Terry Abram v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2002-KA-01755-COA
TERRY ABRAM A/K/A TERRY ABRAMS
APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF TRIAL COURT JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
CERTIORARI FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEE
9/6/2002
HON. R. I. PRICHARD, III
MARION COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
MORRIS SWEATT
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: JEFFREY A. KLINGFUSS
CLAIBORNE MCDONALD
CRIMINAL - FELONY
SIMPLE ASSAULT ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER; SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN
THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION TO RUN
CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY OTHER SENTENCE
NOW BEING SERVED.
AFFIRMED - 12/16/2003
BEFORE SOUTHWICK, P.J., THOMAS AND GRIFFIS, JJ.
SOUTHWICK, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
Terry Abram was convicted of one count of simple assault on a law enforcement officer by a circuit
court jury. He appeals arguing the court erred when it denied his motion for a directed verdict, denied a
jury instruction, and that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. We find no error and affirm.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
¶2.
On the night of September 10, 2001, Officer Michael Stevens and Officer Randy Dyess of the
Columbia Police Department were on patrol. They discovered Terry Abram inside an old scrap yard
building. The officers instructed Abram to leave the building, but he refused to do so. Abram said that he
lived in the building. After an additional demand and refusal, Abram began to run. The officers split up to
pursue Abram in order to arrest him.
¶3.
Deputy Sheriff Eugene Ryals arrived after hearing a call for assistance. He and Officer Dyess found
Abram inside an abandoned building. Abram was sitting on a couch. As the officers approached, Abram
stood up. After Ryals grabbed Abram's arm, Abram pulled backwards from the officer. Both men fell
onto the couch on which Abram had been sitting. There was testimony that Abram was kicking and
clawing at Ryals' face. Other officers helped subdue Abram.
¶4.
Officers Stevens, Dyess, and Ryals all went to the emergency room for treatment. Abram was
charged with three counts of simple assault on a law enforcement officer. The jury reached a guilty verdict
only as to the count concerning Officer Ryals. Abram appeals.
DISCUSSION
1. Sufficiency of evidence
¶5.
Abram challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, alleging that he was entitled to a peremptory
instruction or judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the charge of simple assault. He also argues that he
is at least entitled to a new trial because the great weight of the evidence supported his innocence.
Primarily, Abram argues that the injuries to Officer Ryals, if any, were too minor to support a finding of
assault, and regardless, the injuries were accidental.
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¶6.
A person is guilty of simple assault if he either attempts or purposely, knowingly or recklessly
causes bodily injury to another. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-7(a)(1) (Rev. 2000). There was testimony that
Abram clawed Ryals' face. The officer was treated at a hospital for scratches that went from his neck to
his chest. The scratches burned and stung Ryals for a couple of days. A picture taken of Officer Ryals
showing the scratches on his neck was presented to the jury.
¶7.
Abram contends that he scratched Officer Ryals because he lost his balance. He claims that Ryals
was not actually injured since he did not require bandages or medication and he was able to finish his shift
that night. However, the jury found the State's account of events to be correct. Ryals did receive bodily
injury at least to the extent of having scratches on his face that burned for two days. This meets the
definition of assault under the statute. Abram's somewhat different account, which in essence was that the
slight injuries to the officer were inadvertent, did not have to be accepted by the jury if it found the other
evidence more credible. That they did. We affirm.
¶8.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE MARION COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF CONVICTION
OF COUNT II SIMPLE ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER AND SENTENCE OF FIVE
YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
WITH SENTENCE TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY OTHER SENTENCE, AND PAY
PAST-DUE FINES OF $1,735.50 TO CITY OF COLUMBIA IS AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS ARE
ASSESSED TO MARION COUNTY.
McMILLIN, C.J., KING, P.J., BRIDGES, THOMAS, LEE, IRVING, MYERS,
CHANDLER AND GRIFFIS, JJ., CONCUR.
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