{
  "id": 8526570,
  "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. GUSTARIVUS WHITAKER",
  "name_abbreviation": "State v. Whitaker",
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    "judges": [
      "Judge Johnson concurs.",
      "Chief Judge Hedrick dissents."
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    "parties": [
      "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. GUSTARIVUS WHITAKER"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "COZORT, Judge.\nDefendant was convicted of second-degree kidnapping and sentenced to a prison term of twenty-four (24) years. He appeals his conviction alleging the trial court should have granted his motion to dismiss the charges against him because the State\u2019s evidence was insufficient to prove that he restrained his victim for the purpose of committing the crime of attempted second-degree rape. He also contends the indictment was fatally defective and that the trial court erred by failing to instruct on the lesser included offense of false imprisonment. We find no error.\nThe State\u2019s main witness was Debra Fritz, a Greensboro taxicab driver who testified to the following: At about 2:00 o\u2019clock on the morning of 20 May 1983, she was approached by the defendant after she had signed off duty and driven her cab to a service station to meet a friend. The defendant asked her to take him to Gatewood Drive, a street nearby. After they got in the cab, the defendant asked her to take him to the Raleigh Street Poolroom instead. The defendant was sitting in the front seat with Ms. Fritz, which was her practice after dusk to keep from being grabbed from behind. She drove to the Raleigh Street Poolroom, which was closed. The defendant then gave Ms. Fritz an address on Tucker Street. Ms. Fritz did not know the way to Tucker Street and began following directions given to her by defendant. At defendant\u2019s instruction, she turned down Ola Street, a dead-end street. When she reached the end of the street, the defendant grabbed the radio microphone out of Ms. Fritz\u2019 hand and threw it on the other side of the cab. The defendant then grabbed Ms. Fritz by the throat. She began pleading with him not to hurt her. Defendant said, \u201cShut up. All you women think you\u2019re tough. . . . Don\u2019t talk; just drive.\u201d Ms. Fritz followed the defendant\u2019s instructions on which turns to take and ended up in a church parking lot. Defendant directed Ms. Fritz to back the car in beside a church bus and turn the lights out. It had begun pouring rain. Defendant told her to get out of the car. Fearing that she was about to be shot and her cab taken, Ms. Fritz tried to talk defendant into letting her go. Defendant mashed harder on her throat. While trying to move defendant\u2019s hand, Ms. Fritz said, \u201cLet\u2019s just go and get something to eat and talk about this.\u201d Defendant said, \u201cI want to eat you,\u201d and told Ms. Fritz to pull her pants down, which she did. Ms. Fritz testified that she thought she was going to be raped there in the churchyard, and she said to defendant, \u201cLet\u2019s not do anything like this in the church yard, [sic]\u201d Defendant agreed and again began giving directions to Ms. Fritz. He still had her by the neck. She began to make turns different from the defendant\u2019s instructions because his directions were towards back streets with few streetlights. Defendant mashed her throat very hard. Defendant told her to turn towards \u201ca real rough area,\u201d but Ms. Fritz turned instead towards Wendover Avenue, a well-traveled street. Defendant pulled a sharp object out of his pocket and put it to Ms. Fritz\u2019 throat. She \u201cgunned it,\u201d causing the defendant\u2019s hand to go up so that she could see that the sharp object was a comb. Ms. Fritz mashed the gas pedal all the way to the floor and aimed her car at a car stopped at a traffic light. Defendant grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it to the right. Ms. Fritz\u2019 cab knocked down a \u201cNo Parking\u201d sign and ran into a telephone pole. She jumped out the door and ran to a bar to call the police, pulling up her pants as she ran. Defendant jumped out the other side and ran away.\nDefendant was indicted for attempted second-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping. The jury acquitted defendant of attempted second-degree rape and convicted him of second-degree kidnapping. Defendant\u2019s first assignment of error is that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the charge of second-degree kidnapping because the evidence was insufficient to prove that the defendant restrained Ms. Fritz for the purpose of attempting a second-degree rape.\nUpon a motion to dismiss in a criminal action, \u201call of the evidence favorable to the State, whether competent or incompetent, must be considered, such evidence must be deemed true and considered in the light most favorable to the State, discrepancies and contradictions therein are disregarded and the State is entitled to every inference of fact which may be reasonably deduced therefrom.\u201d State v. Witherspoon, 293 N.C. 321, 326, 237 S.E. 2d 822, 826 (1977); see also State v. Dover, 308 N.C. 372, 302 S.E. 2d 232 (1983).\nG.S. 14-39, under which defendant was indicted, provides in pertinent part that:\n(a) Any person who shall unlawfully confine, restrain, or remove from one place to another, any other person 16 years of age or over without the consent of such person . . . shall be guilty of kidnapping if such confinement, restraint or removal is for the purpose of:\n(2) Facilitating the commission of any felony ....\nDefendant was charged with unlawfully, willfully and feloni-ously kidnapping Ms. Fritz by unlawfully confining her, restraining her and removing her from one place to another without her consent for the purpose of facilitating the commission of attempted second-degree rape. \u201cRape is defined at G.S. 14-27.2(a)(2) and 14-27.3(a)(l) as engaging in vaginal intercourse with another person by force and against the will of the other person. The statutory phrase \u2018engaging in vaginal intercourse with another person\u2019 is expressed in our cases as gratifying one\u2019s passion on the person of a woman; \u2018by force and against the will of the other person\u2019 is expressed as notwithstanding her resistance.\u201d State v. Franks, 74 N.C. App. 661, 662-63, 329 S.E. 2d 717, 718 (1985). Thus, the pivotal question for our determination in this case is whether the evidence is sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find that defendant confined, restrained, and removed Ms. Fritz from one place to another to facilitate the attempted gratification of his passion on her notwithstanding her resistance. We hold that it was.\nThe testimony of the prosecuting witness clearly supports the necessary element that she was confined, restrained, and removed by defendant. We must now determine whether the State proved the confinement, etc., was with the intent of attempting to rape Ms. Fritz. In State v. Rushing, 61 N.C. App. 62, 300 S.E. 2d 445, aff'd, 308 N.C. 804, 303 S.E. 2d 822 (1983), this court vacated the defendant\u2019s conviction of burglary, holding that there was insufficient evidence that the defendant intended to commit rape at the time he entered the house. The evidence showed the defendant climbed in the bedroom window of the prosecutrix; he told prosecutrix not to scream and that he had a gun; the prosecutrix backed up to the head of her bed, whereupon defendant grabbed her arm; prosecutrix and her child started screaming, and defendant jumped out the window. The Court analyzed many of the recent cases finding the evidence insufficient to prove the intent to rape and many of those finding the evidence sufficient. The Court said the following about the cases where the evidence was sufficient: \u201cIn all of those cases, there was some overt manifestation of an intended forcible sexual gratification, an element not shown by the evidence in the case before us.\u201d Id. at 66, 300 S.E. 2d at 449.\nIn State v. Norris, 65 N.C. App. 336, 309 S.E. 2d 507 (1983), this Court found the evidence sufficient to permit the jury to find the defendant broke into the house of the prosecutrix with the intent to commit rape where the prosecutrix testified that defendant pushed the door open, came in, started kissing her and pushing her toward the bedroom, and that he got her on the floor and began feeling her breasts. When the prosecutrix\u2019s small child awoke, the defendant grabbed the child and the woman and started walking through the house holding both by the arm. The pros-ecutrix later managed to escape. In upholding the conviction of burglary, the court said: \u201cThis testimony concerning defendant\u2019s acts bespeaks a nonconsensual sexual purpose and an intended forcible sexual gratification. Therefore, the State has provided a sufficient foundation to permit a trier of fact to infer that defendant intended to commit rape once he broke into the house.\u201d Id. at 339, 309 S.E. 2d at 509.\nIn Franks, supra, this Court held, citing State v. Bradshaw, 27 N.C. App. 485, 219 S.E. 2d 561 (1975), disc. rev. denied, 289 N.C. 299, 222 S.E. 2d 699 (1976), that evidence of kidnapping is sufficient if the State proves that defendant at any time during the confinement had the requisite intent to gratify his passion notwithstanding resistance. We recognize that according to Ms. Fritz\u2019 testimony, the defendant only verbally expressed that he wanted to perform cunnilingus on her. The defendant\u2019s statement that he wanted \u201cto eat\u201d Ms. Fritz was a vulgar play on words, indicating that the defendant surely intended to use her to gratify his passion in spite of her resistance, but not foreclosing all other inferences that he planned to commit cunnilingus alone. The State is entitled to benefit from every reasonable inference arising from the defendant\u2019s statements, actions, and the surrounding circumstances, including the fact that the defendant physically forced Ms. Fritz to drive to a secluded area, commanded her to pull down her pants, and threatened her repeatedly. These facts were sufficient evidence from which the jury could reasonably infer that defendant confined and removed the victim for the purpose of facilitating the commission of attempted second-degree rape. The defendant never let go of the prosecutrix at any time. It was only through her quick thinking and courageous actions that she was able to escape without being seriously harmed or without further violation and humiliation by the defendant. These actions by Ms. Fritz, however, do not cancel out the defendant\u2019s original underlying intent and make him any less guilty of the crime of kidnapping.\nThe defendant next argues that the indictment failed to properly charge the defendant with kidnapping because the underlying felony charged therein was \u201cattempted second degree rape,\u201d rather than simply second-degree rape. Defendant contends it is logically impossible to intend to attempt a rape. This argument is without merit. While it would have been the better practice for the indictment to simply charge the defendant with the intent to commit second-degree rape, charging intent to commit attempted second-degree rape is not fatally defective. G.S. 14-27.6 specifically provides that an \u201cattempt to commit second-degree rape ... is a Class H felony.\u201d Thus, attempted second-degree rape is a felony with which a defendant can be properly charged, and that charge can therefore properly be the underlying felony in a kidnapping indictment.\nLastly, defendant contends the court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of false imprisonment, a misdemeanor. In State v. Lang, 58 N.C. App. 117, 293 S.E. 2d 255, disc. rev. denied, 306 N.C. 747, 295 S.E. 2d 761 (1982), the Court held defendant was entitled to a new trial where the trial court failed to instruct on false imprisonment when there was evidence from which the jury could conclude that the defendant restrained, confined or removed the prosecutrix for the purpose of fondling her, and not to gratify his passion on her notwithstanding her resistance. We find no such evidence in this case. All of the evidence here tends to establish that the defendant restrained, confined, and removed the prosecutrix with the intent to gratify his passion notwithstanding resistance. That his actions fell short of his intent due to the quick thinking and actions of Ms. Fritz is not evidence of false imprisonment. The Court\u2019s summary in Franks, supra, at 667, 329 S.E. 2d at 721, is appropriate here:\nWhile other rape and intent to rape cases niay be more egregious on their facts, the uncontradicted evidence here shows that the defendant confined and restrained the prosecuting witness with the intent to have sexual intercourse with her against her will.\nNo error.\nJudge Johnson concurs.\nChief Judge Hedrick dissents.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "COZORT, Judge."
      },
      {
        "text": "Chief Judge Hedrick\ndissenting.\nThe evidence in this case raises an inference that defendant at most had on his mind committing a sexual offense described in G.S. 14-27.5. He was charged with kidnapping \u201cfor the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony, Attempted Second Degree Rape.\u201d While there is evidence that defendant assaulted the victim, I do not believe there is any evidence in this record from which the jury could find that defendant assaulted or kidnapped the victim with the intent to rape her or commit any other felony. In fact, the jury found defendant not guilty of attempted second degree rape. The record is replete with evidence that defendant did not intend to gratify his sexual desires \u201cby force and against the will\u201d of the victim. The evidence tends to show that at one point he desisted, upon the victim\u2019s request, from committing a sexual act, and he did not thereafter attempt or even suggest any acts of a sexual nature. We are not so clairvoyant as to say he intended to rape her had not other circumstances intervened that enabled her to escape. See State v. Alston, 310 N.C. 399, 312 S.E. 2d 470 (1984).\nAssuming arguendo the evidence is sufficient to require submission of the case to the jury, I am convinced the trial court erred in not submitting the lesser included offense of false imprisonment. State v. Lang, 58 N.C. App. 117, 293 S.E. 2d 255, disc. rev. denied, 306 N.C. 747, 295 S.E. 2d 761 (1982). I vote to reverse.",
        "type": "dissent",
        "author": "Chief Judge Hedrick"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Attorney General Edmisten by Assistant Attorney General Michael Rivers Morgan for the State.",
      "Appellate Defender Adam Stein by Assistant Appellate Defenders James A. Wynn, Jr., and Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., for defendant appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. GUSTARIVUS WHITAKER\nNo. 8418SC521\n(Filed 16 July 1985)\n1. Kidnapping 8 1.2; Rape and Allied Offenses 8 18.2\u2014 kidnapping for the purpose of attempting second degree rape \u2014evidence sufficient\nThere was no error in the denial of defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss the charge of second degree kidnapping for the purpose of attempting second degree rape where the defendant physically forced a taxicab driver to drive to a secluded area, commanded her to pull down her pants, and threatened her repeatedly; although defendant only verbally expressed that he wanted to perform cunnilingus on her in a vulgar play on words, his statement indicated that he surely intended to use her to gratify his passion in spite of her resistance and did not foreclose all other inferences. G.S. 14-39.\n2. Kidnapping \u00a7 1.4\u2014 indictment alleging kidnapping for the purpose of attempted second degree rape \u2014 not fatally defective\nThere was no error in an indictment charging defendant with kidnapping with the underlying felony of attempted second degree rape. While it would have been better practice to charge intent to commit second degree rape, attempted second degree rape is a felony and charging intent to commit attempted second degree rape is not fatally defective. G.S. 14-27.6.\n3. Kidnapping 8 1.3\u2014 no instruction on false imprisonment \u2014 no error\nThere was no error in a prosecution for second degree kidnapping and attempted second degree rape in not charging the jury on false imprisonment where all of the evidence tended to establish that defendant restrained, confined, and removed the prosecutrix with the intent to gratify his passion notwithstanding resistance.\nChief Judge Hedrick dissenting.\nAppeal by defendant from Walker (Hal H), Judge. Judgment entered 12 January 1984 in Superior Court, GUILFORD County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 4 March 1985.\nAttorney General Edmisten by Assistant Attorney General Michael Rivers Morgan for the State.\nAppellate Defender Adam Stein by Assistant Appellate Defenders James A. Wynn, Jr., and Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., for defendant appellant."
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