Brooks v. State

Melvin, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. On May 3, 1977, Arthur Nathaniel Brooks (appellant) was convicted by the Circuit Court for Wicomico County (Simpkins, J.) of assault with intent to murder John Frank Williams [Md. Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 12] and carrying a weapon openly with intent to injure [Md. Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 36]. He was given consecutive sentences of twelve years for the assault with intent to murder and three years for the carrying of a weapon openly with intent to injure. On appeal, appellant presents three questions for our consideration: “1.

Was appellant improperly convicted of carrying a weapon openly with the intent to injure? 2. Was the evidence insufficient to sustain Appellant’s conviction for assault with intent to murder? 3. Does the sentence imposed upon Appellant constitute cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 25, Maryland Declaration of Rights?” On August 23, 1976, John Williams and Catherine Anderson, together with Mrs. Anderson’s three grandchildren, went to a park at Westover Hills in Salisbury. Shortly after their arrival, appellant joined the group.

Williams testified that he and appellant engaged in a scuffle originating over the disciplining by Mrs. Anderson of one of her grandchildren. Mrs. Anderson said that there was no scuffle and that the men fell when the bench on which they were sitting toppled over. Williams and Anderson both testified that appellant left the park area, went to his car, and returned with a shotgun with which he twice shot Williams as Williams was attempting to run away. Appellant testified that he had just purchased a half pint of whiskey and that ⁵⁵² Williams, who wanted the bottle, came after him with a knife.

Appellant further testified that he shot Williams in self defense. I Appellant first contends that his conviction for carrying a weapon openly with intent to injure should have been merged into his conviction for assault with intent to murder. Because appellant was given consecutive sentences, we will consider the issue of merger even though it was not raised or decided below. Rose v. State, 87 Md. App. 388, 393-94 , 377 A. 2d 588 (1977).

In Newton v. State, 280 Md. 260, 268 , 373 A. 2d 262 (1977), the Court of Appeals set out the test for determining whether two offenses merge: “Thus, under both federal double jeopardy principles and Maryland merger law, the test for determining the identity of offenses is the required evidence test. If each offense requires proof of a fact which the other does not, the offenses are not the same and do not merge. However, if only one offense requires proof of a fact which the other does not, the offenses are deemed the same, and separate sentences for each offense are prohibited." See also Couplin v. State, 37 Md. App. 567, 579-82 , 378 A. 2d 197 (1977) (offenses of robbery with a deadly weapon and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony or crime of violence do not merge). Applying the required evidence test to the two offenses involved here, it is clear that each requires proof of a fact which the other does not, thus precluding a merger.

Assault with intent to murder, as its name implies, requires proof of an assault. Bird v. State, 231 Md. 432 , 190 A. 2d 804 (1963). A weapon need not be involved. To sustain a conviction of carrying a weapon openly with intent to injure, it is necessary that the State prove the carrying of a weapon.

Md. Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 36 (a). While the State must also show that the weapon was carried openly, with the intent or purpose of ⁵⁵³ injuring any person in any unlawful manner, it is not necessary that the State prove an assault. As the offenses of assault with intent to murder and carrying a weapon openly with intent to