People v. Griffith

595 P.2d 231, 197 Colo. 544, 1979 Colo. LEXIS 600

• Court: Supreme Court of Colorado
• Decided: May 21, 1979
• Docket: 28438
• Status: Published

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE ERICKSON

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Jimmy Lee Griffith was convicted by a jury of second-degree burglary, section 18-4-203, C.R.S. 1973 (1978 Repl. Vol. 8), and criminal mischief over $100, section 18-4-501, C.R.S. 1973 (1978 Repl. Vol. 8). On appeal, he asserts that the evidence was insufficient to sustain conviction of either charge and that the credibility of two minor witnesses was such that the court should have granted his motion for a judgment of acquittal. Griffith relies upon People v. Urso, 129 Colo. 292, 269 P.2d 709 (1954), which, in our view, has no application to the facts of this case.

When a determination of the defendant’s guilt rests upon the credibility of witnesses or the weight to be accorded evidence, the issue of guilt is for the jury to determine. Roybal v. People, 177 Colo. 144, 493 P.2d 9 (1972).

There was substantial evidence to support the jury verdict, and the trial court properly denied defendant’s motion for a judgment of acquittal. Bennett v. People, 155 Colo. 101, 392 P.2d 657 (1964).

The defendant also asserts that People v. Henry, 195 Colo. 309, 578 P.2d 1041 (1978), should be overruled. We decline to do so. We find no constitutional infirmity in section 13-90-101, C.R.S. 1973, which we upheld in People v. Henry. A prosecutor may utilize a defendant’s prior felony convictions for impeachment purposes if the defendant elects to testify in his own behalf. People v. Henry, supra; People v. Velarde, 196 Colo. 254, 586 P.2d 6 (1978).

The remaining issues are without merit.

Accordingly, we affirm.

MR. JUSTICE CARRIGAN concurs in part and dissents in part.