Dockery v. State

317 N.E.2d 453, 161 Ind. App. 681, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 996
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 16, 1974
Docket3-1273A177
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 317 N.E.2d 453 (Dockery v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dockery v. State, 317 N.E.2d 453, 161 Ind. App. 681, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 996 (Ind. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

Hoffman, C.J.

Defendant-appellant Donald Joseph Dockery was charged by affidavit in three counts with I) first degree burglary; II) robbery while armed; and, III) inflicting injury during the commission of a robbery. Appellant pleaded not guilty to each count of such affidavit. Following trial before a jury, appellant was found guilty of the lesser included offenses of entering to commit a felony (Count I) and theft from the person (Count III). He was found not guilty of the offense of robbery while armed (Count II). Appellant was sentenced to the custody of the Indiana Department of Corrections for concurrent periods of not less than one year nor more than five years for entering to commit a felony and not less than one year nor more than ten years for theft from a person. Thereafter, appellant’s motion to correct errors was overruled and this appeal was perfected.

An examination of the evidence most favorable to the State discloses that during the evening of January 25, 1973, the prosecuting witness, John McClanahan, and one Craig Swieczkowski were watching television in McClanahan’s residence *683 located in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Also present at the time was McClanahan’s wife. At approximately 9:30 P.M., McClanahan responded to a knock at the rear door of the house. Upon reaching the door, McClanahan drew aside a curtain and observed a man whom he later identified as appellant-Dockery standing directly in front of him at a distance of approximately one to three feet. Presently, the rear door was kicked inward. McClanahan testified that Dockery, who at the time was accompanied by two other unidentified individuals, moved quickly toward him while confronting him with a gun and that Dockery thereupon struck him in the chest causing him to fall down. McClanahan further testified that he was informed that “this was a robbery”, instructed to lie face down on the floor and told not to look up or his head would be “blown off.” McClanahan’s wife, who had responded to the commotion, was similarly instructed to lie face down on the floor. During a subsequent period of time portions of McClanahan’s house were ransacked and both he and his wife were forced to crawl to separate rooms. McClanahan’s testimony disclosed that the intruders were in search of marijuana and, indeed, were successful in seizing “a good size bag full” from McClanahan’s house. Aside from the marijuana, several other items of property were taken from McClanahan’s residence. They included a stereo for which McClanahan paid $175; two wigs belonging to McClanahan’s wife; an undetermined amount of clothing; a wristwatch; a piggy bank containing dimes and McClanahan’s wallet which contained approximately forty or fifty dollars. The prosecuting witness further testified that when he returned to the living room of his house following the robbery, he noted that Craig Swieczkowski was not there and that he recalled that earlier “someone made the comment of taking him hostage.”

The first issue to be considered is whether there was presented sufficient evidence as to the identification of the appellant to sustain the verdict of guilty.

*684 Where questions with regard to the sufficiency of evidence are raised, this court is bound to consider only that evidence most favorable to the State, together with all reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom which will support a finding of guilty. Gatchett v. State (1973), 261 Ind. 109, 300 N.E.2d 665, 667; Lambert v. State (1969), 252 Ind. 441, 445, 249 N.E.2d 502, 18 Ind. Dec. 246. Moreover, a reviewing court will abstain from weighing the evidence or determining the credibility of witnesses. Hubble v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 655, 299 N.E.2d 612; Combs v. State (1973), 158 Ind. App. 521, 303 N.E.2d 289, 39 Ind. Dec. 585. A conviction will be affirmed provided that there exists substantial evidence of probative value from which the trier of fact could have reasonably inferred that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Thomas v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 604, 298 N.E.2d 425; Bonds v. State (1973), 158 Ind. App. 579, 303 N.E.2d 686, 39 Ind. Dec. 634 (transfer denied).

Under direct examination by the State, McClanahan testified as follows as to his identification of appellant:

“Q The man that you described as the man that pushed open the door and had the gun on you and so forth is he present in the Courtroom ?
“A Yes, sir, he is.
“Q Would you point him out, please ?
“A Right there, Donald Dockery in the white shirt.
“Q Is there any doubt in your mind whatsoever Mr. McClanahan, that Mr. Dockery is the man ?
“A None at all, sir.”

Further, under cross-examination this witness testified concerning the circumstances upon which his identification was based, as follows:

“Q You say that at the time that you opened this curtain at the back door that you saw Mr. Dockery here alledgedly?
“A Uh-huh.
“Q How far away from the window was his face ?
“A One to three feet.
*685 “Q Was there any light outside of the door in the area?
“A Yes, sir, I have a light directly above in the middle of the breezeway, in the middle of the breezeway, there is no shade over it just a light bulb.”

The weight accorded testimony regarding a witness’ positive identification of the defendant is a matter which falls exclusively within the province of the trier of fact. Hash v. State (1973), 259 Ind. 683, 291 N.E.2d 367; Chattman v. State (1974), 160 Ind. App. 505, 312 N.E.2d 529, 42 Ind. Dec. 442; Alexander v. State (1973), 158 Ind. App. 698, 304 N.E.2d 329, 40 Ind. Dec. 96. Moreover, it is to be noted that a conviction may be sustained upon the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness. Jaudon v. State (1970), 255 Ind. 114, 262 N.E.2d 851; Jones v. State (1970), 253 Ind. 480, 255 N.E.2d 219; Black v. State (1972), 153 Ind. App. 309,

Related

Carter v. State
512 N.E.2d 158 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1987)
Dew v. State
416 N.E.2d 1245 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1981)
Clark v. Clark
404 N.E.2d 23 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1980)
Atkins v. State
370 N.E.2d 985 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1977)
Merry v. State
335 N.E.2d 249 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Alexander v. State
332 N.E.2d 116 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Smith v. State
330 N.E.2d 384 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Fry v. State
330 N.E.2d 367 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Mallard v. State
329 N.E.2d 64 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Barrett v. State
329 N.E.2d 58 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Twyman v. State
326 N.E.2d 825 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)
Fletcher v. State
323 N.E.2d 261 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1975)

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Bluebook (online)
317 N.E.2d 453, 161 Ind. App. 681, 1974 Ind. App. LEXIS 996, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dockery-v-state-indctapp-1974.