247 So. 3d 335
Miss. Ct. App.2018Background
- On May 10, 2015, Precious Harris testified a man she later identified as D’Anzor Jackson entered her apartment, exposed himself, and made statements of a religious/sexual nature while her two young children were present.
- Harris told Jackson to leave; he grabbed her arm, made comments about being sent by God and about her children, then left saying he would return.
- Harris reported the incident to police and identified Jackson approaching nearby; officers ordered him to kneel, attempted to handcuff him, and used a taser when he resisted; Jackson fled and was later captured.
- Officers observed Jackson behaving erratically, rambling, and claiming to be Jesus Christ; they believed he might be under the influence of drugs.
- Jackson testified he was an acquaintance of Harris, denied entering her apartment that night, claimed police used force on him, and admitted prior marijuana use while suggesting possible contamination.
- Jackson was convicted of burglary (breaking into Harris’s home with intent to commit assault) and appealed, claiming insufficient evidence.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sufficiency of evidence for burglary conviction | State: Harris’s testimony supports conviction | Jackson: Single witness testimony conflicted with his account; thus insufficient | Conviction affirmed — single-witness testimony can suffice; jury decides credibility |
Key Cases Cited
- Bush v. State, 895 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 2005) (standard for reviewing sufficiency of evidence)
- Cousar v. State, 855 So. 2d 993 (Miss. 2003) (a single witness’s uncorroborated testimony can support a conviction)
- Doby v. State, 532 So. 2d 584 (Miss. 1988) (supporting rule on single-witness sufficiency)
- Gillett v. State, 56 So. 3d 469 (Miss. 2010) (jury determines witness credibility and weight of evidence)
- Little v. State, 233 So. 3d 288 (Miss. 2017) (noting Bush was abrogated on other grounds)