{ "id": 6767392, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. NEIL MATTHEW SARGENT", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Sargent", "decision_date": "2014-03-18", "docket_number": "No. COA13-482", "first_page": "96", "last_page": "106", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "233 N.C. App. 96" } ], "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": "357 S.E.2d 654", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "658" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "320 N.C. 64", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4726570 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "69" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/320/0064-01" ] }, { "cite": "528 S.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "12", "parenthetical": "\"A criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant's bad character. See State v. Gappins, 320 N.C. 64, 69, 357 S.E.2d 654, 658 (1987" }, { "page": "12", "parenthetical": "\"A criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant's bad character.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "351 N.C. 536", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 1155711 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "553", "parenthetical": "\"A criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant's bad character. See State v. Gappins, 320 N.C. 64, 69, 357 S.E.2d 654, 658 (1987" }, { "page": "553", "parenthetical": "\"A criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant's bad character.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/351/0536-01" ] }, { "cite": "723 S.E.2d 326", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2012, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "333", "parenthetical": "citation and quotations omitted" }, { "page": "334", "parenthetical": "citations and quotations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "365 N.C. 506", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4154240 ], "year": 2012, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "516-17", "parenthetical": "citation and quotations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/365/0506-01" ] }, { "cite": "347 S.E.2d 72", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "73" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "82 N.C. App. 586", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8359441 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/82/0586-01" ] }, { "cite": "357 S.E.2d 898", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "911", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "911" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "320 N.C. 233", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4723637 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "253", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "253" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/320/0233-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 S.E.2d 673", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 6, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "688" }, { "page": "689" }, { "page": "688" }, { "page": "688-89" }, { "page": "689" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "315 N.C. 398", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4720550 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "422" }, { "page": "423" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/315/0398-01" ] }, { "cite": "558 S.E.2d 97", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "107", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 117", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 219899 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "133", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0117-01" ] }, { "cite": "707 S.E.2d 192", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 2011, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "hereinafter Sargeant I" }, { "page": "198" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "365 N.C. 58", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4153687 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2011, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "hereinafter Sargeant I" }, { "page": "67" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/365/0058-01" ] }, { "cite": "696 S.E.2d 786", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2010, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "206 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4178033 ], "year": 2010, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/206/0001-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 940, "char_count": 23276, "ocr_confidence": 0.708, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.18201331428975204 }, "sha256": "22a78e36c44731c693f898ca1c2b3c510935be1062361fde60ab8516777c488c", "simhash": "1:a72950217637b3d9", "word_count": 3799 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:57:00.832613+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges McGEE and STROUD concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. NEIL MATTHEW SARGENT" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "BRYANT, Judge.\nWhere the prosecutor responded to defense counsel\u2019s endorsement of defendant\u2019s witness as truthful by stating that defendant\u2019s witness did not give truthful testimony, the trial court did not err in failing to intervene during the prosecutor\u2019s closing argument. Where defendant placed his character at issue by testifying at length about his positive military service, the prosecution was allowed to examine the circumstances of his general discharge from the United States Army.\nOn 28 November 2005, a Watauga County grand jury indicted defendant Neil Matthew Sargent on charges of first-degree murder with aggravating factors, first-degree kidnapping, burning of personal property, and robbery with a dangerous weapon stemming from events leading to the death of Steven William Harrington. On 5 November 2007, defendant was indicted on a second count of robbery with a dangerous weapon.\nOn 24 April 2008, following a jury trial in Watauga County Superior Court, the Honorable Ronald K. Payne, Judge presiding, entered judgment against defendant on the charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and burning of personal property. Defendant appealed to this Court from the entry of these judgments. In State v. Sargeant, 206 N.C. App. 1, 696 S.E.2d 786 (2010), this Court granted defendant a new trial due in part to the exclusion of a statement made by Matthew Brandon Dalrymple to law enforcement officers on 10 September 2007. Following an appeal by the State, our Supreme Court affirmed the decision of this Court to grant defendant a new trial. See State v. Sargeant, 365 N.C. 58, 707 S.E.2d 192 (2011) (hereinafter Sargeant I).\nA new trial commenced during the 29 October 2012 session of Watauga County Criminal Superior Court, the Honorable James U. Downs, Judge presiding. The evidence presented at trial tended to show that on the evening of 7 November 2005, Harrington was assaulted, robbed, and asphyxiated in a residence located at 121 Poplar Drive in Boone, then driven to another location where his body was doused -with lighter fluid and set on fire in the trunk of a car. Three people were present in the home at the time of Harrington\u2019s death and at the location of the burning car: defendant, Kyle Triplett, and Dalrymple.\nDuring the prosecution\u2019s case-in-chief, the prosecutor called Kyle Triplett, a witness who had also testified at defendant\u2019s first trial. Triplett testified that defendant orchestrated an ambush of Harrington. On the evening in question, Triplett followed defendant\u2019s explicit instructions whereby Triplett was to grab Harrington by the throat and hold a gun to his head. Defendant provided Triplett with a gun. Triplett testified that when Harrington appeared, Triplett grabbed Harrington by the throat and choked him until his face turned red. When Harrington dropped to the floor, defendant began wrapping Harrington\u2019s head in duct tape. Triplett testified that following this, he and defendant began punching Harrington and then kicking him, at which point Dalrymple joined in. After Harrington stopped moving, Dalrymple reached into Harrington\u2019s pants pocket and removed a softball sized box that contained four to six ounces of cocaine. Harrington\u2019s body was then carried outside and placed in the trunk of Harrington\u2019s car. Triplett testified that he drove Harrington\u2019s car with defendant as a passenger and Dalrymple following in a second vehicle. Triplett stopped Harrington\u2019s car on a roadside along Sleepy Hollow Lane. Triplett testified that defendant opened the trunk, doused lighter fluid on Harrington\u2019s body and ignited a fire. Triplett and defendant then got into the car driven by Dalrymple and returned to defendant\u2019s residence.\nDuring the presentation of defendant\u2019s case, defendant called Dalrymple to testify. Dalrymple testified that on the evening of 7 November 2005, he was using the bathroom when he heard a knock on an outside door. When Dalrymple exited the bathroom, he observed Triplett choking a man at gunpoint. Dalrymple had never before seen the man being choked. Dalrymple testified that Triplett hit the victim in the temple with the butt of a handgun. When the victim dropped to the floor, Triplett began kicking the victim in the ribs. Dalrymple testified that Triplett wrapped the victim\u2019s head in duct tape and taped his hands behind his back. Dalrymple testified that when Triplett told Dalrymple that Dalrymple was to drive one of the vehicles, Dalrymple refused, but then Triplett pointed the gun at him. When Dalrymple headed toward a bedroom to retrieve his clothes, he passed defendant in the hallway. Defendant asked, \u201cwhat the f**k is going on[.]\u201d Having gotten dressed and stepped outside, Dalrymple testified that he observed Triplett placing the victim\u2019s body in the trurrk of a car. Triplett then drove the car containing the victim\u2019s body while Dalrymple followed in a second vehicle with defendant as a passenger. When Triplett pulled onto the roadside off of Sleepy Hollow Lane, Dalrymple observed Triplett open the trunk of the vehicle. Dalrymple soon saw flames. Triplett got into Dalrymple\u2019s car, and the three men drove off. According to Dahymple, defendant did not exit the vehicle in which he was riding.\nDefendant testified on his own behalf, consistent with the version of events testified to by Dahymple.\nFollowing the close of the evidence, the jury returned verdicts finding defendant guilty of first-degree murder on the bases of lying in wait, felony murder, and premeditation and deliberation; first-degree kidnapping; robbery with a dangerous weapon; and burning personal property. The trial court entered judgment in accordance with the jury verdicts. On the charge of first-degree murder, the trial court sentenced defendant to a term of life imprisonment without parole. On the charges of first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and burning personal property, the trial court entered a separate consolidated judgment and sentenced defendant to a term of 80 to 105 months to be served consecutive to the life sentence. Defendant appeals.\nOn appeal, defendant raises the following issues: whether the trial court (I) erred in failing to intervene during the prosecutor\u2019s closing argument; and (II) committed plain error in allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence of defendant\u2019s prior assault.\nI\nDefendant first argues that the trial court erred by failing to intervene ex mero motu during closing arguments to address the prosecutor\u2019s discussion of facts not in evidence, misstating the evidence not in evidence, and offering an opinion on the credibility of a witness. We disagree.\n\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 State v. Jones, 355 N.C. 117, 133, 558 S.E.2d 97, 107 (2002) (citation omitted).\nPursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 15A-1230, \u201cLimitations on argument to the jury,\u201d\n[djuring a closing argument to the jury an attorney may not become abusive, inject his personal experiences, express his personal belief as to the truth or falsity of the evidence or as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, or make arguments on the basis of matters outside the record except for matters concerning which the court may take judicial notice. An attorney may, however, on the basis of his analysis of the evidence, argue any position or conclusion with respect to a matter in issue.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1230(a) (2013); see also State v. Gladden, 315 N.C. 398, 422, 340 S.E.2d 673, 688 (1986) (\u201cAlthough the closing arguments of counsel are largely within the control and discretion of the trial court, it is well established that counsel is to be afforded wide latitude in the argument of fiercely contested cases. Counsel for both sides may argue the law and the facts in evidence, along with all reasonable inferences to be drawn from them. Counsel may not, however, raise incompetent and prejudicial matters nor refer to facts not in evidence. Counsel is also prohibited from placing before the jury his own knowledge, beliefs, and personal opinions not supported by the evidence.\u201d). \u201cOnly where the prosecutor\u2019s argument affects the right of the defendant to a fair trial will the trial judge be required to intervene where no objection has been made.\u201d State v. Zuniga, 320 N.C. 233, 253, 357 S.E.2d 898, 911 (1987) (citation omitted). \u201cA prosecutor\u2019s argument is not improper where it is consistent with the record and does not travel into the fields of conjecture or personal opinion.\u201d Id.\na. Argument of Facts Not In Evidence\nDefendant contends the State lacked evidence to support its claims that \u201cDairymple [was] [the State\u2019s] deal with the devil[,]\u201d that the deal \u201cwas a mistake[,]\u201d that the State had \u201cfigured if we put a big enough carrot in front of [Dairymple], maybe [Dairymple would] tell the truth[,]\u201d that Dairymple did not tell the truth, and the State was \u201cstuck with [Dalrymple\u2019s] plea.\u201d\nThe State responds that the Dairymple plea offer was in evidence as defense exhibit #9. However, defense exhibit #9 was actually an agreement wherein the State agreed to forego seeking the death penalty in exchange for Dalrymple\u2019s truthful testimony at his own trial. The agreement provided that the truthfulness of his testimony was to be measured against his September 2007 statement.\nDefendant contends that the State\u2019s claim that it would not call Dairymple as a witness because he \u201cwould not know the truth if it came up and slapped him in the head\u201d was refuted by defense exhibit #9. However, even assuming that defense exhibit #9 does refute the State\u2019s claim, the fact that evidence refutes the State\u2019s closing argument does not indicate that the State argued facts not in evidence.\nDefendant further challenges the State\u2019s remarks that the Dalrymple plea was a mistake \u201cbecause that man was just as guilty of first-degree murder [and] kidnapping as every other defendant here.\u201d Defendant contends that the remarks were improper because, by \u201coffering unchallenged testimony to the jury during its closing, the State was able to strike an unfair blow against [defendant\u2019s] most crucial witness.\u201d However, the State\u2019s remarks are supported by evidence presented at trial that Daliymple played an active role in the murder of Harrington as discussed earlier in this opinion. Defendant has not shown error on this basis and his argument is overruled.\nb. Offered A Personal Opinion On Witness Credibility\nDefendant also argues that the State\u2019s claim that \u201cit would not call Dalrymple to testify because Dalrymple \u2018would not know the truth if it came up and slapped him on the head\u2019 offered a personal opinion\u201d as to witness credibility. Defendant cites State v. Holloway, 82 N.C. App. 586, 347 S.E.2d 72 (1986), in which two doctors were improperly permitted to testify \u201cthat in their opinion the child had testified truthfully.\u201d Id. at 587, 347 S.E.2d at 73. The present case is distinguishable from Holloway because the prosecutor was not giving an opinion as to witness credibility in the form of sworn testimony.\nDefendant\u2019s argument emphasizes the significance of any improprieties in this case where the jury\u2019s verdict \u201chinged on its determination of Triplett\u2019s, Dalrymple\u2019s, and [Defendant\u2019s] credibility[.]\u201d Similarly, our Supreme Court noted that the first trial indicated that \u201cthe objective facts of what happened the night the victim was killed are elusive.\u201d Sargeant I, 365 N.C. at 67, 707 S.E.2d at 198. The Supreme Court further noted that \u201cthe reason for the State\u2019s decision to jettison Dalrymple in favor of Triplett is not in the record.\u201d Id.\nIn the present case, Defendant made the following statements in his closing argument to the jury:\nJust as Mr. Dalrymple\u2019s-agreement states, he will testify truthfully if called upon by the State to do so. Why didn\u2019t the State call him at this trial? Why not? It\u2019s in black and white. Don\u2019t take my word for it. Look at this. They never called him. I had to call him, and he gave truthful testimony. He has been pretty much consistent throughout.\nIn its closing, the State made the following statements to the jury regarding Dalrymple:\nYou dam right we\u2019re not going to put him up, because that man would not know the tmth if it came up and slapped him in the head. But they want you to believe that version of tmth or what they believe the tmth was.\nThe challenged portion of the prosecutor\u2019s argument seems to answer the very question that the Supreme Court noted was not in the record of the first trial. As to the question of why the State jettisoned Dalrymple in favor of Triplett, the prosecutor stated:\nDalrymple is our deal with the devil. It was a mistake .... We\u2019re stuck with that plea. The plea was a mistake and should never have happened... because that man was just as guilty of first-degree murder [and] kidnapping as every other defendant here.\nEvidence that Dalrymple entered into a plea agreement with the State does not tell why the State \u201cjettison[ed] Dalrymple in favor of Triplett\u201d at this trial. Id. The prosecutor informed the jury, by way of closing argument, of her opinion and belief as to the credibility of the various defendants and that the prosecution had made a mistake by entering into the plea agreement with Dalrymple. This statement, made in response to defendant\u2019s closing argument, seems to venture close to the area of \u201cconjecture or personal opinion.\u201d Zuniga, 320 N.C. at 253, 357 S.E.2d at 911. However, our Supreme Court has found no error in a credibility argument based on personal opinion from the State where the defendant \u201copened the door\u201d to the argument. State v. Gladden, 315 N.C. 398, 423, 340 S.E.2d 673, 689 (1986). In Gladden, the defendant stated that a State\u2019s witness \u201ccould not possibly remember . . . every detail in this case\u201d and \u201cinsinuated that [the witness\u2019s] testimony had not been truthful.\u201d Id. The State, in its closing, argued that its witness was \u201cone of the finest Sheriffs that [the prosecutor had] ever met[.]\u201d Id. at 423, 340 S.E.2d at 688. Our Supreme Court'held that the \u201cexpression of personal opinion by the prosecutor, while improper, was not, however, so grossly improper as to require the trial court to intervene ex mero motu.\u201d Id. at 423, 340 S.E.2d at 688-89.\nThe State\u2019s remarks appear to be in response to defendant\u2019s attempt to bolster Dalrymple\u2019s credibility. As in Gladden, defendant\u2019s statements in closing opened the door to the State\u2019s response. Therefore, while the State\u2019s remarks may have been improper, they were \u201cnot, however, so grossly improper as to require the trial court to intervene ex mero motu.\" Id. at 423, 340 S.E.2d at 689. Defendant\u2019s argument is overruled.\nII\nNext, defendant argues that the State\u2019s evidence of a prior assault constituted evidence of a propensity for violence and amounted to plain error. We disagree.\n[T]he plain error rule ... is always to be applied cautiously and only in the exceptional case where, after reviewing the entire record, it can be said the claimed error is a fundamental error, something so basic, so prejudicial, so lacking in its elements that justice cannot have been done, or where [the error] is grave error which amounts to a denial of a fundamental right of the accused, or the error has resulted in a miscarriage of justice or in the denial to appellant of a fair trial or where the error is such as to seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings or where it can be fairly said the instructional mistake had a probable impact on the jury\u2019s finding that the defendant was guilty.\nState v. Lawrence, 365 N.C. 506, 516-17, 723 S.E.2d 326, 333 (2012) (citation and quotations omitted).\nFor error to constitute plain error, a defendant must demonstrate that a fundamental error occurred at trial. To show that an error was fundamental, a defendant must establish prejudice \u2014 that, after examination of the entire record, the error had a probable impact on the jury\u2019s finding that the defendant was guilty. Moreover, because plain error is to be applied cautiously and only in the exceptional case the error will often be one that seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.\nId. at 518, 723 S.E.2d at 334 (citations and quotations omitted).\nPursuant to General Statutes, section 8C-404,\nEvidence of a person\u2019s character or a trait of his character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except . .. [e]vidence of a pertinent trait of his character offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same[.]\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(a)(1) (2013); see also State v. Roseboro, 351 N.C. 536, 553, 528 S.E.2d 1, 12 (2000) (\u201cA criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant\u2019s bad character. See State v. Gappins, 320 N.C. 64, 69, 357 S.E.2d 654, 658 (1987). Such evidence offered by the defendant or the prosecution in rebuttal must be \u2018a pertinent trait of his character.\u2019 N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(a)(1) (1999).\u201d).\nBefore this Court, defendant challenges the prosecution\u2019s cross-examination of him as to his use of cocaine and prior accusation of assaul-tive behavior while a member of the United States Army. In response, the State argues that on direct examination, defendant placed his character at issue by testifying about his military service. On direct examination, defendant testified at length about his positive military service: serving in the United States Army from September 1999 to January 2003, defendant worked with a field artillery unit in both Kosovo and Afghanistan; also, he was awarded the United Nations Kosovo Liberation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and a National Defense bar. Defendant\u2019s Kosovo Liberation medal was admitted into evidence. Defendant engaged in the following examination on direct examination:\n. Q Now, Mr. Sargent, when did you get discharged from the US Army?\nA I believe the exact date was January 3rd, 2003.\nQ And do you remember, do you recall what the character of your discharge was?\nA It was on, on other than honorable conditions.\nQ What they call general?\nA General.\nQ Who were you living with?\nA Well, when I initially got out of the Army I was having some substance abuse problems with alcohol and marijuana so my aunt and uncle that I lived with before I went in the Army they thought it would be a good idea if I came back and was in a better environment....\nOn cross-examination, the prosecutor focused on the circumstances of defendant\u2019s discharge from the military. We look to the following exchange, which took place in the absence of any objection by defendant:\nQ ... [I]n fact, when you were talking about all of your military accomplishments, you didn\u2019t tell the jury [about your] less than honorable circumstances for using cocaine, did you?\nA I said I was discharged for other than honorable conditions, I said that.\nQ Did you tell the jury that you were discharged for other than honorable conditions you were discharged ... on 11 December, 2002 for using cocaine and for assault, is that right?\nA That is correct.\nQ And in fact, it was so bad, sir, that the commander there at Fort Bragg . . . requested that you be barred from Fort Bragg pending your hearing because of your assault and use of cocaine, didn\u2019t he?\nA That\u2019s correct.\nQ You didn\u2019t tell the jury that, did you?\nA I wasn\u2019t asked.\nQ Well, sir, you told the jury all about all the fine things you had done in the military, and all the honors, I believe you held up a certificate here about service overseas and the battalions you were in, and how you supported the artillery, supported people over in the, the Vulcans and all of that, but you didn\u2019t tell them about being dishonorably discharged, did you?\nA I just answered the questions my lawyer asked me.\nQ You tried to mislead the jury into believing you were a wonderful fine soldier serving your country when in fact you were dishonorably discharged for the use of cocaine and for assault?\nAnd that is exactly what you\u2019re here today for is using cocaine and murder, isn\u2019t it?\nA That\u2019s correct.\nBecause defendant placed his character at issue by testifying at length about his positive military service record and acknowledging that he received a general discharge from the United States Army, the State was entitled to examine the circumstances that led to defendant\u2019s discharge. See Roseboro, 351 N.C. 536, 553, 528 S.E.2d 1, 12 (2000) (\u201cA criminal defendant is entitled to introduce evidence of his good character, thereby placing his character at issue. The State in rebuttal can then introduce evidence of defendant\u2019s bad character.\u201d). Therefore, we hold there was no error in the admission of this evidence. Defendant\u2019s argument is overruled.\nNo error.\nJudges McGEE and STROUD concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "BRYANT, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Special Deputy Attorney David J. Adinolfi II, for the State.", "Michele Goldman for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. NEIL MATTHEW SARGENT\nNo. COA13-482\nFiled 18 March 2014\n1. Criminal Law \u2014 prosecutor\u2019s argument \u2014 alleged discussion of facts not in evidence\nThe trial court did not err in a first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and burning personal property case by failing to intervene ex mero motu during closing arguments to address the prosecutor\u2019s alleged discussion of facts not in evidence. The fact that evidence refuted the State\u2019s closing argument did not indicate that the State argued facts not in evidence. Further, the State\u2019s remarks were supported by evidence presented at trial that Dalrymple played an active role in the murder of the victim.\n2. Criminal Law \u2014 prosecutor\u2019s argument \u2014 offer of opinion on credibility of witness \u2014 opened the door\nThe trial court did not err in a first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and burning personal property case by failing to intervene ex mero motu during closing arguments to address the prosecutor\u2019s alleged offer of an opinion on the credibility of a witness. Our Supreme Court has found no error in a credibility argument based on personal opinion from the State where the defendant \u201copened the door\u201d to the argument.\n3. Evidence \u2014 prior crimes or bad acts \u2014 assault\u2014character\u2014 positive military service record \u2014 circumstances of discharge\nThe trial court did not commit plain error in a first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and burning personal property case by allowing the State\u2019s evidence of defendant\u2019s prior assault. Defendant placed his character at issue by testifying at length about his positive military service record, and thus, the State was entitled to examine the circumstances that led to defendant\u2019s discharge.\nAppeal by defendant from judgments entered 8 November 2012 by Judge James U. Downs in Watauga County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22 October 2013.\nAttorney General Roy Cooper, by Special Deputy Attorney David J. Adinolfi II, for the State.\nMichele Goldman for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0096-01", "first_page_order": 106, "last_page_order": 116 }