Raines v. State

533 N.E.2d 592, 1989 Ind. LEXIS 31, 1989 WL 10870

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: February 7, 1989
• Docket: No. 49S00-8801-CR-41
• Status: Published

Opinions

GIVAN, Justice.

A jury trial resulted in the conviction of appellant of the crime of Robbery, a Class B felony, for which he received a sentence of ten (10) years enhanced by thirty (30) years by reason of his status as an habitual offender.

The facts are: On May 11, 1986 at approximately 9:00 to 9:30 p.m., Albert Reid and Gary Bernard were sitting in the kitchen of Reid’s home having a beer when appellant entered the kitchen. All three men knew each other. Appellant walked up to Reid, knocked him out of the chair onto the floor, causing Reid to suffer a nose bleed and a black eye. Appellant then left. Reid discovered immediately that his wallet containing $91 was missing.

Police were called, but before they arrived, Bernard left. When police arrived, Reid told them he knew his assailant by the name of Berl and described him to the police officer. The next day the police officer prepared a photographic array of six men which included a photograph of appellant. From this array, Reid identified the photograph of appellant as that of his assailant. Police officers attempted to locate Gary Bernard but were unsuccessful in doing so. At trial, Reid again identified appellant as his assailant.

Appellant claims the verdict of the jury is not supported by sufficient evidence. Appellant urges that this is “a crime surrounded and fogged by alcohol.” However, the only evidence concerning Reid’s consumption of alcohol that day was that he had consumed two beers, and the investigating officer testified that he did not appear to be intoxicated shortly after the robbery. The implication made by appellant that Reid was too intoxicated to identify him is not supported by any evidence. The degree of the victim’s intoxication and its affect on his ability to identify appellant was a matter for the jury’s determination. Russell v. State (1986), Ind., 487 N.E.2d 136. This Court will not invade the province of the jury in weighing the evidence. Alfaro v. State (1985), Ind., 478 N.E.2d 670.

Appellant also contends the mere fact that he struck Reid and left does not prove that he took Reid’s wallet. He believes in view of the fact that Bernard was present during the altercation, left before police arrived, and could not be found following the incident, the jury should have doubted that it was appellant and could have believed it was Bernard who took the victim’s wallet. This again is a matter for the determination of the jury. Id. Here, the jury had before it the testimony of the victim which was sufficient to support its finding of guilty. Kremer v. State (1987), Ind., 514 N.E.2d 1068.

Appellant claims the State withheld exculpatory information in violation of due process of law, thus requiring a new trial. Appellant bases this contention on the fact that the State failed to produce Bernard pursuant to a discovery order. However, when the State can demonstrate that its inability to produce a witness is not intentional or in bad faith, the failure does not constitute a violation of the discovery order. Carter v. State (1987), Ind., 512 N.E.2d 158. The uncontradicted evidence in this case is that the State made every effort to attempt to locate Gary Bernard but was unsuccessful. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that the State intentionally violated the discovery order.

The trial court is affirmed.

SHEPARD, C.J., and PIVARNIK and DICKSON, JJ., concur. DeBRULER, J., dissents with separate opinion.