State v. Smaw

WELLS, Judge. Because defendant pleaded guilty, the sole issue presented by this appeal is whether his sentence for a term of imprisonment beyond the statutory presumptive term is supported by the evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1444(al) (1988). Common law robbery is punishable as a Class H felony, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-87.1 (1988), bearing a presumptive term of 3 years’ imprisonment, id., § 15A-1340.4(f)(6), and a maximum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, id., § 14-l.l(a)(8). For felony convictions other than Class A or B felonies, G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a) requires the trial court to impose the statutory presumptive term of imprisonment “unless, after consideration of aggravating or mitigating factors, or both, [the court] decides to impose a longer or shorter term[.]” To be considered by the court, such factors must be reasonably related to the purpose of sentencing and proved by a “preponderance of the evidence^]” Id. The State has the burden of proof on aggravating factors, while the burden of proof on mitigating factors rests upon the defendant. State v. Canty, 321 N.C. 520, 364 S.E.2d 410 (1988). Although the trial court has wide latitude in determining whether aggravating and mitigating factors exist, id., it may not consider evidence necessary to establish an element of the offense as proof of a factor in aggravation. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.4(a). Defendant first challenges the court’s findings as a statutory aggravating factor under G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(l)(i) that he “used a deadly weapon at the time of the crime.” He contends that he was unaware that his codefendant had the gun and that this codefendant’s lone statement to the contrary was insufficient to establish that defendant was other than a minor participant in the crime. Defendant also urges that the informal evidentiary procedures used at the sentencing hearing lessened the credibility of the State’s evidence on this point. Defendant miscasts the issue. By being present at the scene of the crime, with the intent to see it take place, and by performing the overt act of assisting in its commission by driving the getaway car, defendant became a principal in the crime. See State v. Small, 301 N.C. 407, 272 S.E.2d 128 (1980) [101] (and cases cited therein). His codefendant’s use of the gun in perpetrating the crime is therefore imputed to defendant. Id.; see also State v. Kelly, 243 N.C. 177, 90 S.E.2d 241 (1955). More importantly, there is no indication that the Legislature in its enactment of G.S. § 15A-1340.4 sought to change this well-established rule with respect to the statutory aggravating factor in issue by adding scienter as an element to be found by the court. See G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(l)(i); c/., G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(l)(g) (“The defendant knowingly created a risk of death[.]”). (Emphasis added.) We certainly will not do so. The question of defendant’s awareness of the gun is thus not dispositive. In addition, the informal evidentiary procedures used at the sentencing hearing are not dispositive of the question of the credibility of the State’s evidence, inasmuch as G.S. § 15A-1334(b) expressly suspends application of the formal rules of evidence to a sentencing hearing. We therefore hold the State’s evidence sufficient to support the court’s finding as a statutory aggravating factor that defendant used a deadly weapon at the time of the crime. Defendant, however, argues in the alternative that the gun could not be used as evidence to support a finding of a factor in aggravation because its use in the crime rendered it evidence of an element of the offense of common law robbery by putting the victim in fear. We are unpersuaded. Put simply, the use of a deadly weapon has never been an element of proof required to establish common law robbery in North Carolina. See, e.g., State v. Melvin, 57 N.C. App. 503, 291 S.E.2d 885, cert. denied, 306 N.C. 748, 295 S.E.2d 484 (1982) (and cases cited therein). Conse\ quently, the State’s evidence proving defendant’s use of the gun as an aggravating factor was not barred by G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a). Finally, defendant challenges the court’s failure to find as a statutory mitigating factor that he was a passive participant or minor player in the crime. In raising this issue on appeal, defendant has the burden of proving that the evidence in support thereof is “substantial, uncontradicted, and manifestly credible.” State v. Canty, supra. A court is not compelled to find a statutory mitigating factor unless the evidence offered at the sentencing hearing “so clearly establishes the fact in issue that no reasonable inferences to the contrary can be drawn.” Id. Applying these principles to the facts before the trial court, we determine that defendant has not overcome his burden and that the court below properly declined to find this statutory factor in mitigation. [102] Affirmed. Judges JOHNS.ON and Orr concur.