Leppke v. State

1977 OK CR 21, 559 P.2d 459
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 24, 1977
DocketF-76-359
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 1977 OK CR 21 (Leppke v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leppke v. State, 1977 OK CR 21, 559 P.2d 459 (Okla. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

BUSSEY, Judge.

Appellant, Robert Steve Leppke, hereinafter referred to as defendant, was charged, tried and convicted in the District Court, Washington County, Case No. CRF-74-452, for the offense of Robbery by Fear, in violation of 21 O.S.1971, § 791. His punishment was fixed at eleven (11) years’ imprisonment, and from said judgment and sentence a timely appeal has been perfected to this Court.

The State’s first witness was Margaret E. Richardson, who testified that on February 12, 1974, at approximately 10:00 p. m., she and her husband were alone in their home located about ten miles south of Bartles-ville, when they heard a knock on their front door. As both arrived at the door, it was opened and in stepped two men, one large in stature, the other smaller, each brandishing a pistol. They had their heads *461 covered with ski masks and their hands with gloves. She described the dress and approximate size of both men: the larger man being 190 pounds and almost six foot tall, and dressed in khakis; the smaller man was about five foot six or seven and about 135 pounds, and dressed in dark clothing. Mrs. Richardson said she was ordered into the den with the smaller man, while her husband went with the larger man. She testified the larger man did nearly all the talking. When Mr. Richardson and the larger man returned to the den, Mrs. Richardson testified she noticed the larger man no longer wore his gloves and described his hands as “well groomed,” with no evidence of hard work. The larger man then took Mrs. Richardson’s diamond ring. Mr. Richardson then handed his billfold to the larger man. During this exchange Mrs. Richardson said she could observe the eyes, nostrils and teeth of the larger man. The larger man next removed approximately $80.00 from her purse, and after binding both Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, the two men left the house. The witness described the head of the larger man as well-rounded and a wide forehead. He had teeth that were very white and even, large eyes, and a light complexion, although she could not testify as to the color of the larger man’s eyes. His eyebrows were described as “bushy.” His physical characteristics she described as broad shoulders, big arms, large through the abdomen and full thighs. She then identified the defendant as the larger man who was in her house that night. The witness testified that in May, 1974, she was shown more than a dozen photographs by the Sheriff and picked out one that resembled the larger man. She next saw that man during a court hearing on September 25, 1974.

On cross-examination the witness testified that the two men were inside the house about twenty minutes. Mrs. Richardson testified that she was shown a group of different (about six) photographs at the preliminary hearing in September, 1974, and the defendant’s photo was among them. The defense asked the defendant to stand and Mrs. Richardson said he was the same man who entered her house on February 12, 1974, although he had lost some weight.

On re-direct, Mrs. Richardson testified she made her identification in the courtroom that day based on the man who entered her house the night of February 12, 1974, not on any photographs she had been shown.

The next witness was Garland C. Richardson, husband of the prior witness. He described the two men: over six feet and over 200 pounds for one man and five foot nine and 150 pounds for the other man. He said the ski masks worn by the men were so tight he could pick out their features under those masks. He testified that $317.00 was taken from his wallet by the larger man and placed the value of his wife’s diamond ring at $5,000.00. He testified to having taken college courses on the human body as a physical education student, and he described the larger man as large in stature, big shoulders, heavily muscled arms and back, heavy thighs and buttocks, distinctive ears, distinctive forehead, and he added that “this cap accentuates the ability to describe the gentleman.” Richardson testified that when he observed the defendant in August, 1974, he “very definitely” recognized his walk as that of the larger man who entered his house on February 12,1974. He also recognized the defendant’s voice as belonging to the larger man. He said his courtroom identification was based on events of February 12th, and added, “the pictures (he was shown) only confirm it.”

On cross-examination Richardson testified that he observed the defendant on August 14th through a one-way mirror in a one-on-one identification at the police station.

The next State’s witness was Wayne Ver-meulen, who testified that he resides at the Arkansas Penitentiary and had been convicted in Arkansas of the crimes of Grand Larceny and Burglary, and is serving a sentence of eight years. He also was convicted of a federal crime of Possession of Firearms, he said. Vermeulen said he was five foot nine inches tall and weighed 135 *462 pounds. He said he had known the defendant for one and one-half to two years, and met him in the Sin City Club in Tulsa. Out of the jury’s hearing, the Assistant District Attorney said the witness came forward on his own volition and no promises were made to him.

The court granted the witness immunity from prosecution after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment. The witness then admitted that he was the John Doe named in the Information, that he did take part in the robbery at the Richardson’s house. He said the idea for the robbery was born at the Sin City Club which was owned and managed by the defendant and that the defendant himself conceived the plan. He said a Cliff Blaylock was also involved, and that he (Blaylock) is currently in the Arkansas Penitentiary. He testified that on the evening of the robbery the three met in the office of the defendant at the club and there they secured ski masks, tape and gloves. He said the defendant had obtained two .38 caliber guns. Vermeulen said he stole a car in Bartlesville, he described the ski masks they wore as navy blue in color and tight-fitting, especially tight-fitting on the defendant. Vermeulen said he was dressed in blue jeans and a green army shirt. He said the defendant was wearing a pair of charcoal gray, nylon or rayon slacks. He said while he and the defendant entered the Richardson’s house, the third man, Blaylock, remained in the car. He described the geographical layout of the Richardson’s house and of overhearing a telephone conversation of Mr. Richardson just before they entered the house. The rest of his testimony fairly followed that already given by Mr. and Mrs. Richardson as far as the movements of the Richardsons and the two men in and around the Richardson’s house. He said that when they left the Richardson’s house they returned to the defendant’s office in the Sin City Club to divide the stolen money. He also identified the defendant as the Robert Leppke with him that night.

He said that his appearance in court was voluntary, although he acknowledged that he was subpoenaed. He said he voluntarily told authorities about his role in the robbery and identified Leppke as also taking part in it. He said he was promised nothing in return for his testimony, although the defense attorney noted that the witness received immunity from prosecution for his testimony.

On cross-examination, he testified that some time after the robbery the defendant came to Springdale, Arkansas, to tell him and Blaylock that he (the defendant) had been arrested for the Richardson robbery.

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Related

MacK v. State
1982 OK CR 30 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1982)
West v. State
1980 OK CR 82 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1980)
Hays v. State
1980 OK CR 66 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1980)
Slaughterback v. State
1979 OK CR 28 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1979)
Webb v. State
1978 OK CR 120 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
1977 OK CR 21, 559 P.2d 459, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leppke-v-state-oklacrimapp-1977.