STROUD, Judge.
Paul Jason Cannon ("defendant") appeals from his convictions for felony possession of stolen goods and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. For the following reasons, we vacate defendant's conviction for felony possession of stolen goods and find no prejudicial error as to defendant's sentencing on the charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.
On 2 February 2010, defendant was indicted for felony possession of stolen goods, five counts of communicating threats, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting a public officer, injury to personal property, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Defendant was tried on these charges during the 20 September 2010 Criminal Session of Superior Court, Martin County. The State's evidence presented at trial tended to show the following: Zeb Winslow, Jr. testified that on the morning of 14 July 2009 he discovered that his 1995 Chevrolet pick-up truck and his 2002 Suzuki four-wheeler had been stolen from his premises. Mr. Winslow reported the theft to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Mr. Winslow further testified that even though the truck was discovered the same day, he did not hear anything about his four-wheeler until September 2009 when he received a call that a four-wheeler matching the serial number of the four-wheeler that had been stolen had been recovered. Upon viewing the recovered four-wheeler, Mr. Winslow noted that the decals and stickers had been removed and someone had affixed an "old Honda decal with Honda Motor Sports" on the front. However, he confirmed that the serial number on this four-wheeler matched the number on the bill of sale for his stolen four-wheeler. He also noted that the serial number had not been altered in any way. Mr. Winslow further testified that he estimated the "cost" of the four-wheeler to be around $4,800 to $5,000. He also testified that he did not know defendant but knew "of him" and he did not give defendant permission to take his four-wheeler. He further stated that the key was in the four-wheeler's ignition when it was stolen and was still in the ignition when it was recovered.
At the close of the State's evidence, defendant made a motion to dismiss all of the charges. The trial court consolidated the five communicating threat charges into two separate charges; granted defendant's motion as to the charge of resisting a public officer; and denied defendant's motion as to charges of injury to personal property, second-degree trespass, possession of stolen goods, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a concealed weapon. Defendant did not present any evidence at trial but renewed his motion to dismiss, which was denied by the trial court.
On 23 September 2010, the jury found defendant guilty of felony possession of stolen goods, carrying a concealed weapon, willful and wanton injury to personal property, second-degree trespass, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; the jury acquitted defendant of the two charges of communicating threats. Defense counsel stipulated to defendant's prior convictions and the trial court found that defendant was at prior record level "V" based on 16 prior record points from the prior convictions listed on the prior
Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss as to the charge of felony possession of stolen goods, as the State failed "to produce substantial evidence that [(1) defendant] knew or had reasonable grounds to believe" that the four-wheeler was stolen or (2) that the four-wheeler's value at the time of the theft was greater than $1,000.00.
State v. Phillpott, ___ N.C.App. ___, ___, 713 S.E.2d 202, 209 (2011) (citation omitted). The essential elements of felonious possession of stolen goods are: "(1) possession of personal property; (2) having a value in excess of [$1,000.00]; (3) which has been stolen; (4) the possessor knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe the property was stolen; and (5) the possessor acting with a dishonest purpose." State v. Martin, 97 N.C. App. 19, 25, 387 S.E.2d 211, 214 (1990); see also N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 14-71.1, -72 (2009). Defendant challenges elements two and four, whether defendant knew or had reasonable grounds to believe the goods were stolen and whether the State put forward sufficient evidence to show that the goods had a value in excess of $1,000.00.
First, defendant contends that the State failed to present substantial evidence that he knew or had reason to know that the four-wheeler was stolen. The State, citing State v. Lofton, 66 N.C. App. 79, 310 S.E.2d 633 (1984), counters that testimony by the owner of the four-wheeler "that decals which were originally on the vehicle had been removed after the vehicle was stolen" and "that a Honda sticker had been put on the Suzuki four wheeler after the theft" showed that "the vehicle had been altered to conceal its identification" and "was sufficient to show that Defendant, if he was not the thief, himself, had reason to know the vehicle was stolen." This Court has stated that "[w]hether the defendant knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that the [goods] were stolen must necessarily be proved through inferences drawn from the evidence." State v. Brown, 85 N.C. App. 583, 589, 355 S.E.2d 225, 229 (citation omitted), disc. review denied, 320 N.C. 172, 358 S.E.2d 57 (1987).
In Lofton, a car dealer testified that "a brown, two-door, 1975 Toyota Celica" had been stolen off of the lot at his car dealership. 66 N.C.App. at 80, 310 S.E.2d at 634. Months after the theft, the car dealer spotted the stolen car parked at a convenience store, but there were "numerous cosmetic changes that altered the car's appearance and lessened its fair market value from about $3,000 to $ 500[;] ... [t]he radio, carpet, exterior stripes, and body side molding had been removed[; and] [t]he console, right front fender, and tires had been exchanged." Id. Police discovered that the car had the same serial number as the car that was stolen, so police staked out near the car to see if anyone would return for it. Later the same day
Id. at 83-84, 310 S.E.2d at 636.
Here, like Lofton, there was testimony from the owner, Mr. Winslow, that there were "cosmetic changes altering the [four-wheeler's] appearance" when it was recovered, specifically the decals and stickers had been pulled off of it and someone had affixed an "old Honda decal with Honda Motor Sports" to the front. However, the only other evidence in the record as to the four-wheeler is that four witnesses testified that defendant twice drove to Mr. Reed's premises on the four-wheeler, which Deputy Cratt had towed away after defendant's arrest. Only after further investigation did the sheriff's department discover that the four-wheeler had been stolen from Halifax County. Contrary to the State's contention, the ruling in Lofton was not based solely on the cosmetic changes to the car, but this Court also considered the fact that the car had been abandoned and the "most damaging" evidence that the defendant had fled from the scene when he realized the police saw him opening the car. See id. at 83-84, 310 S.E.2d at 636. Unlike Lofton, here the "cosmetic changes" were minimal compared to the "numerous" changes to the car, as they were limited to the removal and replacement of the decals. Unlike in Lofton, the four-wheeler was not hidden or abandoned, but defendant was observed openly driving the four-wheeler and doing "doughnuts" in the road with it, which would have drawn attention to him. Defendant did not flee the scene when police arrived, like the defendant in Lofton, but was physically restrained when the deputy sheriff arrived and made no mention of the four-wheeler to the deputy. Also, the key was still in the four wheeler's ignition when defendant was using it. We further note that there is no evidence in the record regarding the circumstances by which defendant gained possession of the four-wheeler. See Brown, 85 N.C.App. at 589, 355 S.E.2d at 229 (noting "[t]he fact that a defendant is willing to sell property for a fraction of its value is sufficient to give rise to an inference that he knew, or had reasonable grounds to believe, that the property was stolen"); State v. Parker, 316 N.C. 295, 304, 341 S.E.2d 555,
Defendant next contends that he should receive a new sentencing hearing for his conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon because "the trial court erred in sentencing [him] at prior record level V." Defendant argues that it was error for the trial court to add another prior record level point based on the fact that the offense was committed while he was on probation, pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1340.14(b)(7), as it failed to submit this factor to a jury and have a jury find it beyond a reasonable doubt before relying on it in calculating his prior record level. We review the calculation
State v. Bohler, 198 N.C. App. 631, 633, 681 S.E.2d 801, 804 (2009) (citations omitted), disc. review denied, ___ N.C. ___, 691 S.E.2d 414 (2010). According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.14(a) (2009), "[t]he prior record level of a felony offender is determined by calculating the sum of the points assigned to each of the offender's prior convictions that the court, or with respect to subdivision (b)(7) of this section, the jury, finds to have been proved in accordance with this section[.]" Thus, N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1340.14(b)(1)-(5) assigns points based on the class of the prior conviction and whether it is classified as a felony or misdemeanor. However, N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1340.14(b)(7), which, as noted above, must be found by a jury, states that "[i]f the offense was committed while the offender was on supervised or unsupervised probation, parole, or post-release supervision, or while the offender was serving a sentence of imprisonment, or while the offender was on escape from a correctional institution while serving a sentence of imprisonment, 1 point [should be assigned]." Here, defendant was assessed to have 14 points based on his prior convictions and, pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1340.14(b)(7), was assessed an additional point, which gave him 15 prior record level points, moving him from a prior record level of "IV" to a "V[.]"
The date, the prosecutor's signature, and defense counsel's signature appear below this paragraph. In section one, the worksheet states that "the offense was committed: (a) while on supervised or unsupervised probation, parole, or post-release supervision[,]" and assigns defendant one additional point for this finding. Therefore, the issue before us is whether a defendant could stipulate to this finding through his counsel's signature on the prior record level worksheet or whether this finding regarding whether defendant was on probation when he committed the crime had to go to a jury. This Court has previously addressed this issue in State v. Wissink, 172 N.C. App. 829, 617 S.E.2d 319 (2005) ("Wissink I") and the related subsequent case State v. Wissink, 187 N.C. App. 185, 652 S.E.2d 17 (2007) ("Wissink II").
In Wissink I, the trial court "enhance[ed] defendant's prior record level from III to IV" pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-1340.14(b)(7), after the defendant stipulated that he had "committed the offense of discharging a firearm into occupied property while [he] was on probation[.]" 172 N.C.App. at 836-37, 617 S.E.2d at 324-25. This Court concluded that the stipulation was not properly made and, "the trial court erred by adding a point to defendant's prior record level without first submitting the issue to a jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt" and remanded for resentencing. Id. at 837-38, 617 S.E.2d at 325. The State petitioned for discretionary review and our Supreme Court remanded specifically as to this issue to the Court of Appeals for reconsideration in light of its decisions in State v. Hurt, 361 N.C. 325, 330, 643 S.E.2d 915, 918 (2007) and State v. Blackwell, 361 N.C. 41, 44, 49-51, 638 S.E.2d 452, 455, 458-59 (2006), cert. denied, 550 U.S. 948, 127 S.Ct. 2281, 167 L.Ed.2d 1114 (2007). State v. Wissink, 361 N.C. 418-19, 645 S.E.2d 761 (2007). On remand in Wissink II, this Court reconsidered the issue as directed. State v. Wissink, 187 N.C. App. 185, 652 S.E.2d 17 (2007). In Wissink II, this Court first examined the applicable United States Supreme Court decisions:
Id. at 187, 652 S.E.2d at 19 (emphasis in original). This Court then summarized the relevant holdings in the cases it was instructed to reconsider:
Id. at 188, 652 S.E.2d at 19-20. After noting the State's argument that the defense counsel's statements at trial amounted to a stipulation to the fact that defendant was on probation when he committed the offense, this Court held that "[e]ven assuming that defense counsel's statement did not amount to a stipulation, and that Blakely error occurred, any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt." Id. at 188-89, 652 S.E.2d at 20. This Court noted that (1) the defendant had admitted to police during an interview that he was on probation on the date of the offense; (2) defense counsel signed the stipulation on the prior record level worksheet which added one point to the defendant's prior record points based on the finding that he was on probation at the time of the offense; and (3) "the State said at trial that Defendant had one prior record level point because Defendant was on probation at the time of the offense, and defense counsel stated: `I think that's correct, Your Honor.'" Id. at 189, 652 S.E.2d at 20. In finding no prejudicial error, this Court held that based on this uncontested evidence, "there was overwhelming and uncontroverted evidence that Defendant committed the offense of discharging a firearm into occupied property while he was on probation for another offense. Therefore, even if Blakely error occurred, any Blakely error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt." Id.
Likewise here, at sentencing, defense counsel requested a recess, explaining that
The trial court granted his request and after the recess, the trial court noted that "So, [defense counsel], [the prosecutor] handed up a work sheet. It appears to bear your signature. It's a stipulation." Defense counsel responded "Yes, sir. Yes, sir." The trial court in order to confirm defense counsel's affirmation asked "that it is 16 Prior Record Points, Level V for felony sentencing ...." Defense counsel again confirmed, "Yes, sir." Therefore, unlike the defense counsel in Wissink II, who merely signed the worksheet, defense counsel here took a recess to consult with the prosecutor and his client, before giving verbal assent to the contents of the prior record level worksheet. Defense counsel also signed the worksheet, stipulating that it was correct that defendant committed the crime of possession of a firearm by a felon while he was on probation. Even though the issue of whether defendant was on probation at the time he committed this offense was not submitted to a jury, we hold that "if any Blakely error occurred, any Blakely error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt" as there was "overwhelming and uncontroverted evidence that Defendant committed the offense of [possession of a firearm by a convicted felon] while he was on probation for another offense." See Wissink, 187 N.C.App. at 189, 652 S.E.2d at 20. Accordingly, we find no prejudicial error in the inclusion of the one point on defendant's prior record level worksheet for defendant being on probation at the time he committed the offense in question.
VACATED IN PART AND NO PREJUDICAL ERROR IN PART.
Judges GEER and THIGPEN concur.