Coon v. State

494 So. 2d 184, 1986 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 6473
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedJuly 15, 1986
StatusPublished
Cited by77 cases

This text of 494 So. 2d 184 (Coon v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coon v. State, 494 So. 2d 184, 1986 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 6473 (Ala. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

494 So.2d 184 (1986)

Steve COON
v.
STATE.

4 Div. 348.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

July 15, 1986.

*185 Larry R. Grissett, Opp, for appellant.

Charles A. Graddick, Atty. Gen., and James B. Prude, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

McMILLAN, Judge.

This appeal follows a conviction for the offense of attempted arson in the second degree, in violation of § 13A-7-41, Code of Alabama (1975), and a sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment. For the reasons outlined below, we reverse and remand.

At the trial of the case, the appellant's girl friend, Charlotte Street, testified that on the morning of November 12, 1984, she used some kerosene (which she stored in a container or "jug"), to start a fire at her house. According to Ms. Street, the appellant was with her at the time and they began to argue. Ms. Street testified that she went next door to her sister's house, but the appellant followed her there and they continued to argue. Ms. Street testified that while she was at her sister's house, the appellant pulled a knife and threatened her. Ms. Street stated that she and her sister were able to "push" the appellant out of the house and close the front door. According to Ms. Street, the appellant had been drinking "Thunderbird" wine earlier that morning, before they began to argue.

Ms. Street testified that a few minutes after the appellant left, she observed that the kerosene container which she had used earlier that morning was lying on her sister's front porch. Ms. Street admitted that she did not see the appellant pour kerosene on the porch. According to her testimony, however, Ms. Street did see a "wet spot" which she identified as kerosene because of the odor.

Essie Anderson, the sister of Charlotte Street, testified that, on the morning in question, she overheard her sister arguing with the appellant next door. Ms. Anderson stated that a short time later Charlotte came to her house, but was followed by the appellant. The appellant continued to argue with Charlotte, according to the witness, and threatened her with a knife. Ms. Anderson stated that because of the appellant's behavior, she and her sister forced the appellant to leave the house and "pushed" him out the front door.

Ms. Anderson testified that a few moments later, after the appellant left, she heard something hit her front porch and saw the appellant "standing out there trying to strike a match to throw on the porch." According to her testimony, Ms. Anderson observed the appellant strike and throw down several matches, but she did not actually see him pour kerosene on her porch. Ms. Anderson stated that there was a "wet spot" on her front porch, which she determined to be kerosene. According to Ms. Anderson, the appellant had been drinking during the morning and appeared to be intoxicated.

Jerry Williamson of the Andalusia Police Department testified that, on the day in question, he responded to a call at Essie Anderson's house. He testified that when he arrived, he observed a kerosene container on the front porch of the house, and a "puddle" of kerosene next to the container. Officer Williamson also stated that he observed several "burnt matches," which were in the middle of the spilled kerosene. When Officer Williamson talked to the appellant later that morning, he noted that *186 the appellant had been drinking, but did not determine whether he was intoxicated.

Billy Treadway, Investigator, Andalusia Police Department, testified that he arrived at Ms. Anderson's house and observed kerosene spilled on the front porch and several struck matches in the center of the kerosene. A few hours later, Investigator Treadway testified, he talked with the appellant and noted that the smell of alcohol was on the appellant's breath. Investigator Treadway concluded that the appellant "had been drinking."

On his own behalf, the appellant testified that he, along with Sid White (who was also Essie Anderson's live-in boyfriend), had been drinking "Thunderbird" wine on the morning in question. According to the appellant, he and Sid got into an argument and Sid pulled out a knife. The appellant testified that he picked up the kerosene container and threw it at Sid, but that it landed on the porch. Although the appellant admitted that he threw the kerosene jug on Ms. Anderson's porch, he denied that he "threw any matches down."

Several issues are raised on appeal; however, because the appellant successfully raised the issue of the failure of the trial court to give a requested charge, our discussion will be limited to that issue.

At trial, defense counsel properly submitted certain written jury instructions to the trial court, including a jury charge on intoxication as a defense where the appellant may have been incapable of forming the requisite specific intent to commit the crime of attempted arson. The appellant's requested jury charge is stated as follows:

"I charge you the jury that if you find from the evidence that the Defendant was voluntarily intoxicated to the extent that he could not form the necessary specific intent to damage a building by starting or maintaining a fire or causing an explosion when another person was present in the building at the time and that he knew that fact or the circumstances were such as to render the presence of a person therein a reasonable possibility then you can not convict the Defendant."

In determining whether the trial court's refusal to give this instruction to the jury was reversible error, we must determine first whether the appellant was entitled to an instruction on intoxication and, if so, then whether the particular instruction submitted was valid and proper.

I.

A trial court has broad discretion in formulating its jury instructions, provided they are an accurate reflection of the law and facts of the case. United States v. Padilla-Martinez, 762 F.2d 942 (11th Cir.1982). However, a "defendant is entitled to have the court instruct the jury on his defense theory, `assuming that the theory has foundation in the evidence and legal support.' United States v. Conroy, 589 F.2d 1258, 1273 (5th Cir.1979)." United States v. Terebecki, 692 F.2d 1345, 1351 (11th Cir.1982). In order to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to necessitate an instruction and allow the jury to consider the defense, "we must accept the testimony most favorably to the defendant." (Citations omitted.) United States v. Lewis, 592 F.2d 1282, 1286 (5th Cir.1979). The Alabama Supreme Court has indicated that proper written requested instructions must be given "which are supported by any evidence, however weak, insufficient, or doubtful in credibility." Chavers v. State, 361 So.2d 1106, 1107 (Ala.1978). See also Ashlock v. State, 367 So.2d 560, 561, (Ala. Cr.App.1978), cert. denied, 367 So.2d 562 (Ala.1979); Giles v. State, 366 So.2d 351 (Ala.Cr.App.1978). As to the sufficiency of the evidence for mandating a jury charge on intoxication, one court has written as follows:

"The Government argue[d] that the evidence of intoxication was insufficient to require any intoxication charge whatsoever.

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Bluebook (online)
494 So. 2d 184, 1986 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 6473, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coon-v-state-alacrimapp-1986.