{ "id": 2569213, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LOUIS EDWARD BOYD", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Boyd", "decision_date": "1988-02-03", "docket_number": "No. 36A87", "first_page": "574", "last_page": "579", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "321 N.C. 574" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "81 S.E. 2d 364", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1954, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 N.C. 171", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8596105 ], "year": 1954, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/240/0171-01" ] }, { "cite": "268 S.E. 2d 173", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 610", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564153 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0610-01" ] }, { "cite": "333 S.E. 2d 278", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "314 N.C. 202", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4697149 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/314/0202-01" ] }, { "cite": "351 S.E. 2d 277", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "278-79" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "318 N.C. 663", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4733270 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "665" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/318/0663-01" ] }, { "cite": "348 S.E. 2d 791", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "793" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "318 N.C. 400", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4731290 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "403" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/318/0400-01" ] }, { "cite": "333 S.E. 2d 34", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "314 N.C. 301", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4688722 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/314/0301-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 S.E. 2d 350", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "315 N.C. 762", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4714140 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/315/0762-01" ] }, { "cite": "342 S.E. 2d 509", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "316 N.C. 497", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4702203 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/316/0497-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 570, "char_count": 11234, "ocr_confidence": 0.801, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.358194189611387e-07, "percentile": 0.9803774274098606 }, "sha256": "26eb4bf7dec18366bedf6b6312b7b2685a25b2231b95a56a68e8b8f47ddda119", "simhash": "1:062f9021766b84f0", "word_count": 1848 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:04:28.747837+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LOUIS EDWARD BOYD" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "FRYE, Justice.\nDefendant was indicted for first degree rape and for taking indecent liberties with a child. During the trial, the second count of the two-count bill of indictment was dismissed and the case was submitted to the jury solely on the first count charging first degree rape. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.\nThe State\u2019s evidence tended to show that on the evening of 18 November 1985, a week before the victim\u2019s thirteenth birthday, the victim was left alone at home with her half-brother, half-sister, and defendant, her stepfather. The victim\u2019s mother worked the midnight shift that night and left the children in the custody of defendant. On that evening, defendant entered the room of his stepdaughter, climbed into the top bunk of her bunk bed with her, inserted his finger into her vagina, and then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her. The victim testified that this was not the first occasion that defendant had sexual contact with her and she recounted several prior episodes of sexual contact in-eluding intercourse. Defendant was subsequently found guilty of first degree rape and sentenced to life imprisonment.\nDefendant assigns as error the admission of evidence concerning an earlier incident of alleged sexual misconduct and the failure of the trial court to grant a motion for mistrial after the jury heard that defendant had been accused of another rape. We, however, find no error.\nApproximately four weeks after the 18 November 1985 incident, the child complained of vaginal irritation and was taken by her mother to see a doctor. She was subsequently diagnosed as having gonorrhea, trichomonas, and herpes. Eight months prior to the incident, defendant had been diagnosed as having herpes. Defendant\u2019s wife testified that she told the examining doctor, after hearing the diagnosis, that she thought defendant had had intercourse with her daughter, stating that \u201cif it was anybody, it had to be my husband.\u201d She was then asked by the prosecutor why she had been of this opinion. Mrs. Boyd testified that she had found defendant asleep naked in her daughter\u2019s bottom bunk bed with her eight-year-old female cousin on one occasion. Defendant objected to this line of questioning and requested a voir dire examination. It was then established that the alleged incident involving the cousin took place sometime within twelve months of the rape of defendant\u2019s stepdaughter, in the stepdaughter\u2019s room, and while Mrs. Boyd was at work.\nThe trial judge overruled defendant\u2019s objection and admitted this evidence since it formed the foundation for Mrs. Boyd\u2019s belief that defendant had had intercourse with his stepdaughter and because the testimony was admissible under Rule 404(b) of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence. The trial court was correct in its ruling.\nRule 404(b) provides:\nEvidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake, entrapment or accident.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(b) (1986).\nWe have held in several recent cases that evidence of prior sex acts may have some relevance to the question of defendant\u2019s guilt of the crime charged if it tends to show a relevant state of mind such as intent, motive, plan, or opportunity. See State v. Gordon, 316 N.C. 497, 342 S.E. 2d 509 (1986); State v. DeLeonardo, 315 N.C. 762, 340 S.E. 2d 350 (1986); State v. Arnold, 314 N.C. 301, 333 S.E. 2d 34 (1985). Such evidence is deemed admissible and not violative of the general rule prohibiting character evidence. See N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(b) (1986); State v. Weaver, 318 N.C. 400, 348 S.E. 2d 791 (1986).\nIn Weaver, this Court held that \u201cas a careful reading of Rule 404(b) clearly shows, evidence of other offenses is admissible so long as it is relevant to any fact or issue other than the character of the accused.\u201d Weaver, 318 N.C. at 403, 348 S.E. 2d at 793. Nevertheless, the ultimate test for determining whether such evidence is admissible is whether the incidents are sufficiently similar and not so remote in time as to be more probative than prejudicial under the balancing test of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 403. State v. Cotton, 318 N.C. 663, 665, 351 S.E. 2d 277, 278-79 (1987).\nDefendant challenges the applicability of the exception in Rule 404(b) arguing that the only \u201ccommonness\u201d between the rape of his stepdaughter and his being caught in bed naked with his wife\u2019s young cousin is the fact that children were involved in both incidents. Defendant ignores other similarities between the two incidents.\nThe stepdaughter testified to no less than four acts of sexual assault upon her by her stepfather. On each occasion the stepfather took advantage of the young child when she was left in his custody while the mother was at work. On this occasion, defendant is accused of raping his stepdaughter in her bunk bed while her mother was working late at night. Mrs. Boyd\u2019s testimony tends to show that defendant similarly took advantage of her cousin when the child was left in his custody, while in his stepdaughter\u2019s bunk bed, and while Mrs. Boyd was working late at night. This testimony concerning defendant\u2019s conduct with the young cousin then was not only relevant in explaining Mrs. Boyd\u2019s comment to the doctor but it also tended to demonstrate defendant\u2019s scheme or intent to take sexual advantage of young female relatives left in his custody while his wife was working.\nWe conclude that Mrs. Boyd\u2019s testimony concerning her husband\u2019s other act of misconduct with her minor cousin was admissible under the exception of Rule 404(b). Furthermore, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in failing to exclude this testimony under the balancing test of Rule 403 since the alleged incident was sufficiently similar to the act charged and not too remote in time. We are not unmindful of the danger of allowing Rule 404(b) exceptions to become so pervasive that they swallow the rule, a danger vigorously argued in defendant\u2019s brief. We, however, do not find that its application to the facts of this case encourages that danger.\nFinally, defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motions for mistrial. During Mrs. Boyd\u2019s testimony, the following exchange took place:\nQ. Was [sic] there any other incidents or any other reasons why you related to Dr. Brunson that you thought it might be your husband?\nA. Yes. My husband\u2019s been brought to Court before for rape.\nAt this time the defense attorney objected and his objection was sustained. He then moved to strike. The trial judge allowed his motion and admonished the jury not to consider the statement in any way. On the next day of trial, defendant moved for a mistrial. The trial judge denied the motion after hearing arguments because, in the court\u2019s opinion, Mrs. Boyd\u2019s response did not result in substantial and irreparable prejudice to defendant\u2019s case. This same motion was again made and denied after the jury returned its verdict.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-1061 provides:\nUpon motion of a defendant or with his concurrence the judge may declare a mistrial at any time during the trial. The judge must declare a mistrial upon the defendant\u2019s motion if there occurs during the trial an error or legal defect in the proceedings, or conduct inside or outside the courtroom, resulting in substantial and irreparable prejudice to the defendant\u2019s case.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-1061 (1983). The decision whether to grant a motion for mistrial rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge and will not ordinarily be disturbed on appeal absent a showing of abuse of that discretion. State v. Primes, 314 N.C. 202, 333 S.E. 2d 278 (1985). The scope of appellate review, then, is limited to whether in denying the motions for a mistrial, there has been an abuse of judicial discretion. State v. McCraw, 300 N.C. 610, 268 S.E. 2d 173 (1980).\nWhen Mrs. Boyd made her response that triggered the motion for mistrial, the jury had already heard the most damning testimony to defendant and that most critical to proving the State\u2019s case. It was not until after testimony of the incident itself heard from the mouth of the young victim, testimony of the transmission of venereal diseases, and testimony regarding an earlier act of misconduct involving a minor cousin, that this improper testimony was offered. The cumulative effect of this evidence was to demonstrate overwhelmingly defendant\u2019s guilt. Upon defendant\u2019s motion, the trial court took prompt and sufficient corrective action by sustaining defendant\u2019s objection, by allowing defendant\u2019s motion to strike and by instructing the jury not to consider Mrs. Boyd\u2019s response. Under these circumstances and in light of the strong evidence already properly admitted, the trial court correctly concluded that Mrs. Boyd\u2019s response did not result in substantial and irreparable prejudice to defendant. We, therefore, hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant\u2019s motion for mistrial.\nNo error.\n. The trial judge also based his decision to admit the evidence on this Court\u2019s holding in State v. McClain, 240 N.C. 171, 81 S.E. 2d 364 (1954), which established the \u201cother crimes\u201d exception now codified in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(b).", "type": "majority", "author": "FRYE, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Lacy H. Thornburg, Attorney General, by Thomas G. Meacham, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, for the State.", "Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., Appellate Defender, by Mark D. Montgomery and Louis D. Bilionis, Assistant Appellate Defenders, for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LOUIS EDWARD BOYD\nNo. 36A87\n(Filed 3 February 1988)\n1. Criminal Law \u00a7 34.7\u2014 other sex offense \u2014 admissible to show scheme or intent\nThe trial court did not err in a prosecution of defendant for the first degree rape of his twelve-year-old stepdaughter by admitting testimony from defendant\u2019s wife concerning an incident with her eight-year-old female cousin where that incident had been the basis of a statement by the witness to a doctor that she thought defendant had had intercourse with her daughter and where there were similarities with the incident for which defendant was charged. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 404(b), N.C.G.S. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 403.\n2. Criminal Law \u00a78 34.3 and 128.1\u2014 first degree rape \u2014 testimony of previous charge \u2014 mistrial denied \u2014 no abuse of discretion\nThe trial court did not abuse its discretion in the prosecution of defendant for the first degree rape of his stepdaughter by denying his motion for a mistrial after defendant\u2019s wife testified that her husband had been brought to court before for rape. The trial court took prompt and sufficient corrective action by sustaining defendant\u2019s objection, allowing defendant\u2019s motion to strike, and instructing the jury not to consider the response; moreover, overwhelming evidence of defendant\u2019s guilt had already been admitted.\nAppeal by defendant pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7A-27(a) from a judgment imposing a sentence of life imprisonment, entered by Allsbrook, J., at the 22 September 1986 Criminal Session of Superior Court, Washington County. Heard in the Supreme Court 9 December 1987.\nLacy H. Thornburg, Attorney General, by Thomas G. Meacham, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, for the State.\nMalcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., Appellate Defender, by Mark D. Montgomery and Louis D. Bilionis, Assistant Appellate Defenders, for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0574-01", "first_page_order": 602, "last_page_order": 607 }