State v. McCaffery

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State, Respondent,

v.

Robert W. McCaffery, Jr., Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2019-000540

Appeal From Charleston County
D. Craig Brown, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2021-UP-371
Submitted October 1, 2021 – Filed November 3, 2021

AFFIRMED

Appellate Defender Lara Mary Caudy, of Columbia, for
Appellant.

Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Assistant
Attorney General Ambree Michele Muller, both of
Columbia; and Solicitor Scarlett Anne Wilson, of
Charleston, all for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: Robert W. McCaffery appeals his conviction for obstruction of
justice and sentence of ten years' imprisonment. McCaffery argues the trial court
erred by denying his motion for a directed verdict because the State did not prove
he obstructed justice.

Because there was substantial evidence tending to prove McCaffery was guilty of
obstructing justice—including evidence that he initially lied to police regarding his
whereabouts, encouraged his paramour to lie to police, and authored a letter that
purported to be from his missing wife—we find the trial court did not err by
denying McCaffery's motion for a directed verdict. Accordingly, we affirm
pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities: State v. Cope, 405
S.C. 317, 348, 748 S.E.2d 194, 210 (2013) ("In an appeal from the denial of a
directed verdict motion, the appellate court must view the evidence in the light
most favorable to the State."); id. ("If there is any direct evidence or substantial
circumstantial evidence reasonably tending to prove the guilt of the accused, the
Court must find the case was properly submitted to the jury." (quoting State v.
Curtis, 356 S.C. 622, 633, 591 S.E.2d 600, 605 (2004))); State v. Lyles-Gray, 328
S.C. 458, 464, 492 S.E.2d 802, 805 (Ct. App. 1997) ("Under common-law
obstruction of justice, 'it is an offense to do any act which prevents, obstructs,
impedes, or hinders the administration of justice.'" (quoting State v. Cogdell, 273
S.C. 563, 567, 257 S.E.2d 748, 750 (1979))); State v. Singleton, 430 S.C. 546,
553-54, 846 S.E.2d 361, 365 (Ct. App. 2020) (holding evidence showing the
defendant intentionally implicated a party he knew to be innocent to protect the
guilty party was sufficient to support a charge for common-law obstruction of
justice); State v. Needs, 333 S.C. 134, 146, 508 S.E.2d 857, 863 (1998) (stating
evidence showing a witness concealed information and lied to investigators to
protect the defendant was sufficient to support a charge for common-law
obstruction of justice); State v. Love, 275 S.C. 55, 62, 271 S.E.2d 110, 113 (1980)
("Success in the effort to obstruct justice is not necessary to constitute the offense;
it is sufficient if some act is done in furtherance of the endeavor.").

AFFIRMED.1

HUFF, THOMAS, and GEATHERS, JJ., concur.

1
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.