{ "id": 4277923, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. BRYANT LAMONT BOYD", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Boyd", "decision_date": "2011-08-02", "docket_number": "No. COA10-1072", "first_page": "294", "last_page": "307", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "214 N.C. App. 294" } ], "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": "672 S.E.2d 700", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12642779 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "706" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/672/0700-01" ] }, { "cite": "620 S.E.2d 903", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12634259 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "906-07" }, { "page": "909", "parenthetical": "\"The instruction, then, in the absence of a final not guilty mandate, essentially pitted one theory of first degree murder against the other, and im/permissibly suggested that the jury should find that the killing was perpetrated by defendant on the basis of at least one of the theories.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/620/0903-01" ] }, { "cite": "647 S.E.2d 440", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12638955 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/647/0440-01" ] }, { "cite": "656 S.E.2d 632", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12640360 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "635" }, { "page": "635", "parenthetical": "reviewing \"defendant's unanimity argument despite the lack of any objection at trial\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/656/0632-01" ] }, { "cite": "346 S.E.2d 417", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "420" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 532", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4778082 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "537-38" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0532-01" ] }, { "cite": "254 S.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "5-6" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "297 N.C. 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567060 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "127-28" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/297/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "349 S.E.2d 881", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "882-83", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Jolly, 297 N.C. 121, 127-28, 254 S.E.2d 1, 5-6 (1979)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "83 N.C. App. 312", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8358480 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "314", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Jolly, 297 N.C. 121, 127-28, 254 S.E.2d 1, 5-6 (1979)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/83/0312-01" ] }, { "cite": "157 S.E.2d 335", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "345" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "271 N.C. 646", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566320 ], "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "659" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/271/0646-01" ] }, { "cite": "558 S.E.2d 97", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "106" }, { "page": "107" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 117", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 219899 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "131" }, { "page": "133" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0117-01" ] }, { "cite": "310 S.E.2d 315", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 118", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2404419 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "125" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0118-01" ] }, { "cite": "567 S.E.2d 449", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Boykin, 310 N.C. 118, 125, 310 S.E.2d 315, 319 (1984)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "152 N.C. App. 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9250100 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "367", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Boykin, 310 N.C. 118, 125, 310 S.E.2d 315, 319 (1984)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/152/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "195 N.C. App. 327", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4164546 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "335" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/195/0327-01" ] }, { "cite": "620 S.E.2d 909", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "174 N.C. App. 289", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8351857 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/174/0289-01" ] }, { "cite": "423 S.E.2d 458", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "461" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "333 N.C. 52", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2550426 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "56-57" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/333/0052-01" ] }, { "cite": "83 N.C. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11278939 ], "year": 1880, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "628" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/83/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "579 S.E.2d 408", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "413", "parenthetical": "\"Since we hold that defendant is entitled to a new trial on the . . . charge[] which served as the 'substantive felony' underlying his conviction for having habitual felon status, defendant's habitual felon conviction must be vacated.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 N.C. App. 472", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9187259 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "479", "parenthetical": "\"Since we hold that defendant is entitled to a new trial on the . . . charge[] which served as the 'substantive felony' underlying his conviction for having habitual felon status, defendant's habitual felon conviction must be vacated.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/157/0472-01" ] }, { "cite": "537 S.E.2d 222", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that the State did not meet its burden of demonstrating that constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt where the State did not address the issue in its brief" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "140 N.C. App. 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12130171 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that the State did not meet its burden of demonstrating that constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt where the State did not address the issue in its brief" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/140/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "462 S.E.2d 225", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "227-28" }, { "page": "228" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "341 N.C. 695", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 793127 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "700-01" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/341/0695-01" ] }, { "cite": "331 S.E.2d 652", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "659" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "314 N.C. 28", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4689817 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "39" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/314/0028-01" ] }, { "cite": "184 N.C. App. 553", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8186977 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "575" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/184/0553-01" ] }, { "cite": "188 N.C. App. 735", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4156243 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "739" }, { "page": "739" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/188/0735-01" ] }, { "cite": "610 S.E.2d 245", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "250", "parenthetical": "\"[D]efendant's forcible movement of the victim from the front of her home to the bedroom was a sufficient asportation to support kidnapping . . . .\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "169 N.C. App. 285", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8469631 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "291", "parenthetical": "\"[D]efendant's forcible movement of the victim from the front of her home to the bedroom was a sufficient asportation to support kidnapping . . . .\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/169/0285-01" ] }, { "cite": "580 S.E.2d 750", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "755", "parenthetical": "evidence tending to show a rape victim was forced down a hallway from one room to another was sufficient asportation to support a conviction for second-degree kidnapping" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "158 N.C. App. 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9186563 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "195", "parenthetical": "evidence tending to show a rape victim was forced down a hallway from one room to another was sufficient asportation to support a conviction for second-degree kidnapping" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/158/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "211 S.E.2d 830", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "24 N.C. App. 598", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8553667 ], "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/24/0598-01" ] }, { "cite": "243 S.E.2d 338", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "351", "parenthetical": "\" [I]t was clearly the intent of the Legislature to make resort to a tape measure . . . unnecessary in determining whether the crime of kidnapping has been committed.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "294 N.C. 503", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8574036 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "522-23", "parenthetical": "\" [I]t was clearly the intent of the Legislature to make resort to a tape measure . . . unnecessary in determining whether the crime of kidnapping has been committed.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/294/0503-01" ] }, { "cite": "393 S.E.2d 811", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "816" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "327 N.C. 210", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2498848 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "219" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/327/0210-01" ] }, { "cite": "287 S.E.2d 827", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "831", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "305 N.C. 274", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567535 ], "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "279", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/305/0274-01" ] }, { "cite": "669 S.E.2d 290", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "294", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "362 N.C. 628", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150837 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "632-33", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/362/0628-01" ] }, { "cite": "675 S.E.2d 144", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "149" }, { "page": "149" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "196 N.C. App. 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4166318 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "466" }, { "page": "466" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/196/0458-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1260, "char_count": 33231, "ocr_confidence": 0.724, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.446063651887353e-08, "percentile": 0.27874752543488057 }, "sha256": "2d7f79474ebc1405d169d3531492fe51bb26be7e021e6d11ae991891a4634b2b", "simhash": "1:876a607866ae08f5", "word_count": 5495 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:33:33.584356+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges STROUD and THIGPEN concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. BRYANT LAMONT BOYD" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "HUNTER, JR., Robert N., Judge.\nBryant Lamont Boyd (\u201cDefendant\u201d) appeals from his convictions for first degree burglary, second degree kidnapping, sexual battery, and attaining habitual felon status. Defendant alleges the trial court erred by (1) instructing the jury on a theory of second degree kidnapping that was not charged in the indictment or supported by evidence; (2) instructing the jury on a theory of sexual battery Defendant claims was unsupported by evidence; (3) deviating from the pattern jury instructions on the first degree burglary charge; (4) overruling Defendant\u2019s objection to, and failing to intervene ex mero mo tu during, the State\u2019s closing argument; (5) allowing Defendant to be shackled in view of the jury during the habitual felon stage of the trial; and (6) permitting the introduction of evidence in the habitual felon phase Defendant claims was irrelevant and impermissibly prejudicial. For the reasons set forth below, we find no error in issues two through four. We find error with the trial court\u2019s jury instructions on kidnapping and order Defendant\u2019s conviction vacated and remand for a new trial. As this kidnapping conviction was one of the predicate felonies at issue in Defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction, we must vacate and remand that judgment as well. As a result, we do not reach the last two issues raised by Defendant on appeal.\nI. Factual & Procedural History\nThe State\u2019s evidence tended to show the following. Pinky Shah moved to the United States from India in February 2008. In 2009, she and her husband moved into the Colony Apartments in Chapel Hill. On an April evening, Shah returned home after leaving work and went to bed. Shah did not testify as to whether she closed or locked the door, but she did tell police that she believed she locked the door.\nAccording to her trial testimony, Shah was awoken around 3:00 a.m. by the noise of someone entering her apartment. She initially assumed it was her husband, whom she expected home late from work. After lying in bed for a period of about ten to fifteen minutes, she got up and walked towards the living room from the bedroom. Her bedroom opened directly into the living room; there was no hallway. Instead of finding her husband, she saw Defendant sitting on the couch. Shah had seen Defendant prior to that night on a few occasions, usually hanging around with some other men in front of a nearby apartment. She testified her husband would sometimes say hello and make small talk with these men:\nBefore she could say anything, Defendant rushed toward Shah, who was standing just outside the entrance to the doorway of her bedroom, and said, \u201cDon\u2019t make a noise. I\u2019m not here to hurt you.\u201d Defendant repeatedly asked Shah if they could talk in the bedroom, but she insisted they stay put. Defendant then said, \u201cAll right, we will talk [in the living room].\u201d Defendant told Shah she would have to sit on his lap. Shah attempted to move towards the front door to leave, but Defendant blocked her movements and pushed her back. Defendant asserted, \u201cNo. Now that I\u2019m here, I\u2019m going to get something out of you.\u201d\nShah walked about ten feet from the area in front of the bedroom doorway to a chair in the living room. Defendant \u201cmade\u201d her sit on his lap, according to Shah\u2019s testimony (it is unclear how Defendant forced her to cross the room before she sat on his lap). Defendant said, \u201cI\u2019m going [to] sit here and you [sic] going to sit on my lap and you going to give me a hand job.\u201d At some point Defendant stated, \u201cIf you don\u2019t want me to rape you, you will do this.\u201d Defendant unzipped his pants, grabbed Shah\u2019s hand, and forced her to touch his penis. Shah rubbed Defendant's penis for a long period of time while he attempted to grope her; eventually, he ejaculated on her hands and shirt. Shah testified that, at some point, Defendant must have been successful in his attempts to grope her. After this occurred, Defendant kept Shah pinned on his lap. Defendant made Shah write her phone number on a scrap of paper torn from an envelope, stating, \u201cI hope it\u2019s the right number because I\u2019m going to call you later today.\u201d\nDefendant then left through the front door. As he was leaving, Defendant re-affixed the screen of the kitchen window, saying, \u201cI\u2019m going to put this screen back on for you and make sure no one else breaks into your apartment.\u201d\nAfter Defendant left, Shah called her husband and her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law advised her to call the police, but Shah did not call emergency services at that time. When Shah\u2019s husband returned to the apartment, he dialed 911, but Shah hung up on the dispatcher. The dispatcher called back, and Shah gave a statement of the event to police.\nChapel Hill Police arrived at the Shah residence later that morning to investigate. Shah told police about the incident and gave a description of the assailant. After obtaining this information, they developed Defendant as a suspect.\nOfficer David Britt of the Chapel Hill Police Department went to Defendant\u2019s apartment, which was in the same complex as Shah\u2019s. The door was answered by Regina Baldwin, Defendant\u2019s sister. As Officer Britt looked inside the apartment, he saw a pile of clothes that matched Shah\u2019s description of the clothes worn by the intruder. Defendant claimed the clothes as his, and permitted Officer Britt to take a picture of the garments. Officer Britt then left Defendant\u2019s apartment, and showed Shah the picture he had just taken. Shah stated the clothes could have been the ones she saw on the assailant, although she admitted it was dark during the incident.\nWhen Officer Britt returned to Defendant\u2019s apartment, he overheard Baldwin telling Defendant \u201cthat a woman had been sexually assaulted in addition to the break-in.\u201d Defendant replied, \u201cYeah, I know.\u201d Baldwin asked Defendant how he knew, and Defendant indicated that he had heard Officer Britt tell Baldwin this fact. Officer Britt told Defendant that he had never said anything of that sort to Baldwin and asked Defendant how he knew of the sexual assault. Defendant walked over to a couch, sat down, looked at the floor and replied, \u201cNevermind. Just forget it.\u201d\nOfficer Britt asked for permission to search the home from Baldwin, who declined to consent. Another officer had everyone inside come out of the apartment in order to \u201cfreeze\u201d the scene before applying for a search warrant. Defendant attempted to bring a coat with him that was on the floor. After being told to leave the coat, Defendant asked to pull a lighter out from the pocket. Instead of a lighter, an officer saw Defendant remove a scrap of paper from the pocket, which contained Shah\u2019s phone number. Finding this to be consistent with Shah\u2019s description of the events, the officers placed Defendant under arrest.\nDefendant subsequently waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement in which he claimed to have called Shah earlier on 18 April \u2014 arguing the encounter was consensual. Police later found no record of any phone calls received by Shah of the time or length described by Defendant. Subsequently, police found in Shah\u2019s home the remainder of the envelope from which the paper containing her phone number was torn. Defendant did not put on any evidence. Defendant\u2019s counsel in closing argument acknowledged that Defendant had been untruthful with police, but maintained that the encounter on the night in question was consensual.\nDefendant was convicted of first degree burglary, second degree kidnapping, and misdemeanor sexual battery. Defendant was later found to have attained habitual felon status and was sentenced to 121 to 155 months imprisonment. Defendant gave timely notice of appeal.\nII. Jurisdiction\nWe have jurisdiction over Defendant\u2019s appeal of right. See N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1444(a) (2009) (\u201cA defendant who has entered a plea of not guilty to a criminal charge, and who has been found guilty of a crime, is entitled to appeal as a matter of right when final judgment has been entered.\u201d); N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7A-27(b) (2009) (stating appeal shall be to this Court).\nIII. Analysis\nDefendant raises several issues on appeal, which we address in turn.\nA. Jury Instruction \u2014 Second Degree Kidnapping\nDefendant first argues the trial court erroneously instructed the jury with respect to the second degree kidnapping charge. Specifically, Defendant contends the trial court erred by instructing the jury on a theory of second degree kidnapping that was (1) unsupported by the evidence presented at trial and (2) not charged in the indictment. We agree.\nWe turn first to Defendant\u2019s claim that the trial court erred by instructing on a theory of kidnapping that was not supported by the evidence presented at trial. At the conclusion of Defendant\u2019s trial, the jury was instructed it could convict Defendant if it found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he \u201cconfined or restrained or removed a person from one place to another.\u201d Defendant asserts that, as a result of this instruction, he was denied his state constitutional right to a unanimous jury verdict.\nAs a question of law, this Court reviews the sufficiency of jury instructions de novo. State v. Osorio, 196 N.C. App. 458, 466, 675 S.E.2d 144, 149 (2009). Under de novo review, this Court \u201cconsiders the matter anew and freely substitutes its own judgment for that of\u2019 the trial court. State v. Williams, 362 N.C. 628, 632-33, 669 S.E.2d 290, 294 (2008) (internal quotation marks omitted) (citation omitted).\nThe Constitution of North Carolina provides that \u201c[n]o person shall be convicted of any crime but by the unanimous verdict of a jury in open court.\u201d N.C. Const, art. 1, \u00a7 24; see also N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1237(b) (2009) (reiterating and codifying this right). Consequently, \u201cjurors must unanimously agree that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt each and every essential element of the crime charged.\u201d State v. Jordan, 305 N.C. 274, 279, 287 S.E.2d 827, 831 (1982) (emphasis added). When a trial court \u201cerroneously submits the case to the jury on alternative theories, one of which is not supported by the evidence,\u201d and \u201cit cannot be discerned from the record upon which theory or theories the jury relied [on] in arriving at its verdict, the error entitles [the] defendant to a new trial.\u201d State v. Lynch, 327 N.C. 210, 219, 393 S.E.2d 811, 816 (1990).\nNo evidence was presented at trial indicating Defendant removed Shah from her living room. According to Shah\u2019s testimony, Defendant initially insisted on moving to Shah\u2019s bedroom, but eventually agreed to stay in the living room.\nThe State argues that there was evidence of removal presented at Defendant\u2019s trial. In support of this assertion, the State points to two portions of Shah\u2019s testimony in which she describes Defendant forcing her to sit on his lap in a nearby chair. The State argues this constitutes sufficient evidence of removal, and therefore Defendant\u2019s argument is factually deficient. We find the State\u2019s argument unpersuasive. It is unclear how Defendant \u201cforced\u201d Shah to accompany him to the chair. And even assuming there is sufficient evidence of actual or constructive force, we conclude the asportation in this case was insufficient to constitute removal.\nWe acknowledge that there is no particular requirement that a defendant move a victim a certain distance in order to support a charge of kidnapping under a theory of removal, and our Supreme Court has specifically rejected the notion that removal must be \u201csubstantial.\u201d See State v. Fulcher, 294 N.C. 503, 522-23, 243 S.E.2d 338, 351 (1978) (\u201c [I]t was clearly the intent of the Legislature to make resort to a tape measure . . . unnecessary in determining whether the crime of kidnapping has been committed.\u201d). Therefore, the State is correct in citing State v. Owen, 24 N.C. App. 598, 211 S.E.2d 830 (1975), for the proposition that moving a victim a short distance could constitute kidnapping in a proper case. This, however, is not such a case.\nWe do not discount the notion that evidence of removal could be present in a case where a victim was moved a distance equivalent to the space between where Shah was standing and the chair. However, we cannot conclude that the evidence presented at trial, or any fair inference stemming therefrom, suggests Shah was \u201cremoved\u201d in this case. According to her own testimony, the entirety of Shah\u2019s encounter with Defendant occurred within the confines of her living room, and certainly evidence was presented as to Defendant confining and restraining her. Defendant attempted to talk Shah into accompanying him to the bedroom, but she refused. Interpreting Shah\u2019s testimony as supporting the assertion Defendant \u201cremoved\u201d her is not plausible.\nThis conclusion is consistent with this Court\u2019s recent decisions in the home invasion context. We have recently held that a kidnapping victim may be \u201cremoved\u201d from one area of their home to another. See, e.g., State v. Mangum, 158 N.C. App. 187, 195, 580 S.E.2d 750, 755 (2003) (evidence tending to show a rape victim was forced down a hallway from one room to another was sufficient asportation to support a conviction for second-degree kidnapping); State v. Blizzard, 169 N.C. App. 285, 291, 610 S.E.2d 245, 250 (2005) (\u201c[D]efendant\u2019s forcible movement of the victim from the front of her home to the bedroom was a sufficient asportation to support kidnapping . . . .\u201d). But these cases are distinguishable from the matter at bar. Both Mangum and Blizzard involved a victim being \u201cremoved\u201d from one section of their home to another. Here, however, Shah testified Defendant made her sit on his lap in a chair in the same room, merely a few feet from where she was standing. We hold that, under these facts, where the victim was moved a short distance of several feet, and was not transported from one room to another, the victim was not \u201cremoved\u201d within the meaning of our kidnapping statute.\nIn the absence of any evidence of removal, the presence of the instruction regarding removal provided the jury an illegitimate mode of conviction. Since we cannot discern from the record whether all twelve jurors convicted Defendant on the instructed theories that were supported by evidence (\u201cconfinement or restraint\u201d), we hold Defendant\u2019s right to a unanimous jury verdict was violated by virtue of the inclusion of the \u201cremoval\u201d instruction.\nThe State argues that, in light of Defendant\u2019s failure to object to the instruction at trial, Defendant is limited to plain error review. However, our courts have carved out an exception to the general rule that, \u201cwhen a defendant fails to object to errors committed by the trial court during the trial, [the defendant] is precluded from raising the issue on appeal.\u201d State v. Davis, 188 N.C. App. 735, 739, 656 S.E.2d 632, 635 (2008). \u201cA defendant\u2019s failure to object at trial to a possible violation of his right to a unanimous jury verdict does not waive his right to appeal on the issue, and it may be raised for the first time on appeal.\u201d State v. Mueller, 184 N.C. App. 553, 575, 647 S.E.2d 440, 456 (2007); accord State v. Ashe, 314 N.C. 28, 39, 331 S.E.2d 652, 659 (1985) (stating that, despite the \u201cgeneral rule\u201d that a \u201cdefendant\u2019s failure to object to alleged errors by the trial court operates to preclude raising the error on appeal,\u201d where the alleged \u201cerror violates defendant\u2019s right to a trial by a jury of twelve, defendant\u2019s failure to object is not fatal to his right to raise the question on appeal\u201d). Therefore, Defendant\u2019s failure to object to the instruction at trial does not preclude this Court from reviewing the issue unbound by the constraints of plain error analysis. See Davis, 188 N.C. App. at 739, 656 S.E.2d at 635 (reviewing \u201cdefendant\u2019s unanimity argument despite the lack of any objection at trial\u201d).\nHaving determined this issue preserved, we must still consider whether Defendant is entitled to a new trial as a result of this error. Where an error implicates a defendant\u2019s right to a unanimous jury verdict under our Constitution, the State bears the burden of demonstrating beyond a reasonable doubt that the error was harmless. State v. Nelson, 341 N.C. 695, 700-01, 462 S.E.2d 225, 227-28 (1995). This is a heavy burden. \u201cAn error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if it did not contribute to the defendant\u2019s conviction.\u201d Id. at 701, 462 S.E.2d at 228.\nThe State fails to make any argument on appeal that the presence of these instructions on \u201cremoval\u201d was \u201charmless beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d Consequently, the State has failed to meet its burden of persuasion. See State v. Pinchback, 140 N.C. App. 512, 520-21 & n.4, 537 S.E.2d 222, 227 & n.4 (2000) (holding that the State did not meet its burden of demonstrating that constitutional violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt where the State did not address the issue in its brief).\nAccordingly, Defendant is entitled to a new trial on the kidnapping charges. Because this conviction formed part of the basis for Defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction, we also vacate Defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction. See State v. Jones, 157 N.C. App. 472, 479, 579 S.E.2d 408, 413 (2003) (\u201cSince we hold that defendant is entitled to a new trial on the . . . charge[] which served as the \u2018substantive felony\u2019 underlying his conviction for having habitual felon status, defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction must be vacated.\u201d).\nB. Jury Instruction \u2014 Sexual Battery\nDefendant next alleges the trial court similarly erred in instructing the jury on a theory of sexual battery not supported by the evidence presented at trial. We disagree.\nAt trial, the court instructed the jury it could convict Defendant of sexual battery if it found he touched \u201cthe sexual organ, breasts, groin [or] buttock[s], of any person\u201d or if he touched another person with his own \u201csexual organ, breasts, groin, or buttocks.\u201d Defendant claims no evidence was presented at trial suggesting he touched Shah\u2019s \u201csexual organ, breasts, groin, or buttocks.\u201d Echoing his kidnapping argument, Defendant contends the jury was instructed on a theory of the case unsupported by evidence, and therefore he is entitled to a new trial on this charge. We disagree.\nAt trial, Shah testified that Defendant attempted to touch her \u201ceverywhere,\u201d and that although she could not remember, \u201c[t]here were times when he must have been successful\u201d in attempting to touch her breasts and groin. She also testified that Defendant forced her to touch his penis. There was evidence presented sufficient to instruct the jury on both theories. Defendant\u2019s argument, to the extent he has any, goes to the weight of the evidence presented to the jury, not its existence. It is well settled that \u201c[t]he weight of evidence is always a question for the jury.\u201d State v. Keath, 83 N.C. 626, 628, (1880). We find no error.\nC. Instruction \u2014 First Degree Burglary\nDefendant next alleges the trial court erred by \u201cfailing to include a not guilty final mandate\u201d in the jury\u2019s instruction on first degree burglary, and as a result he is entitled to a new trial on that charge. We disagree.\nDuring the charge conference, the trial court indicated without objection that it would instruct the jury on first degree burglary, with no lesser included offenses, in accordance with pattern jury instruction 214.10. See N.C.P.I._ Crim. 214.10 (2008). However, the trial court did not utilize verbatim the language outlined in pattern instruction 214.10. Instead, the court appears to have instructed the jury using language that would have typically been followed by further instructions regarding lesser included offenses. However, no such lesser included instructions were given. Defendant argues this did not provide the jury with a \u201cfinal not guilty mandate.\u201d\nDefendant\u2019s trial counsel offered no objection with regard to this variance. Accordingly, the State argues this Court should adopt a plain error analysis in evaluating Defendant\u2019s claim. However, our Supreme Court has held that a defendant need not object to preserve the issue of a variance when the Defendant agreed to the use of a particular instruction. See State v. Keel, 333 N.C. 52, 56-57, 423 S.E.2d 458, 461 (1992) (holding that \u201c[t]he State\u2019s request [to use the pattern instructions], approved by the defendant and agreed to by the trial court, satisfied the requirements ... of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure and preserved this question for review on appeal\u201d where the trial court varied from the agreed upon instructions). Once again, we review a trial court\u2019s decisions regarding jury instructions de novo. Osorio, 196 N.C. App. at 466, 675 S.E.2d at 149.\nInstead of the final mandate provided by the pattern instructions, jurors heard the following:\nNow if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the alleged date the defendant broke into and entered an occupied dwelling house without the owner\u2019s or tenant\u2019s consent during the nighttime and that at that time intended to commit second degree kidnapping and/or second degree rape, it would be your duty to return a verdict of guilty of first degree burglary. If you do not so find or you have a reasonable doubt as to one or more of these things, you will not return a verdict of guilty of first degree burglary.\u201d\nDefendant argues he was prejudiced by the trial court\u2019s use of this instruction as opposed to the pattern instruction, which would have directed the jury \u201cit would be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty\u201d should they have reasonable doubt as to any element.\nDefendant relies on State v. McHone, 174 N.C. App. 289, 620 S.E.2d 903 (2005), to support his assertion. In McHone, the trial court similarly failed to provide the jury with the preferred \u201cnot guilty\u201d mandate in its instructions on first degree murder. Id. at 292-93, 620 S.E.2d at 906-07. During the jury charge, the court instructed the jury in a manner that seemed to infer their only choice was which theory (felony murder or malice) to choose in returning a guilty verdict. Id. at 297, 620 S.E.2d at 909 (\u201cThe instruction, then, in the absence of a final not guilty mandate, essentially pitted one theory of first degree murder against the other, and im/permissibly suggested that the jury should find that the killing was perpetrated by defendant on the basis of at least one of the theories.\u201d) (emphasis in original). In addition, the verdict sheet provided to the jury did not contain a space or option for them to indicate a \u201cnot guilty\u201d verdict. Id. at 298, 620 S.E.2d 909. This Court found plain error and vacated the defendant\u2019s sentence. Id. at 292, 620 S.E.2d at 906.\nMcHone is distinguishable from this case. Here, the jury was instructed explicitly that it could not return a guilty verdict should it have reasonable doubt as to any of the elements of first degree burglary. Unlike McHone, all of the verdict sheets given to the jury provided them the option of returning a not guilty verdict. The trial court polled the jury after having read the verdict and found the jury voted unanimously to convict on the burglary charge.\nWe acknowledge that \u201cthe preferred method of jury instruction is the use of the approved guidelines of the North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions.\u201d State v. Tyson, 195 N.C. App. 327, 335, 672 S.E.2d 700, 706 (2009). However, \u201c[i]t is well established that \u2018the trial court\u2019s charge to the jury must be construed contextually and isolated portions of it will not be held prejudicial error when the charge as a whole is correct.\u2019 \u201d State v. Hornsby, 152 N.C. App. 358, 367, 567 S.E.2d 449, 456 (2002) (quoting State v. Boykin, 310 N.C. 118, 125, 310 S.E.2d 315, 319 (1984)). The jury here was given a clear instruction, and there is nothing in the record to suggest jurors were confused as to the conditions under which they could return an acquittal. Variance from the pattern instructions notwithstanding, we conclude Defendant was not prejudiced by the instructions given to the jury. Accordingly, we find no error.\nD. The State\u2019s Closing Argument\nDefendant next alleges the trial court twice erred during the State\u2019s closing argument. First, Defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion in overruling his objection to a portion of the State\u2019s argument. Defendant also claims the court erred by not intervening ex mero motu during a subsequent portion of that same argument. We disagree.\nDefendant objected to the following portions of the State\u2019s closing argument:\nSo let\u2019s go back to first degree burglary. The first element was breaking and an entry by the defendant. We know he was there because he was in the apartment. Was there a break-in? Yes, he got into that front door. She left it open. She made a mistake that night.\nShe said on her \u2014 in her testimony \u2014 maybe I forgot to leave the front door open [sic].\nDefendant argues now, as he did then, that the evidence presented did not support either of these statements.\nWe review a trial court\u2019s decision to overrule an objection made during closing argument for an abuse of discretion. State v. Jones, 355 N.C. 117, 131, 558 S.E.2d 97, 106 (2002). In determining whether an abuse of discretion has occurred, we look first to whether the statements were improper, and then determine if they were \u201cof such a magnitude that their inclusion prejudiced [the] defendant, and thus should have been excluded by the trial court.\u201d Id. We note that typically counsel is given wide latitude in closing argument, provided \u201cthe liberty of argument [does not] degenerate into license.\u201d State v. Miller, 271 N.C. 646, 659, 157 S.E.2d 335, 345 (1967). As a general proposition, \u201c[arguments to a jury should be fair and based on the evidence or on that which may be properly inferred from the case.\u201d Id.\nUpon review of the record, we cannot conclude the statements at issue were necessarily improper, let alone prejudicial. Admittedly, no one testified as to how the assailant that night entered the Shah residence. Frankly, no individual who testified could have had the knowledge. However, Officer Britt testified Shah reported she had initially been awoken by what she thought was the sound of the front door opening, and Shah reiterated this fact in her own testimony. Therefore, one could infer that Defendant entered Shah\u2019s apartment through an unlocked front door, even in spite of the evidence presented of forced entry through the window. Without any explicit evidence of the method of entry, it was the State\u2019s prerogative to argue one theory over another, or both. Therefore, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Defendant\u2019s objection.\nDefendant also claims the trial court erred by not intervening ex mero motu during the following portion of the State\u2019s argument:\nJust to be clear, a break-in is making any sort of an opening in a dwelling house that allows you entry. And that can be by busting out a window. That can be by walking through an open door. But it\u2019s anything that causes an opening in that dwelling. Opening an unlocked door for a house that[] ain\u2019t yours is a break-in.\u201d\nDefendant argues this is a misstatement of the law, and that the trial court should have intervened, even absent an objection from Defendant\u2019s trial counsel. \u201cThe standard of review for assessing alleged improper closing arguments that fail to provoke timely objection from opposing counsel is whether the remarks were so grossly improper that the trial court committed reversible error by failing to intervene ex mero motu.\u201d Jones, 355 N.C. at 133, 558 S.E.2d at 107.\nIn North Carolina, the \u201cbreaking\u201d element of burglary is defined as \u201cany act of force, however slight, used to make an entrance \u2018through any usual or unusual place of ingress, whether open, partly open, or closed.\u2019 \u201d State v. Eldridge, 83 N.C. App. 312, 314, 349 S.E.2d 881, 882-83 (1986) (quoting State v. Jolly, 297 N.C. 121, 127-28, 254 S.E.2d 1, 5-6 (1979)). The State\u2019s articulation of the law was not so \u201cgrossly improper\u201d as to warrant reversal. Although perhaps imprecise, only the State\u2019s suggestion that \u201cwalking through an open door\u201d constitutes breaking gives us pause. If by \u201copen\u201d the State meant \u201cunlocked,\u201d then the statement is an accurate statement of the law. However, even if \u201copen\u201d can be construed as a synonym for \u201cajar,\u201d we cannot conclude such an isolated misstatement of the law was so \u201cgrossly improper as to warrant reversal,\u201d particularly in light of State\u2019s subsequent statement that a break-in is \u201canything that causes an opening in that dwelling.\u201d Accordingly, we find no error.\nE. Shackling\nDefendant next argues he was denied a fair trial by virtue of his visible shackling during the habitual felon phase of the trial. We do not address this argument because we vacate Defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction. On remand, the trial court should review our recent decision addressing shackling in State v. Stanley, No. COA10-1352, _ N.C. App. _, _. S.E.2d _ (July 19, 2011) (applying N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1031 (2009)).\nIV. Conclusion\nWe find no error with the trial court\u2019s instructions on the sexual battery and burglary charges. We find no error in the trial court\u2019s handling of the State\u2019s closing argument. We do, however, find error in Defendant\u2019s kidnapping conviction and grant him a new trial on that charge. Consequently, we also vacate Defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction.\nNo error in part; new trial in part; vacated in part; remanded.\nJudges STROUD and THIGPEN concur.\n. The State incorrectly contends this issue is not properly before this Court because it was not set forth in Defendant\u2019s proposed issues on appeal. See N.C. R. App. R 10(b) (\u201cProposed issues on appeal are to facilitate the preparation of the record on appeal and shall not limit the scope of the issues presented on appeal in an appellant\u2019s brief.\u201d).\n. Defendant was not indicted for the \u201cremoval\u201d element of kidnapping. \u201cIt is a well-established rule in [North Carolina] that it is error, generally prejudicial, for the trial judge to permit a jury to convict upon some abstract theory not supported by the bill of indictment.\u201d State v. Tucker, 317 N.C. 532, 537-38, 346 S.E.2d 417, 420 (1986). However, we need not reach the question of whether this necessitates a new trial.\n. We note that the North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions on second degree kidnapping contain brackets around each of these three theories. See N.C.P.I.-Crim. 210.30. These brackets are to indicate \u201c[alternative words or phrases\u201d and \u201conly the appropriate word is to be used.\u201d See Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges & Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Guide to the Use of This Book, in North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal Volume I, at xix (2010).", "type": "majority", "author": "HUNTER, JR., Robert N., Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General David L. Elliott and Agency Legal Specialist Brian C. Tarr, for the State.", "Appellate Defender Staples S. Hughes, by Assistant Appellate Defender Andrew DeSimone, for Defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. BRYANT LAMONT BOYD\nNo. COA10-1072\n(Filed 2 August 2011)\n1. Kidnapping \u2014 second-degree\u2014erroneous instruction \u2014 no evidence of removal\nThe trial court erred by including removal in its jury instruction for second-degree kidnapping. No evidence was presented at trial indicating defendant removed the victim from her living room. The State failed to meet its burden of demonstrating beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant\u2019s constitutional right to a unanimous jury verdict was not violated, and thus, defendant was entitled to a new trial on the kidnapping charges. Further, defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction was vacated because it was formed partially based on the kidnapping conviction.\n2. Sexual Offenses \u2014 sexual battery \u2014 instruction\nThe trial court did not err by allegedly instructing the jury on a theory of sexual battery not supported by the evidence. Defendant\u2019s argument went to the weight of the evidence and not its existence.\n3. Burglary and Unlawful Breaking or Entering \u2014 first-degree burglary \u2014 failure to include \u201cnot guilty\u201d final mandate\nThe trial court did not err by failing to include a \u201cnot guilty\u201d final mandate in the jury\u2019s instruction on first-degree burglary. The jury was instructed explicitly that it could not return a guilty verdict should it have reasonable doubt as to any of the elements of first-degree burglary.\n4. Criminal Law \u2014 prosecutor\u2019s argument \u2014 breaking into house\nThe trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling defendant\u2019s objection and by failing to intervene ex mero motu in a portion of the State\u2019s closing argument regarding an assailant\u2019s entry into the victim\u2019s house for first-degree burglary. Counsel is typically given wide latitude in closing arguments.\n5. Appeal and Error \u2014 appealability\u2014mootness\u2014shackles\u2014 conviction vacated\nAlthough defendant contended that he was denied a fair trial by virtue of his visible shackling during the habitual felon phase of a trial, this argument was not addressed because defendant\u2019s habitual felon conviction was vacated.\nAppeal by Defendant from judgment entered 14 April 2010 by Judge Abraham P. Jones in Orange County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 10 March 2011.\nAttorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General David L. Elliott and Agency Legal Specialist Brian C. Tarr, for the State.\nAppellate Defender Staples S. Hughes, by Assistant Appellate Defender Andrew DeSimone, for Defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0294-01", "first_page_order": 304, "last_page_order": 317 }