Owen v. State

485 So. 2d 1212, 1985 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 5920
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedDecember 10, 1985
Docket3 Div. 193
StatusPublished

This text of 485 So. 2d 1212 (Owen 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
Owen v. State, 485 So. 2d 1212, 1985 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 5920 (Ala. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

TYSON, Judge.

Michael D. Owen was charged by indictment with unlawfully exerting or obtaining unauthorized control by deception of $10,-000 in lawful currency, the property of Dr. Barry Wilson, with intent to deprive the owner of said property, contrary to § 13A-8-3, Code of Alabama 1975 as amended.

Following a jury trial at which the appellant was found “guilty of theft of property in the first degree”, a sentencing hearing was held. The appellant was then sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary.

A motion for new trial was filed, which was denied, following a hearing thereon. Different counsel represents the appellant on appeal from those attorneys who represented the appellant at trial.

Since the issues raised on appeal do not necessarily involve the weight and sufficiency of the evidence presented by the State, only a brief statement of the facts will be herein set out.

Dr. Barry Wilson testified that he was a practicing physician in Montgomery, Alabama, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. He stated that the appellant’s wife, Kathy Owen, had been a patient of his for almost five years. He stated that he was aware that she was a sales agent for Lowder Realty Company in Montgomery. He further stated that her husband was working in the real estate business in Gulf Shores, Alabama and that the husband, Michael Owen, had contacted Dr. Wilson with reference to the purchase of a condominium at Gulf Shores. In May, 1983, the appellant had been requested by Dr. Wilson to find a three bedroom condominium for him. In early May, however, Michael Owen called Dr. Wilson and told him he had a two bedroom condominium and that he would suggest that Dr. Wilson purchase this because he had another buyer who would buy this from him within a week or so. Wilson stated that he was to put up a binder of $10,000 and that, within seven to ten days, Mike Owen would turn it over and sell it and the doctor would make $3,000 as profit on the sale of the two bedroom condominium. He stated that this was not the condominium he desired for his family because he had several children and needed a three bedroom unit and had so indicated to the appellant, Michael Owen.

On May 10, 1983, the appellant’s wife, Kathy Owen, came into his office and explained to him that she was going to give him a receipt for his money. He stated that he trusted her because she had been a patient for several years. He stated that he directed his secretary, Mrs. Betty McCoy, to make out a check for $10,000 and turn it over to Kathy Owen to be delivered by her to her husband, Michael Owen. He stated that he then signed the check and that it was to be a binder and [1214]*1214was so marked for unit 31, Las Palmas, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Mrs. Kathy Owen then wrote out a receipt for $10,000, which she gave to Dr. Wilson. It was marked as a binder for unit 31, Las Palmas, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Contract was to follow within two days. It was signed “Gulf Coast Realty, by Kathy Owens.” This was dated May 10, 1983.

Dr. Wilson testified that he was under the belief that the $10,000 check would operate as a binder and would be placed in an escrow account by the appellant, Michael Owen, pending the purchase of the condominium. However, after the seven to ten day period following May 10, 1983 passed and he failed to receive a contract from Michael Owen, he began to try to contact him both through his wife and by making direct calls to Gulf Shores, Alabama. He never received a contract nor did he receive his money back. After several phone calls to the appellant and his wife, he finally received a check which was then deposited in his account with Colonial Bank of Montgomery and returned marked “insufficient funds”. Dr. Wilson then stated he took the matter up with the Alabama Real Estate Commission and that he later was reimbursed the $10,000 through a fund set up by the Alabama Real Estate Commission known as the Real Estate Recovery Fund. Dr. Wilson then identified the various documents which were used in this transaction.

Dr. Ralph Capouya was called by the State as witness for the prosecution. Dr. Capouya stated that he was a practicing dentist in Montgomery, Alabama and knew the appellant, Michael Owen, that Michael Owen had sold and purchased real estate for him over a several year period. He stated that in the Spring of 1983, Michael Owen was indebted to him in the sum of approximately $12,000 to $14,000. He stated that he contacted the appellant and that a check was sent to him by the appellant for $14,000 dated April 4, 1983. He stated that he had to call the appellant several times during the Spring before receiving a check. He stated that he deposited this check to his account and that it was returned marked “insufficient”. He stated, thereafter, he called Mr. Owen several times before finally receiving a second check which he then deposited to his account with Merrill, Lynch in Montgomery and this check, which was for $14,000, cleared. He stated that he contacted the appellant almost a dozen times before finally being reimbursed for the debt owed.

On cross-examination questions were raised concerning other transactions with Dr. Capouya but, since these were not relevant to the time frame or to the period in which the case against this appellant was made, the trial court declined to allow these matters to be raised or presented in evidence.

Tom Lamberth was called as witness for the prosecution. He testified that he was the accountant for Russell Land Company and, in particular, to handle the matters of Mr. Ben Russell, who is president of Russell Lands. He stated during the Spring of 1983 the appellant contacted both him and Mr. Russell with reference to the purchase of certain properties in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He stated that they were called and flew to Gulf Shores on at least two occasions and were taken over the area by Mr. Owen and shown certain properties. He stated that he had formerly known the appellant when he worked at one time for Lowder Realty in Montgomery. He knew that the appellant was working for a different real estate agency in Gulf Shores during this time, however. He stated that on May 10, 1983, he, Mr. Russell and Gene Davenport, the Executive Vice President of Russell Lands, flew to Gulf Shores and there went over several properties with Michael Owen. He stated that they did sign a contract for the purchase of a unit which was a condominium at Las Palmas Condominiums. He stated that the unit was unit 31, Las Palmas Condominiums and the date of the contract was May 9, 1983. He observed Mr. Ben Russell sign it and he witnessed the document. He stated that the appellant called the following day and asked for a binder, which they forwarded to him, of $16,000. He stated that [1215]*1215the $16,000 binder was to be held in escrow pending the purchase of the condominium unit. He stated that Michael Owen represented to them that this unit would be sold and that they were to make $3,000 profit which would be wired to them within ten days. He stated that, when they did not receive payment within ten days, they attempted to contact the appellant at his office in Gulf Shores and were advised that the appellant was in the hospital in Montgomery. He stated that on May 21, 1983, the appellant finally forwarded a check which was subsequently deposited and was returned to his company on May 27, 1983 marked “insufficient”. He stated that they then filed action against Michael Owen with the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

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Related

Ware v. State
409 So. 2d 886 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1981)
Dowdell v. State
480 So. 2d 45 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1985)
McDonald v. State
329 So. 2d 583 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1975)
Hayes v. State
384 So. 2d 623 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1979)
Ex Parte Allen
380 So. 2d 341 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1980)
Allen v. State
380 So. 2d 313 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1979)
McDonald v. State
329 So. 2d 596 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1976)
Ware v. State
409 So. 2d 893 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1982)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
485 So. 2d 1212, 1985 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 5920, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/owen-v-state-alacrimapp-1985.