Price v. State

589 S.W.2d 929, 1979 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 284
Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee·Decided March 15, 1979·Published·Cited by 37 cases

Opinion

OPINION

BYERS, Judge.

The appellant was convicted, in a jury trial, of third degree burglary and sentenced to not less than three (3) nor more than four (4) years in the penitentiary.

Appellant says the trial court erred in allowing into evidence proof of Appellant’s prior convictions for burglary and larceny, says the trial court’s instructions to the jury were incomplete, and says the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict. The appellant also contends he was deprived of the opportunity to present an adequate defense and denied due process because the officers who investigated the burglary were negligent in failing to gather, analyze and preserve evidence at the scene of the crime.

The judgment is affirmed.

On May 11, 1978, Officer Romines of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department was on patrol in the Kodak area of Sevier County. He spotted the appellant’s car parked near some dumpsters approximately one hundred feet from a beauty shop and a grocery store. When Officer Romines checked the beauty shop, he discovered a window had been broken. On the ground below the window, he found a large screwdriver, a comb, a ladies wristwatch, and a wallet. The wristwatch was later found to belong to Appellant’s wife; the wallet belonged to Appellant.

Inside the beauty shop, the investigating officer found dirt on a table under the window, dirt on a chair near the table, and dirt on the floor indicating the burglar had come in through the window, stepping first on the table, then stepping onto the chair *931 and then to the floor. There was a small spot of blood found on the glass remaining in the window.

Although nothing was missing from the beauty shop, several items were in disarray as if the burglar had been looking for something.

A search of the general area by sheriff’s deputies turned up no suspects. The sheriff and two deputies then went to the appellant’s mother-in-law’s house, which was located some 8/10’s of a mile from the beauty shop. When they arrived there, they found the appellant. He had a fresh cut on his arm.

The appellant testified he left his car near the beauty shop because he had run off the road and “banged his car up”, knocking the front fender against the tire and damaging the passenger’s side door to such an extent that it had to be tied shut. He also testified he was elsewhere with his wife and child at the time of the break-in. A rebuttal witness for the State, the wrecker driver who towed Appellant’s car away from the scene, testified the front wheels rotated freely and the fender was not rubbing against the tire.

The appellant contends the evidence, which is wholly circumstantial, is not sufficient to support the jury verdict. We disagree.

A crime may be shown by circumstantial evidence alone if the circumstantial evidence sufficiently shows all the necessary elements of the crime and the appellant’s connection therewith. Marable v. State, 203 Tenn. 440, 313 S.W.2d 451 (1958); Duchac v. State, 505 S.W.2d 237 (Tenn.1973). The weight of the circumstantial evidence is for the jury to determine. Pruitt v. State, 3 Tenn.Cr.App. 256, 460 S.W.2d 385 (1970). In reviewing a case based on circumstantial evidence, we weigh the evidence in the same manner as direct evidence is weighed, that is, to determine if it preponderates against the verdict. State v. Brown, 551 S.W.2d 329 (Tenn.1977). The burden is on the appellant to show the evidence preponderates against his guilt and in favor of his innocence. Chadwick v. State, 189 Tenn. 256, 225 S.W.2d 52 (1949); State v. Townsend, Tenn., 525 S.W.2d 842 (1975).

The jury heard testimony at the trial which placed Appellant near the scene of the crime at the approximate time the break-in occurred. Other evidence incriminating the appellant included his personal belongings found at the scene of the break-in and the cut on his arm which the jury could reasonably infer was received when the beauty shop window was broken. The appellant has failed to carry his burden of proof. The assignment of error relating to the sufficiency of the evidence is overruled.

The appellant contends the trial court erred in allowing into evidence proof of Appellant’s prior convictions for burglary and grand larceny. The appellant says the trial court committed error by failing to hold a jury-out hearing to determine whether the probative effect of the convictions would be outweighed by their prejudicial effect on the jury.

The appellant had taken the stand to testify in his own behalf. On cross-examination, the District Attorney General was allowed to question the appellant as to his two prior convictions. Upon defense objections to the questions propounded by the District Attorney General, the trial court instructed the jury that these convictions were not to be considered as substantive evidence against the appellant, but were to be considered only as bearing on the appellant’s credibility. There is a presumption that the jury complies with such an instruction delivered by the trial court. Frazier v. State, 566 S.W.2d 545 (Tenn.Cr.App.1977); Bennett v. State, 530 S.W.2d 788 (Tenn.Cr.App.1975).

Furthermore, Fed.R.Evid. 609(a)(2), which deals with the introduction of prior convictions for the purpose of impeaching a *932 witness, does not require that the probative value of the convictions be balanced against their prejudicial effect where the prior conviction is one involving dishonesty or false statement. Appellant’s prior convictions for burglary and grand larceny involve dishonest conduct, i. e., stealing. Arnold v. State, 563 S.W.2d 795 (Tenn.Cr.App.1977). The trial court’s decision to allow the prior convictions into evidence was not improper. Appellant’s assignment of error challenging the introduction of his prior convictions is overruled.

The appellant’s assignment of error concerning the trial judge’s charge to the jury is two-fold. He alleges the trial court erred in failing to charge the jury as to the misdemeanor of “criminal trespass” as requested by defense counsel. He also says the trial court should have charged “attempt to commit a felony” under T.C.A. § 40-2520.

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Price v. State, 589 S.W.2d 929, 1979 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 284 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1979).

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