State v. Corl, 250 N.C. 252 (1959)

May 6, 1959 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

250 N.C. 252

STATE v. JOHN BANGLE CORL.

(Filed 6, May, 1959.)

1. Automobiles § 3—

In a 'prosecution of defendant for operating an automobile on the public highways, after his operator’s license had been revoked or during a period it had been suspended, the State may introduce the certified record of the Department of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of showing the status of defendant’s operator’s license at the time of the ■offense charged, C.S. 20-42 (b), and further, objections to preliminary statements of the witness to the effect that the witness had written to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the official record and had received such record from the Department, are feckless.

a. Same: Criminal Eaw § 90—

Even though the certified record of the Department of Motor Vehicles is competent solely for the purpose of establishing -the status of defendant’s driver’s license 'at the time he is charged with driving after revocation of license or during the period of suspension of his license, the admission of -the entire record, showing numerous convictions for speeding and reckless driving', driving after revocation of license, etc., cannot be held for error when defendant, at the time, does not reguest that ■the admission of the record be restricted to the purpose of showing the status of his driver’s license.

3. Criminal Eaw § 99—

On defendant’s motion ito nonsuit, the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable to the 'State, and the State is entitled to the benefit of every reasonable intendment thereon and every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom.

4. Automobiles §§ 3, 63—

Testimony of officers to the effect that itihey flashed a light on an automobile in a field, recognized defendant behind the wheel, saw no other person in the car, 'that this car pulled around the officers’ car, that the officers hacked up and followed the ear along a private road and into a public highway, that the car did not stop and no ear entered the highway between that car and the officers’ ear, and that the officers followed the car .for a distance along the public ¡highway ait speeds up to 120 miles per hour, is held sufficient identification of defendant as the driver of the car on the public highway.

5. Criminal Law § 133—

Where cumulative sentences are imposed upon convictions fox separate offenses, the judgment in the second sentence should provide that ■it should begin ait the expiration of (the first sentence, and when the judgment merely provides that the sentence in each case should run consecutively and not concurrently with the other, without specifying the order in which the sentences should be served, the cause must be remanded for .proper sentences.

6. Criminal Law §§ 139, 169—

Where the record discloses that judgment imposing sentences for two separate offenses each provided that the sentences should be cumulative and should not run concurrently, the Supreme Court will take notice ex mero motu of the want of definite provision as to when each sentence should begin, and remand the cause for proper sentences.

Appeal by defendant from Johnston, J., October Term 1958 of CabaReus.

The defendant was charged in a warrant returnable to toe Recorder’s Court of 'Cabarrus County with operating a motor vehicle, on or about 12 April 1957, upon (the public highways of North .Carolina, after his operator’s license had been revoked; or suspended by the Highway Safety Division of toe Department of Motor Vehicles, the revocation being in force at toe time he 'Operated said motor vehicle.

The defendant was also charged in 'another warrant, returnable to the same court, with toe wilful and unlawful operation of an automobile upon toe public highways of toe State, on 12 April 1957, at a speed of 100 miles per hour where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour, in violation of G.S. 20-141.

The defendant was tried 'and convicted .in toe Recorder’s Court of Cabarrus County on 22 May 1958 on boto charges. He appealed to the Superior Court.

In toe Superior Court toe cases were consolidated and tried on the original warrants. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to each charge, 'and a jury was empaneled to .try toe cases.

Ray Atwood, a witness for the State, testified: “I am a deputy sheriff of Cabarrus County. On the 12th day of April, 1957, I saw the defendant in an automobile; it was approximately 1:00 or 1:30 A.M..; * * * we were .on a private road * * *. A two-tone Ford pulled in a dart road. He backed 'into an open field * * * we followed the Ford in * * * it was J. B. >Corl. * * * The weather was fair and dry. Officer Allen got out, went up to toe oar, he was in toe oar with me, and shined a flashlight 'in it. At this time toe car was pulled in gear, going around .in front of us. We backed up, took off after him * * *. We came back out the Gríseo Road * * * the Gríseo Road is a * * public highway. When we got to the Gríseo Road we * saw the same oar. We were 100 yards behind it. We turned left on Gríseo Road out to (highway 73) (which) leads to Davddlson and Oorueord * * *. When we got to 73, we saw the same car that was in the field. * * We 'followed that same car on the Davidson Highway * * *. My headlights were shining on the back of the oar. * * * We traveled uip to 120 miles 'an hour. We did not overtake the car we were following, the two-tone Ford. We weren’t gaining or losing till we got to Mecklenburg County and I didn’t know the road -and let up on him. * * * ”

Paul Allen, also a deputy sheriff of Gabarras County andi who accompanied Ray Atwood on the occasion involved, testified: “I ■saw the defendant on the 12th of April * *. I knew him. * * * We pulled behind this car, a two-tone 1957 Ford. * * I got out of the oar, had -a flashlight, shined it on the man operating the 'oar, which was J. B. Oorl. My -light 'hit him in the face. * * * ”

The evidence further tends to show that J. B. Coi’l was driving the car when it left on the private -road, andi that the officers saw no one else in the car at the time; that they followed the car and kept in sight of it at all times until it entered Mecklenburg County. The car never -stopped at any time, -and no oar entered the highways between the Ford car and the -officers’ -car. The officers did not get-close enough to the Ford car -after it left the private road to again identify J. B. Oorl as the driver thereof.

The State offered Ira Padigett who testified that he was a deputy sheriff; that he wrote to the Drivers License Division of the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for an official record -of the status of -the driver’s license of defendant J. B. Oorl and that he had -a -certified copy thereof from the Drivers License Division of said Department, signed by Elton R. Peele, Director. The driver’s license record wa-s admitted in evidence -and read to the jury over the objection of the -defendant. The certified record is set out in full in the case on appeal.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in each case.

The warrant charging the defendant with driving -after his driver’s license bad been revoked is Case No. 6711, while the warrant in which he w-as charged with speeding is Case No. 6712.

In Case No. 6711 the court entered the following judgment: “The judgment of the court is that the defendant be confined in the common jail of Cabarrus County for a -period -of eight (8) months and be assigned to work under the supervision of the State Prison De-paritment. This prison .sentence is ¡to run consecutive with and not concurrent with the prison sentences pronounced this day by this court in Cases 6712, 7069, 7070, 7268, and 7270.”

In Case No. 6712 the court entered the following judgment: “The judgment of the count is that the defendant be confined in the common jail of Cabarrus County for a period of sixty (60). days and be assigned to work under the supervision of the State Prison Department. This prison sentence is to run consecutive with and not concurrent with prison sentences pronounced this day by this court in cases Nos. 6711, 7069, 7070, 7268 and 7270.”

The defendant appeals, assigning error.

Attorney General Seawell, Assistant Attorney General Pullen for the State.

Robert L. Warren for defendant.

DeNNY, J.

The defendant’s first assignment of error is to the admission of testimony of Ira Padgeitt las follows': “I wrote to the Drivers License Division of the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for an official record of the status of the driver’s license of the defendant, J. B. Corl.” The second assignment of error is directed to .the admission of this additional testimony of the same witness: “I have an official record from the Drivers License Division from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles signed by Elton R. Peele, Director, and a certified copy of the official record.” The third assignment of error is directed to the admission in evidence by the State of the certified copy of the official record of the status of the driver’s license of the defendant J. B. Cod. Assignments >of error Nos. 1 and 2 are without merit and axe overruled.

As to assignment of error No. 3, the certified copy of convictions for violations of motor vehicle laws and the departmental action with respect thereto relating to J. B. Corl was certified under the seal of the Department as authorized by G.S. 20-42 (b) and such certified record is “admissible in any court in like manner as the original thereof, without further certification.” S. v. Moore, 247 N.C. 368, 101 S.E. 2d 26.

The certified record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, to which the defendant objected and assigns as error its admission in evidence, shows that the defendant has been convicted of twelve separate violations of the motor vehicle laws since 31 October 1946: twice for reckless driving; once for speeding 75 miles per hour, and on 'another occasion for speeding 110 miles per hour; once for presenting another person’s driver’s license as Ms own; and seven times for 'driving after bis license bad 'been revoked and while surah license was revoked.

The defendant contends that since he did not go on the stand or put his character in evidence, the State was not entitled to show his bad raharacter for any purpose whatever. He further contends that his record as a driver was prejudicial in this respect and that the State bad no right to introduce isurah record in evidence, citing S. v. Mercer, 249 N.C. 371, 106 S.E. 2d 866.

In the last cited case, Winborne, C. J., in speaking for the Court with respect to the introduction of a similar document over the objection of the defendant, said: “The record, as shown upon response to order on motion suggesting diminution of the record, reveals that the record is certified under seal of the Department of Motor Vehicles. As introduced the Exhibit discloses, ¡as 'contended by the Attorney General, only the fa'ct that under official department 'action the 'defendant’s license was in a 'state of revocation for a period covering the date of the offense for which the defendant was indicted. Hence the requirements of G.S. 8-35 are complied with, and is of no avail to defendant.”

In our opinion the defendant was entitled to have the contents of the official record of the 'status of his driver’s license limited, if be had so requested, to the formal parts thereof, including the certification and iséal, plus tire fact that under official action of the Department of Motor Vehicles the defendant’s license was in a state of revocation or suspension on the date he d's charged with committing the offenses for which he was being tried.

Ordinarily, where evidence admissible for some purposes, but not for all, is admitted generally, its admission will not be held for error unless the appellant requested -at the time of its admission that its ¡purpose be restricted. Rule 21, Rules of Practice in tlie Supreme Court, 221 N.C. 558; General Statutes, Volume 4A, page 175, et seq; Brewer v. Brewer, 238 N.C. 607, 78 S.E. 2d 719; S. v. McKinnon, 223 N.C. 160, 25 S.E. 2d 606; S. v. Hendricks, 207 N.C. 873, 178 S.E. 557.

In the instant case, the defendant made no request that the contents of the certified record of the status of Ms driver’s license be limited to the portion or portions thereof relating to the status of bis driver’s license on the date he was charged with committing the offenses for which he was being tried. Hence, this assignment of error is overruled.

The defendant’s fourth and fifth assignments of error are directed to the failure of the court below to allow his motion for judgment as of nonsuit at the close of the State’s evidence and renewed when the defendant rested without offering any evidence.

On a motion for judgment as of nonsuit the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable to the State, and the State is entitled to the benefit of every reasonable intendment thereon and every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom. S. v. Block, 245 N.C. 661, 97 S.E. 2d 243; S. v. Burgess, 245 N.C. 304, 96 S.E. 2d 54; S. v. Simpson, 244 N.C. 325, 93 S.E. 2d 425; S. v. McKinnon, supra.

In our opinion, when the State’s evidence in this case Is so considered!, it was sufficient to take the case to the jury, and we so hold. The evidence with respect to the identity of the defendant as the driver of the Ford car, described by the officers who testified on behalf of the State, was not only sufficient to identify the defendant as the driver of the oar on the private road, but also sufficient to support a finding by the jury that be continued to drive the ca(r after entering the Crisco Road and highway 73. S. v. Dooley, 232 N.C. 311, 59 S.E. 2d 808; S. v. Newton, 207 N.C. 323, 177 S.E. 184. This assignment of error is without merit and is, therefore, overruled.

The court below after imposing sentence in Case No. 6711, as hereinabove set out, then stated: “This prison sentence is to run consecutive with and not concurrent with the prison sentences pronounced this day by this court in Cases 6712, 7069, 7070, 7268, and 7270.” The court then proceeded to impose sentence in Case No. 6712, and added: “This prison sentence is to run consecutive with and not concurrent with .the prison sentences pronounced this day by this court in Cases Nos. 6711, 7069, 7070, 7268 and 7270.”

Appeals in all these cases are now pending in this Court. In none of the judgments was It specified in what order the respective sentences were to be served.

The general rule with respect to consecutive sentences is well stated in 15 Am. Jur., Criminal Law, section 467, page 125, as follows: “The specification of the order in which cumulative sentences are to be served must be of such certainty that the commencement and termination of the respective sentences may be determined from the record. This does not mean that the judgment should fix the day on which each successive term of imprisonment shouldi commence, but merely that it should direct that each successive term should begin at the expiration of the previous one, for the obvious reason that the prior term of imprisonment may be shortened by the good behavior of the defendant, by executive clemency, or by a reversal of the judgment, in. which. evenifc the succeeding sentence would then take effect in case it provided that the term of imprisonment should commence at the termination of the previous one.”

There is no exception or assignment of- error with respect to, the ■ambiguity involved in these sentences. Even so, “where error is manifest on the face of the record, it is the duty of the Court to correct it, 'and it may do so- of its own motion, that is, ex mero motu.” Duke v. Campbell; 233 N.C. 262, 63 S.E. 2d 555; Gibson v. Insurance Co., 232 N.C. 712, 62 S.E. 2d 320. Or, where there 'is a void or erroneous sentence, the case will be remanded for a proper sentence. S. v. Doughtie, 237 N.C. 368, 74 S.E. 2d 922; S. v. Satterwhite, 182 N.C. 892, 109 S.E. 862. Moreover, an appeal, will be taken as an exception to the judgment 'and raises the question as to whether error in law appears upon the face of the record. Barnette v. Woody, 242 N.C. 424, 88 S.E. 2d 223; S. v. Sloan, 238 N.C. 672, 78 S.E. 2d 738; Gibson v. Insurance Co., supra; Dixon v. Osborne, 201 N.C. 489, 160 S.E. 579.

Although the judgments in these cases do not specify in what order the sentences are to be served, it is amply clear that his Honor intended that they should run consecutively andi not 'concurrently.

When the trial judge sentenced the defendant in the court below in Case No. 6711 to be confined in the common jail of Cabarrus County for a period of eight (8) months and be assigned to work under the supervision of the State Prison Department, if he had stopped there" and proceeded to impose sentence in Case No. 6712, and then had added, the sentence in Case No. 6712 is to begin at the expiration of the sentence imposed this day in Case No. 6711, the .sentences in Oases Nos. 6711 and 6712 would be definite as to when they would begin. In re Swink, 243 N.C. 86, 89 S.E. 2d 792; In re Smith, 235 N.C. 169, 69 S.E. 2d 174; In re Parker, 225 N.C. 369, 35 S.E. 2d 169.

It is ordered that this case -be remanded to the Superior Court of Cabarrus County for proper sentences.

Remanded.