witness, and the trial court failed to take any action to remedy the State\u2019s attempt to tender Agent Razzo as an expert. We hold that based on the presentation of evidence concerning Agent Razzo\u2019s extensive training and experience, he was \u201cbetter qualified than the jury as to the subject at hand,\u201d and he testified as an expert witness.\nId. at 356, 631 S.E.2d at 211 (quoting State v. Davis, 106 N.C. App. 596, 601, 418 S.E.2d 263, 267 (1992), disc. review denied, 333 N.C. 347, 426 S.E.2d 710 (1993)).\nThe Court in Blankenship thus considered (1) that the witness testified to his qualifications and (2) that the State attempted to tender him as an expert. A witness\u2019s qualifications alone do not make the witness an expert witness. See Turner v. Duke University, 325 N.C. 152, 167-68, 381 S.E.2d 706, 715-16 (1989). Nor does the fact that a witness is better qualified than the jury to render an opinion. \u201cA witness who is better qualified than the jury to form a particular opinion may satisfy the Rule, but the Rule does not explicitly provide that it is satisfied only by such a witness. The Rule should not be interpreted to require such a witness.\u201d 1 Kenneth S. Broun, Brandis and Broun on North Carolina Evidence \u00a7 184 (4th ed. 1993).\nAt the same time, the touchstone of expert testimony is not that the proponent of the evidence sought to tender an expert. Rather, our Courts have recognized that a witness may be accepted as an expert by implication. See State v. Wise, 326 N.C. 421, 431, 390 S.E.2d 142, 148 (holding that a witness was an expert who testified based on her training and experience to characteristics of abused children), cert denied, Wise v. North Carolina, 498 U.S. 853, 112 L. Ed. 2d 113 (1990). In Wise, our Supreme Court explained that \u201cthe trial court\u2019s overruling of defense counsel\u2019s objection to the opinion testimony constituted an implicit finding that the witness was an expert.\u201d Id. at 430, 390 S.E.2d at 148. Stated differently, \u201ca finding that the witness is qualified as an expert is implicit in the trial court\u2019s ruling admitting the opinion testimony.\u201d Id. at 431, 390 S.E.2d at 148.\nIn the present case, the State called Paul Glover to the stand and elicited extensive testimony concerning his training and experience. Glover then testified, over Defendant\u2019s objection, that Narcan contains no alcohol, and that it has no effect on blood-alcohol content. Based on the testimony regarding Glover\u2019s qualifications and on the substance of his opinion admitted over objection, we hold that Glover provided expert testimony. Because the State did not properly notify Defendant during discovery that it intended to offer Glover as an expert, the trial court erred in allowing him to testify as such. See Blankenship, 178 N.C. App. at 356, 631 S.E.2d at 212. We must now determine whether Defendant was prejudiced by the error.\nDefendant argues that \u201cthe critical factor establishing second-degree murder implied malice was the extremely high blood-alcohol level of defendant\u2019s blood when it was drawn in the hospital.\u201d Defendant does not argue that the State presented insufficient evidence of DWI. Rather, Defendant suggests that the jury\u2019s finding of malice turns on his \u201cextremely high\u201d blood-alcohol level. Because Defendant\u2019s blood-alcohol level may have been affected by Narcan, it follows \u2014 according to Defendant \u2014 that the State did not establish that his high blood-alcohol level was the result of voluntary intoxication.\nWe explained above (in section I), however, that DWI is not a substitute for the malice element of second-degree murder. As in McAllister, there was sufficient evidence of malice in this case beyond the evidence of Defendant\u2019s subsequent impairment. Glover\u2019s testimony, if it had any effect at all, merely rebutted Defendant\u2019s assertion of Narcan\u2019s effects, an assertion which Defendant offered no affirmative evidence to support. Consequently, Defendant fails to persuade that Glover\u2019s opinion was crucial to the jury\u2019s finding of malice.\nFurthermore, there is sufficient other evidence to support the State\u2019s assertion that Glover\u2019s testimony was merely corroborative. State\u2019s witness Marlow testified that he did not put any alcohol into Defendant and that Narcan has very few side effects. State\u2019s witness Burch testified that Narcan does not contain any alcohol. State\u2019s witness Thomason testified that Defendant was not given anything containing alcohol during treatment before his blood was drawn. Finally, State\u2019s witness Mills, a forensic chemist of thirty years who testified as an expert, stated that she did not know of any medicines that could have increased Defendant\u2019s blood-alcohol level. Glover then testified that there is no alcohol in Narcan and that it has no effect on blood-alcohol level.\nIn sum, we hold that the trial court erred in allowing Glover, over objection, to provide expert testimony on the ingredients and effect of Narcan. However, we hold that this error was harmless in light of the fact that the State presented sufficient evidence of malice beyond Defendant\u2019s high blood-alcohol level and in light of the fact that Glover\u2019s evidence was, as Defendant\u2019s trial counsel recognized, cumulative of evidence that had already been admitted.\nVI\nDefendant next argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for appropriate relief on the ground that the unconstitutional jury misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.\nAfter the trial ended and the verdict was received, Juror Lisa Breidenbach contacted the bailiff regarding juror misconduct. Breidenbach indicated that she was concerned that some of the jurors had received some information that was not part of the trial. The trial court held a hearing on 15 December 2008.\nBreidenbach testified at the hearing that another one of the jurors, on the second day of deliberations, said that she had gone to the internet and looked up Narcan. This juror told the others that they didn\u2019t have to worry about it, as it had no effect on the body as far as alcohol content. Breidenbach told the juror that she was not supposed to do that, and the juror responded that she didn\u2019t care. Defendant filed a MAR on 17 December 2008.\nThe trial court issued an order on 19 February 2009 in which it found as a fact that Juror Bumgarner did commit the alleged misconduct. The trial court found moreover that the misconduct violated Defendant\u2019s constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him. However the trial court denied the MAR on the ground that the constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.\nDefendant argues that the trial court\u2019s disposition of his MAR is incorrect for two reasons: (1) the trial court did not apply the correct legal standard of prejudice; (2) the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt is not supported by the record. Defendant contests the factual basis of the trial court\u2019s findings of fact Nos. 14 and 8. These arguments are addressed in turn.\n\u201cWhen a trial court\u2019s findings on a motion for appropriate relief are reviewed, these findings are binding if they are supported by competent evidence and may be disturbed only upon a showing of manifest abuse of discretion.\u201d State v. Wilkins, 131 N.C. App. 220, 223, 506 S.E.2d 274, 276 (1998). \u201cCompetent evidence is evidence \u2018that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the finding.\u2019 \u201d Eley v. Mid/East Acceptance Corp. of N.C., 171 N.C. App. 368, 369, 614 S.E.2d 555, 558 (2005) (quoting Andrews v. Fulcher Tire Sales & Serv., 120 N.C. App. 602, 605, 463 S.E.2d 425, 427 (1995)). The trial court\u2019s conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. Wilkins, 131 N.C. App. at 223, 506 S.E.2d at 276.\nDefendant first argues that, in allowing the State to rebut the presumption of prejudice by showing that the misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, the trial court did not apply the correct legal standard. Defendant contends that the juror misconduct violated Defendant\u2019s constitutional right to a jury of twelve. Defendant asserts that this was reversible error per se.\nDefendant does not cite any authority for the proposition that juror misconduct is tantamount to a violation of his right to a jury of twelve, or that such error is reversible per se. Moreover, Defendant raised only the issue of his confrontation rights in his MAR. He raises a violation of his right to a jury of twelve for the first time on appeal. As such, Defendant has not preserved the issue of whether his right to a jury of twelve has been violated. See N.C. R. App. P. 10(a) (2010); State v. Woodard, 102 N.C. App. 687, 696, 404 S.E.2d 6, 11 (\u201cThe defendant may not change his position from that taken at trial to obtain a \u2018steadier mount\u2019 on appeal.\u201d) (quoting State v. Benson, 323 N.C. 318, 322, 372 S.E.2d 517, 519 (1988)), appeal dismissed, disc. review denied, 329 N.C. 504, 407 S.E.2d 550 (1991).\nWe now consider whether the trial court applied the correct standard to the constitutional violation Defendant has preserved.\nA criminal defendant\u2019s right to confront the witnesses and evidence against him is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and by Article 1, Section 23 of the North Carolina Constitution. A fundamental aspect of that right is that a jury\u2019s verdict must be based on evidence produced at trial, not on extrinsic evidence which has escaped the rules of evidence, supervision of the court, and other procedural safeguards of a fair trial.\nState v. Lyles, 94 N.C. App. 240, 247, 380 S.E.2d 390, 394 (1989). The Court in Lyles held that the trial court erred by placing the burden of showing prejudice from such a violation on defendant. Id. at 248, 380 S.E.2d at 395. It went on to determine whether the evidence presented at the hearing established that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 249, 380 S.E.2d at 395-96. The trial court here properly placed the burden on the State to rebut the presumption of prejudice. It went on to determine whether the State demonstrated that the violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, the trial court here applied the correct legal standard.\nDefendant next argues that the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt is not supported by the record. Defendant challenges the trial court\u2019s findings of fact Nos. 8 and 14. The trial court found as a fact:\n8. That Juror Breidenbach stated that on the second day of deliberations, Juror #4, Sarah Bumgarner, told the rest of the jurors that she had looked up the drug Narcan on the internet and that it had no effect on the body as to alcohol content. Juror Bumgarner did not tell the other jurors what website she read, who the author of the information was, what date the information was published, or any other details about the information.\nDefendant alleges that no evidence supports the Trial Court\u2019s finding of fact No. 8 that Bumgarner did not share other details with jurors about the nature and content of the information she unlawfully researched. The following portion of Breidenbach\u2019s testimony is competent evidence to support the finding:\nTHE COURT: Where did she say this information came from?\nMS. BREIDENBACH: The Internet.\nTHE COURT: Anything more specific than that?\nMS. BREIDENBACH: No; . . .\nDefendant also argues that the evidence does not support the trial court\u2019s finding of fact No. 14. The trial court there found:\n14. That Defense counsel told the jury in his opening statement that the Defendant was given a drug called Narcan which increased his blood-alcohol level. The Defense presented no witnesses or other evidence to support the contention that Narcan increases a person\u2019s (or increased this Defendant\u2019s) blood-alcohol content. In fact, the State presented at least three witnesses who testified about the effects, or lack of effects, of Narcan. Paul Glover testified for the State that he had years of experience in the field of alcohol-testing of the breath and blood. Mr. Glover testified that Narcan has no effect whatsoever on the blood-alcohol level of a person. Mr. Glover listed the ingredients of Narcan and noted that alcohol was not an ingredient. Medic Randall Burch testified for the State that Narcan has no effect on the blood-alcohol level of a person. Forensic chemist Jennifer Mills testified for the State that she had thirty years experience in the field and she had never seen, read, or heard anything about Narcan affecting a person\u2019s blood-alcohol level. All were cross-examined by the defense, and their testimony as to Narcan on cross-examination was consistent with their testimony on direct examination.\nDefendant takes issue with that part of the finding that states that paramedic Burch testified that Narcan has no effect on the blood-alcohol level of a person, and that Mills testified that she had never seen, read, or heard anything about Narcan affecting blood-alcohol level. The following excerpt from Defendant\u2019s cross-examination is competent evidence to support the finding with regard to Mills:\nQ: And you will acknowledge that indeed there could be medicines that could be given to the Defendant that could be injected or placed into his veins that could increase the blood/alcohol content of his blood, is that correct?\nA: No, sir. I am not aware of that.\nQ: I am not asking you if you are aware of it. I am asking you that there can be certain medicines that can be given that would increase the alcohol content of someone\u2019s blood?\nA: In my opinion, I don\u2019t know of any.\nWhile Burch testified that Narcan does not contain any alcohol, Defendant is correct that Burch did not say explicitly that Narcan has no effect on blood-alcohol level. It does not follow, however, that the trial court\u2019s disposition of the MAR was erroneous. We must determine whether this error affected the trial court\u2019s conclusions of law.\nDefendant argues that the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt is erroneous in law. The trial court concluded:\n6. That there is no reasonable possibility that the mentioning of an internet finding by one juror, who gave no additional details about the information, such as the name of the website, the name of the author of the material, or the date of its publication, could have had an effect on the hypothetical \u201caverage juror.\u201d Even if all of the omitted information had been shared, there is no reasonable possibility that this extraneous information could have had an effect on the average juror in light of the overwhelming evidence presented by the State on the issue of Narcan and its lack of effect on a person\u2019s blood-alcohol level and in light of the lack of any evidence to the contrary. Further, the evidence of the defendant\u2019s guilt was overwhelming. Therefore, the State has shown that this constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is not entitled to a new trial or any other relief based on this allegation.\nDefendant asserts that the State\u2019s evidence that Narcan has no effect on a person\u2019s blood-alcohol level was not overwhelming. Although Defendant is correct that Glover\u2019s testimony should not have been allowed, we have determined above (in section V) that Glover\u2019s testimony was cumulative of other admissible evidence. Other evidence showed that Narcan has no effect on blood-alcohol content. Defendant apparently does not disagree that there was a \u201clack of any evidence to the contrary.\u201d\nDefendant argues vigorously that the evidence was not overwhelming, either with regard to his guilt or to the issue of Narcan in particular. We do not consider this determination dispositive. The question is whether Defendant was prejudiced by a violation of his right to have evidence presented at his trial. Lyles, 94 N.C. App. at 247, 380 S.E.2d at 394. In light of the evidence presented by the State\u2019s witnesses on the issue of Narcan\u2019s effects and the lack of Defendant\u2019s evidence to the contrary, there is no reasonable possibility that the extraneous information could have had an effect on the average juror. We hold that the trial court did not err in its conclusion of law. The trial court\u2019s denial of Defendant\u2019s Motion for Appropriate Relief is affirmed.\nNo prejudicial error at trial.\nDenial of Defendant\u2019s MAR affirmed.\nChief Judge MARTIN and Judge STEPHENS concur.\n. State\u2019s Exhibit No. 39 includes certified copies of Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1984), Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1994), and Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (Supp. 1998). State\u2019s Exhibit No. 40 includes a certified copy of the current statute, Ala. Code \u00a7 32-5A-191 (1999).\n. Glover\u2019s qualifications, including his current occupation as branch head and research scientist at Forensic Test for Alcohol and his educational background, cover nearly two pages of the transcript.\n. It is moreover beyond the scope of our review. \u201cQuestions of credibility and the weight to be accorded the evidence remain in the province of the finder of facts.\u201d Scott v. Scott, 336 N.C. 284, 291, 442 S.E.2d 493, 497 (1994).", "type": "majority", "author": "WYNN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Jess D. Mekeel, for the State.", "Appellate Defender Staples Hughes, by Assistant Appellate Defender Daniel R. Pollitt, for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. MERVIN VERRON ARMSTRONG\n(No. COA09-1276)\n(Filed 20 April 2010)\n1. Constitutional Law\u2014 double jeopardy \u2014 second-degree murder and DWI \u2014 evidence of malice\nDefendant\u2019s conviction and sentencing for DWI and second-degree murder did not violate double jeopardy principles, applying State v. McAllister, 138 N.C. App. 252. There was evidence that defendant drove while impaired and while his license was revoked after prior convictions for driving while impaired, so that there was evidence of malice other than the impaired driving in this case. Although defendant argued that the DWI was an element of second-degree murder in this case, the trial judge correctly instructed the jury that they could not find defendant guilty of second-degree murder without also finding malice.\n2. Criminal Law\u2014 driving while license revoked \u2014 instruction\nThere was no prejudicial error where the trial court erroneously instructed the jury that the State had proved defendant\u2019s knowledge of suspension of his driver\u2019s license, but immediately afterward correctly instructed the jury that it must return a verdict of not guilty if the State had not proved notice beyond a reasonable doubt. Viewing the instruction as a whole, the lapsus linguae did not implicitly direct a verdict of guilty against defendant.\n3. Appeal and Error\u2014 preservation of issues \u2014 insufficient evidence \u2014 no motion to dismiss at trial\nDefendant did not preserve for appeal an argument that there was insufficient evidence of the knowledge requirement in a prosecution for driving with a revoked license where defendant did not move at trial for a dismissal of the charge.\n4. Sentencing\u2014 prior record points \u2014 out-of-state convictions\nThe trial court did not erroneously assign prior record points to out-of-state convictions where defendant had three driving under the influence convictions in Alabama. The trial court concluded that the Alabama offenses were substantially similar to the DWI provisions in the North Carolina statutes.\n5. Evidence\u2014 expert testimony \u2014 no notice in discovery \u2014 no prejudice\nThe trial court erred by allowing a witness to give expert testimony on the ingredients and effect of Narcan in a prosecution for second-degree murder and DWI. Based on testimony regarding the witness\u2019s qualifications and on the substance of his opinion, the witness provided expert testimony even though the State did not properly notify defendant during discovery that it intended to offer the witness as an expert. However, the error was harmless in light of the fact that the State presented sufficient evidence of malice beyond defendant\u2019s high blood-alcohol level and in light of the fact that the evidence was cumulative.\n6. Appeal and Error\u2014 independent juror investigation \u2014 constitutional theory not raised below \u2014 not preserved for appeal\nThe trial court did not err by denying defendant\u2019s motion for appropriate relief where a juror came forward after the trial to indicate that another juror had investigated evidence on the Internet. Although defendant contended that he was denied his constitutional right to a jury of twelve and that this was reversible error per se, he did not raise the issue at trial or preserve it for appellate review.\n7. Constitutional Law\u2014 right to confront witnesses \u2014 independent juror investigation \u2014 standard\nThe trial court applied the correct standard to an alleged violation of the right to confront witnesses by placing the burden on the State to rebut the presumption of prejudice and then determining whether the evidence was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.\n8.-Criminal Law\u2014 juror misconduct \u2014 independent investigation \u2014 harmless error\nThe trial court did not err in a prosecution for driving while impaired and for second-degree murder by concluding that juror misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in light of the evidence presented by the State\u2019s witnesses. There is no reasonable possibility that extraneous information could have had an effect on the average juror.\nAppeal by Defendant from judgments entered 9 December 2008 and order entered 19 February 2009 by Judge David S. Cayer in Superior Court, Mecklenburg County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 8 March 2010.\nAttorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Jess D. Mekeel, for the State.\nAppellate Defender Staples Hughes, by Assistant Appellate Defender Daniel R. Pollitt, for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0399-01", "first_page_order": 427, "last_page_order": 448 }