STATE OF LOUISANA NO. 22-KA-363
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
DAN ROBERTSON COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 21-483, DIVISION "G" HONORABLE E. ADRIAN ADAMS, JUDGE PRESIDING
March 29, 2023
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Jude G. Gravois, Stephen J. Windhorst, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED SJW JGG JJM COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, DAN ROBERTSON Katherine M. Franks
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISANA Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr. Thomas J. Butler Monique D. Nolan Zachary L. Grate Molly M. Massey WINDHORST, J.
Defendant, Dan Robertson, appeals his conviction and sentence for attempted
simple burglary. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On January 26, 2021, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney filed a bill of
information charging defendant, Dan Robertson, with one count of attempted simple
burglary of a 2017 Chevy Tahoe belonging to Clifford Brown, in violation of La.
R.S. 14:27 and La. R.S. 14:62.1 Defendant was arraigned and pled not guilty.
On February 1, 2022, a six-person jury unanimously found defendant guilty
as charged. Defendant filed a motion requesting a downward departure from
sentencing under State of Louisiana v. Dorthey, 623 So.2d 1276 (La. 1993), which
was denied by the trial court. Defendant also filed a motion for new trial, which the
trial court denied.
On March 16, 2022, the trial court sentenced defendant to six years
imprisonment at hard labor for attempted simple burglary and ordered his sentence
to run concurrently with any sentence he may be serving.2 On the same day, the
State filed a Habitual Offender Bill of Information alleging defendant was a third-
felony offender pursuant to La. R.S. 15:529.1. On March 23, 2022, defendant
stipulated to being a third-felony offender, and the trial court vacated defendant’s
original sentence and resentenced defendant to eight years imprisonment at hard
labor without the benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.3 This appeal
followed.
1 Defendant was also charged with criminal trespass in violation of La. R.S. 14:63, under case number 21- 484 of the 24th Judicial District Court. Defendant was charged with willfully and unlawfully entering “immovable property owned by another, located at 524 Hector Avenue, without the express authorization of, Allen Fiorenza,” i.e. the yard. The misdemeanor offense was tried by the trial court simultaneously with this jury trial of the vehicle burglary charge, and defendant was found guilty of criminal trespass. Defendant did not seek review of his misdemeanor conviction. 2 Defendant was also sentenced to thirty days imprisonment for criminal trespass under case number 21- 484 to be served concurrently with defendant’s attempted simple burglary sentence in this case. 3 The trial court ordered defendant’s habitual offender sentence to be served concurrently with defendant’s sentence under case number 21-484.
22-KA-363 1 EVIDENCE and FACTS
Detective Brent Baldassara, assigned to the burglary theft section of the
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (“JPSO”), testified he worked a “paid detail”
patrolling the Metairie Country Club subdivision from 11:00 P.M. on November 22,
2020 until 7:00 A.M. on November 23, 2020. He stated that he has worked this paid
detail for “around one year.” When he patrols the area, he drives an unmarked
vehicle that has sirens and lights. On November 22, 2020, while driving north in the
500 block of Iona Street, he observed an unidentified black male wearing dark-
colored clothing and a protective “face covering” walking southbound on Iona Street
towards Avenue E. When the unidentified man noticed his vehicle, he ran and hid
behind some bushes in a nearby residence. Detective Baldassara testified that he
stopped his vehicle, identified himself as “the police,” attempted to locate the
subject, and notified headquarters of the incident.
Detective Baldassara testified that his search was unsuccessful and he
returned to his vehicle. He “circled the block” and returned to Iona Street. Detective
Baldassara stated that he saw the suspect a second time when he reappeared from
behind some bushes and the suspect ran into the rear yard of a residence “going back
towards Hector” Avenue. He proceeded to the 500 block of Hector Avenue, where
he observed the arrival of assisting officers, including Deputy Nick Songy and
Deputy Davis.4 Deputy Songy noticed a side gate open at 524 Hector Avenue. The
three officers went through the gate into the rear yard of the residence. Detective
Baldassara testified that he noticed the subject “squatting” next to some bushes along
the rear fence. He recounted that the subject was wearing the same clothing as the
individual he observed running away from him near Iona Street.
4 Deputy Davis’ first name was not referred to in any evidence or in the trial transcript.
22-KA-363 2 Detective Baldassara testified that the subject was detained at that time,
identified himself, and he was placed in his patrol vehicle. Defendant told the
officers that he resided at 3501 Roger Williams Boulevard, in New Orleans.5 After
defendant was secured in the vehicle, Deputy Songy returned to the rear yard of 524
Hector Avenue and discovered a bandana on the ground where defendant was
observed “squatting.” Defendant told the officers that he had been at a bar on
Airline Drive and was using the subdivision as a “cut-through” to get to his
residence. Defendant did not identify the bar despite Detective Baldassara
requesting the bar’s name. Defendant was subsequently arrested based on his
outstanding attachments and taken to JPSO.
After defendant’s arrest, but on the same morning of November 23, 2020,
Detective Baldassara was informed that there had been an attempted burglary of a
vehicle in the area he was patrolling. He testified that he spoke to Clifford Brown,
the owner of the vehicle, who resided at 529 Hector Avenue. Mr. Brown provided
him with surveillance footage from his “Ring” camera showing the attempted
burglary of his vehicle.
Upon reviewing the surveillance footage at trial, Detective Baldassara
affirmatively identified defendant as the individual in the surveillance footage. He
testified that the individual in the surveillance footage had on the same clothing as
defendant when he was arrested. In the surveillance footage, he could see a maroon
colored shirt underneath the black sweatshirt the individual was wearing. On the
night he was arrested, defendant was wearing dark clothing with a maroon shirt
underneath. Detective Baldassara also verified the bandana he logged into evidence
after defendant’s arrest as the same black and white bandana Deputy Songy found
in the yard where defendant was found hiding. He stated that in the video, defendant
5 The transcript provides 3501 Rodger Williams Boulevard, New Orleans and 3501 Rodger Williams Street, New Orleans. However, Detective Baldassara identified defendant’s address as shown on State’s exhibit 3, which shows defendant’s address as “3501 Roger Williams St.,” in New Orleans.
22-KA-363 3 attempted to open the vehicle’s door with the bandana. Based on the bandana and
defendant’s clothing, Detective Baldassara made the decision to “rebook” defendant
with attempted simple burglary. He explained that when defendant pulled the door
handle with the bandana, the bandana got stuck, which caused an “audible sound”
as the bandana was pulled free from the door handle. Detective Baldassara verified
that defendant was wearing a maroon shirt when he was arrested after viewing a
“booking photo” of defendant. Detective Baldassara also identified defendant in
open court as the individual he arrested in the subdivision. In furtherance of the
circumstantial evidence indicating defendant and the individual in the surveillance
footage were the same, he testified that on the night he chased and arrested
defendant, he did not see anyone else in the Metairie Country Club subdivision and
that defendant was arrested in the general vicinity of the attempted burglary of the
vehicle.
On cross-examination, Detective Baldassara conceded that his report provided
that in the surveillance footage, defendant “utilized a dark-colored fabric which was
identified as the bandana found in the rear year of where he was located.” Detective
Baldassara was shown the black and white bandana in evidence and agreed that the
bandana is “mostly black.” He was then shown the surveillance footage in which
defense counsel stated that the bandana or fabric used on the door handle appeared
“white or light colored.” Detective Baldassara admitted that the “video is poor
quality, distorted” but he made a decision based on his observations and the video,
stating that the bandana is black and white. He also conceded that although
defendant’s booking photo shows that his hair is gray, his report and the subsequent
affidavit of arrest listed defendant’s hair color as black and bald, respectively. He
admitted he obviously had trouble identifying defendant’s hair color. Despite the
discrepancy in his hair color, Detective Baldassara testified that defendant was the
individual he arrested in the rear yard of the residence on Hector Avenue and that he
22-KA-363 4 is the individual in the surveillance footage, as indicated by the clothing and
bandana. Detective Baldassara testified defendant’s clothes were not seized as
evidence when he was initially arrested on his outstanding attachments because at
that point they did not have any reports or complaints of criminal activity. He
acknowledged that individuals flee from the police “sometimes” when they have
outstanding warrants for their arrest.
JPSO Deputy Nicholas Songy testified that he was also working a “paid
detail,” patrolling the Metairie Country Club subdivision on November 22, 2020 and
November 23, 2020. He stated he has been working this particular detail for
approximately 11 years and is familiar with the area. He stated that normally, there
is only one unit patrolling the area. However, during holiday seasons, the
subdivision sometimes has two units patrolling because people go out of town. He
testified that the night defendant was arrested in the subdivision was during the
Thanksgiving holiday. Detective Songy testified that he was the “primary unit” and
Detective Baldassara was the “back-up unit.” Detective Baldassara radioed that he
observed a subject in the 500 block of Hector or Iona and gave a description of the
subject. Detective Songy arrived quickly to the location to assist with canvassing
for the subject, and that the patrol area was a small area. He observed a gate “slightly
ajar” on a residence that “back[ed] up to Iona.” He went through the gate with
Detective Baldassara and Deputy Davis. As they approached the back fence, he saw
a “dark figure hunched over . . . trying to hide his face, trying to look as dark as
possible.” They detained the subject and removed him from the backyard. Deputy
Songy stated that he returned to the backyard to search for anything that may have
been left behind or discarded by the subject, such as a gun. He testified that he found
the bandana “in the exact area” where they located defendant. Because it was
evidence and defendant was already in the patrol unit, Depute Songy testified that
he gave the bandana to Detective Baldassara and he did not ask defendant if the
22-KA-363 5 bandana belonged to him. He identified defendant in open court as the individual
he found in the backyard of the residence on Hector Avenue. Deputy Songy was
shown the bandana in evidence and positively identified it as the bandana he found
that night.
Deputy Songy testified that in order to access the subdivision from Airline
Drive, a person would need to scale or climb several obstructions, such as an eight
to ten-foot fence, a twelve-foot wall, or other gates. He explained that the area where
the attempted burglary occurred was located in the opposite direction of where
defendant indicated he was heading. Deputy Songy testified that this subdivision
was not a “cut-through” to get from Airline Drive to defendant’s residence unless
the person was climbing fences and going through several backyards. He further
testified that no one else was walking throughout the subdivision when the officers
were canvassing the area for the subject and that no one else matched the description
of the subject except defendant. Deputy Songy testified that he saw the surveillance
footage a day or two after defendant was arrested when he was informed of the
attempted burglary that occurred in the same vicinity and directly across the street
from where they found defendant.
Clifford Brown, the owner of the vehicle, testified that he resided at 529
Hector Avenue. On the morning of November 23, 2020, he reviewed the
surveillance footage video from his Ring camera and discovered that between the
early hours of that day and the late night hours of the prior night, someone attempted
to break into his vehicle, a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe. Mr. Brown testified that he did
not recognize or know defendant and asserted that he did not give defendant or any
other individual permission “to use, enter, or in any shape, form, or fashion go into
[his] vehicle” on the night of November 22, 2020 through the morning of November
23, 2020. He provided a copy of the surveillance footage to JPSO and it was
published to the jury.
22-KA-363 6 The surveillance footage was a sixty-nine-second recording that captured a
black male, wearing a white protective facemask, a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt,
with a maroon shirt underneath, and dark-colored jeans, walking up to Mr. Brown’s
vehicle in his driveway. With the bandana, the man in the video pulled the locked
front-passenger door handle. As he released the door handle, the bandana became
“stuck.” The individual pulled the banana out, which resulted in the door handle
making an “audible sound,” and he then walked away.
DISCUSSION
In his first assignment of error, defendant asserts that the evidence was
insufficient to establish that he was the individual in the surveillance footage that
attempted to enter Mr. Brown’s Chevrolet Tahoe. He claims that the surveillance
footage captured less than thirty seconds of an unidentified man approaching the
vehicle, tugging on a door handle, and retrieving a bandana that became stuck in the
door handle. He contends that the perpetrator’s face cannot be seen nor can his skin
or hair color be determined from the surveillance footage. Defendant asserts that the
record is absent of any testimony wherein he was observed attempting to enter the
vehicle. He also contends that the time of the attempted unauthorized entry was not
established.
In his second assignment of error, defendant contends that the State failed to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had the specific intent to commit a theft or
felony had he gained access to the vehicle. Relying on Marcello and Ricks,6
defendant contends that his presence and subsequent flight, without possession of
6 State v. Marcello, 385 So.2d 244 (La. 1980); State v. Ricks, 428 So.2d 794 (La. 1983).
22-KA-363 7 burglary tools or stolen property,7 were insufficient to establish that he intended to
commit a felony or theft.8
The constitutional standard for sufficiency of the evidence is whether, upon
viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
of fact could find that the State proved all of the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S.Ct.
2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Chinchilla, 20-60 (La. App. 5 Cir.
12/23/20), 307 So.3d 1189, 1195, writ denied, 21-274 (La. 04/27/21), 314 So.3d
838, cert. denied, — U.S. —, 142 S.Ct. 296, 211 L.Ed.2d 138 (2021). Under the
Jackson standard, a review of a criminal conviction record for sufficiency of
evidence does not require the court to ask whether it believes that the evidence at
trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather, whether any rational
trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. State v. Flores,
10-651 (La. App. 5 Cir. 05/24/11), 66 So.3d 1118, 1122.
An appellate court, in reviewing the sufficiency of evidence, must determine
if the evidence, whether direct, circumstantial, or a mixture of both, viewed in the
light most favorable to the prosecution, was sufficient to convince a rational trier of
fact that all of the elements of the crime have been proven beyond a reasonable
doubt. State v. Sosa, 05-213 (La. 01/19/06), 921 So.2d 94, 99.
Evidence may be either direct or circumstantial. State v. Williams, 05-59 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 05/31/05), 904 So.2d 830, 833. When circumstantial evidence is used
7 Possession of burglary tools is not an element of attempted simple burglary. See State v. Nelson, 08- 584 (La. App. 4 Cir. 12/17/08), 3 So.3d 57, 60, writ denied, 10-166 (La. 01/7/11), 52 So.3d 881. Here, the State did not allege that defendant was in possession of stolen property. 8 Defendant’s reliance on Marcello and Ricks is misplaced. Marcello involved a “place to stay” defense, which was not alleged in this case. State in the Interest of E.M., supra; State v. Winslow, 29,888 (La. App. 2 Cir. 10/29/97), 702 So.2d 22, 25. Ricks involved defendant paying a social call on a girl he knew. Defendant tugged on the screen door to get her attention, a male staying with her heard the noise, grabbed a gun, and yelled through a secured door for defendant to leave. Defendant, who was intoxicated, did not respond and the male shot defendant in the leg. In that case the trier of fact concluded it was a reasonable hypothesis that defendant merely intended a social visit and no specific intent was proven by the State.
22-KA-363 8 to prove the commission of the offense, La. R.S. 15:438 provides, “assuming every
fact to be proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must exclude
every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.” On appeal, the reviewing court does not
determine if another possible hypothesis suggested by the defendant could afford an
exculpatory explanation of the events. Instead, the appellate court must evaluate the
evidence in a light most favorable to the State and determine whether the possible
alternative hypothesis is sufficiently reasonable that a rational juror could not have
found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Williams, 14-882 (La. App.
5 Cir. 05/14/15), 170 So.3d 1129, 1136, writ denied, 15-1198 (La. 05/27/16), 192
So.3d 741.
In the present case, defendant was convicted of attempted simple burglary.
Simple burglary is “the unauthorized entering of any dwelling, vehicle, watercraft,
or other structure, movable or immovable, or any cemetery, with the intent to commit
a felony or any theft therein.” La. R.S. 14:62 A.
Specific intent to commit a felony or theft is required for attempted simple
burglary. La. R.S. 14:27 and La. R.S. 14:62; State v. Jones, 426 So.2d 1323 (La.
1983); State v. Marcello, 385 So.2d 244 (La. 1980). Specific intent is defined as
“that state of mind which exists when the circumstances indicate that the offender
actively desired the prescribed criminal consequences to follow his act or failure to
act.” La. R.S. 14:10(1); State v. Williams, 98-651 (La. App. 5 Cir. 02/10/99), 729
So.2d 14, 18. Specific intent need not be proven as a fact but may be inferred from
the circumstances and actions of the accused. Williams, 729 So.2d at 18; State v.
Petty, 99-1307 (La. App. 5 Cir. 04/12/00), 759 So.2d 946, 949, writ denied, 00-1718
(La. 03/16/01), 787 So.2d 301. The determination of whether the requisite intent is
present in a criminal case is for the trier of fact, and a review of the correctness of
this determination is guided by the Jackson standard. Id. at 18-19; Petty, 759 So.2d
at 949. Additionally, flight and attempt to avoid apprehension are circumstances
22-KA-363 9 from which the trier of fact may infer a guilty conscience. State v. Darby, 17-261
(La. App. 5 Cir. 11/15/17), 232 So.3d 1261, 1269; State v. Fuller, 418 So.2d 591
(La. 1982). It is not necessary for a simple burglary that an actual theft occur. State
v. Hooker, 623 So.2d 178, 184 (La. App. 2 Cir. 1993); State in Interest of E.M., 22-
307 (La. App. 1 Cir. 09/16/22), 2022 WL 4285936 (unpublished opinion).9
Additionally, attempted simple burglary requires proof that the defendant did
or omitted an act “for the purpose of and tending directly toward the accomplishing
of his object,” sometimes referred to as an “overt act.” La. R.S. 14:27 A and
comments thereto; State v. Ordodi, 06-207 (La. 11/29/06), 946 So.2d 654, 661. In
determining whether the action of defendant constitutes an overt act which is an
attempt, the totality of the facts and circumstances presented by each case must be
evaluated. Id. at 662.
Here, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
defendant attempted to enter the vehicle without authorization from the owner,
Clifford Brown, and that defendant had the specific intent to commit a felony or theft
therein. See State v. Bonck, 613 So.2d 1125, 1130 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1993), writ
denied, 620 So.2d 840 (La. 1993).
Encompassed within proving the elements of an offense is the necessity of
proving the identity of the defendant as the perpetrator. State v. Garrison, 19-62 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 04/23/20), 297 So.3d 190, 203, writ denied, 20-547 (La. 09/23/20), 301
So.3d 1190, cert. denied, — U.S. —, 141 S.Ct. 2864, 210 L.Ed.2d 967 (2021).
Where the key issue in the case is identification, the State is required to negate any
reasonable probability of misidentification in order to carry its burden of proof. Id.
at 204. Positive identification by only one witness is sufficient to support a
conviction. State v. Harrell, 19-371 (La. 07/08/20), 299 So.3d 1274, 1281. In the
9 This case is published on the First Circuit Court of Appeal’s website and therefore may be cited as authority despite the fact it is not designated for publication. See La. C.C.P. art. 2168.
22-KA-363 10 absence of internal contradiction or irreconcilable conflict with physical evidence,
one witness’s testimony, if believed by the trier of fact, is sufficient support for a
requisite factual finding. State v. Caffrey, 08-717 (La. App. 5 Cir. 05/12/09), 15
So.3d 198, 203, writ denied, 09-1305 (La. 02/05/10), 27 So.3d 297.
On appeal, defendant did not argue that the State failed to establish the first
element of attempted simple burglary, i.e., the attempted unauthorized entry of a
vehicle. Instead, defendant contends that the State failed to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt his identity as the perpetrator. Because defendant does not
challenge this statutory element of attempted simple burglary, the sufficiency of the
evidence with respect to that statutory element will not be addressed.10 See State v.
Nelson, 14-252 (La. App. 5 Cir. 03/11/15), 169 So.3d 493, 500 n.12, writ denied,
15-685 (La. 02/26/16), 187 So.3d 468; State v. Henry, 13-558 (La. App. 5 Cir.
03/26/14), 138 So.3d 700, 715, writ denied, 14-962 (La. 02/27/15), 159 So.3d 1064.
As to the issue of identity in this case, defendant has not argued that the
identification itself was suggestive and that there was a likelihood of
misidentification because of the identification procedure. Instead, defendant
contends that the identification was suspect, which does not require a Manson11
analysis. See State v. Medford, 489 So.2d 957, 961 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1986); State v.
Hensley, 544 So.2d 47, 48 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1989). In the absence of a showing that
an identification procedure was suggestive, challenges to the witness’s powers of
10 Nevertheless, considering State v. Raymo, 419 So.2d 858, 861 (La. 1982), we find the State presented sufficient evidence under the Jackson standard to establish the essential statutory element of unauthorized entry of the vehicle. The surveillance footage showed an individual attempting to enter the vehicle by pulling on the locked door handle with a bandana. The bandana became stuck and the individual pulled it free, causing an “audible sound” from the door handle. Detective Baldassara testified that the “audible sound” proved that the individual pulled on the door handle and was attempting to enter the vehicle. Additionally, Mr. Brown testified that he did not give defendant or any other individual permission or authority to “to use, enter, or in any shape, form, or fashion go into [his] vehicle” on the night of November 22, 2020 through the morning of November 23, 2020.” 11 Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977). Generally, this Court has applied the Manson factors to an out-of-court identification of a defendant by a witness. See State v. Smith, 19-395 (La. App. 5 Cir. 03/13/20), 293 So.3d 732; State v. Francois, 13-616 (La. App. 5 Cir. 01/31/14), 134 So.3d 42, writ denied, 14-0431 (La. 09/26/14), 149 So.3d 261. However, this Court has also applied the Manson factors to address a defendant’s challenge of the evidence of his identification being insufficient to support his conviction. See State v. Spurlock, 08-163 (La. App. 5 Cir. 05/27/08), 986 So.2d 89.
22-KA-363 11 observation do not raise due process issues, but are matters to be considered by the
jury. State v. Bradley, 11-1060 (La. App. 5 Cir. 09/25/12), 99 So.3d 1099, 1106,
writ denied, 12-2441 (La. 05/03/13), 113 So.3d 208 (citing Medford, 489 So.2d at
962). At trial, the State established through circumstantial evidence that defendant
was the individual shown on the surveillance footage attempting to enter Mr.
Brown’s vehicle without authority or permission.
Although the surveillance footage did not provide sufficient clarity for facial
recognition, it provided sufficient clarity to show defendant’s race, gender, and
clothing. See State v. Rainey, 15-892 (La. App. 4 Cir. 01/27/16), 189 So.3d 439,
445, writ not considered, 16-611 (La. 04/22/16), 191 So.3d 1047. The surveillance
footage showed a black male wearing dark clothing with a maroon shirt underneath,
attempting to enter the vehicle by pulling on the locked door handle with a bandana.
Detective Baldassara testified that he reviewed the surveillance footage the same
morning he arrested defendant. Based on his observations and considering
defendant’s description and clothing, Detective Baldassara testified that defendant
was the same person in the surveillance footage that he observed, chased on two
separate occasions and subsequently arrested during his patrol on November 22,
2020 and November 23, 2020. He confirmed that defendant’s booking photo
showed him wearing a maroon shirt. Detective Baldassara also verified that the
black and white bandana found where defendant was arrested played a factor in him
concluding that defendant was the same individual in the surveillance footage. He
also testified that defendant did not live in the subdivision and defendant was
arrested in the vicinity of the attempted simple burglary of the vehicle. Furthermore,
Detective Baldassara and Deputy Songy testified that, despite defendant’s assertion
to the contrary, the subdivision was not a feasible “cut-through” to get to defendant’s
residence because of the numerous obstacles, such as high walls and/or fences and
cutting through other individual’s yards. Moreover, they both testified that during
22-KA-363 12 their patrol of the subdivision, which is a small area, defendant was the only person
seen in the vicinity at the time of the attempted simple burglary of the vehicle.
As to the time of the attempted simple burglary, Mr. Brown testified that on
the morning of November 23, 2020, he viewed the surveillance footage from his
Ring camera for the night of November 22, 2022 until that morning. He testified
that the surveillance footage showed an individual attempting to enter his vehicle
that was parked in his driveway at his residence on Hector Avenue. Detective
Baldassara and Deputy Songy testified that they patrolled the subdivision from 11:00
P.M. on November 22, 2020, until 7:00 A.M. on November 23, 2020. Detective
Baldassara and Deputy Songy testified that defendant was the only person in the
vicinity at the time of the attempted simple burglary.
Although the date and time are unclear on the surveillance footage before this
court, the record indicates that during deliberations, the jurors requested the trial
court to provide them with the time and date of the surveillance footage and the time
and date of defendant’s arrest. The trial court informed the jury that it could not
provide information, but if the jury wanted to view the surveillance footage, that
would be permissible. The State informed the trial court that the time and date were
on the surveillance footage. The trial court then re-played the surveillance footage
to the jury and the jury was permitted to move closer to the display to view the date
and time displayed therein.
The credibility of a witness is within the sound discretion of the trier of fact,
who may accept or reject, in whole or in part, the testimony of any witness. State v.
Cuza, 18-187 (La. App. 5 Cir. 11/28/18), 260 So.3d 754, 758, writ denied, 19-17
(La. 11/12/19), 282 So.3d 232 (citing State v. Bailey, 04-85 (La. App. 5 Cir.
05/26/04), 875 So.2d 949, 955, writ denied, 04-1605 (La. 11/15/04), 887 So.2d 476,
cert. denied, 546 U.S. 981, 126 S.Ct. 554, 163 L.Ed.2d 468 (2005). It is not the
22-KA-363 13 function of the appellate court to assess credibility or reweigh the evidence. Id.
(citing State v. Falcon, 06-798 (La. App. 5 Cir. 03/13/07), 956 So.2d 650, 657).
Upon review of the record, the jury’s credibility determinations were rational.
Therefore, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we
find the State proved defendant’s identification as the perpetrator of the attempted
simple burglary of Mr. Brown’s vehicle beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly,
this assignment of error is without merit.
Upon review, the State also established the element of specific intent to
commit a felony or theft therein. The surveillance footage showed that defendant
pulled the locked front passenger door handle of the vehicle with a bandana and
without Mr. Brown’s authorization. Although the door did not open, a rational trier
of fact could have found that defendant had the requisite specific intent to steal the
vehicle or the contents therein but was unable to do so because the door was locked.
In finding defendant guilty of attempted simple burglary of Mr. Brown’s vehicle, the
jury could have reasonably inferred from its review of the surveillance footage that
defendant’s act of pulling on the locked door handle of the vehicle with his bandana
was an overt act establishing a specific intent tending toward the commission of a
felony or a theft therein. See State in Interest of D.B., 22-28 (La. App. 1 Cir.
7/29/22), 2022 WL 3010210 (unpublished opinion; not designated for publication),12
and State in Interest of E.M., supra, (both cases holding that the juvenile’s pulling
on car door handles was an overt act tending toward committing a theft or felony in
the vehicles at issue).
Based on the act of pulling on the door handle, the jury could have also
inferred that defendant had a specific intent to commit a theft or felony therein
because the evidence showed that defendant did not reside in the subdivision and
12 This case is published on the First Circuit Court of Appeal’s website and, therefore, may be cited as
authority despite the fact it is not designated for publication. See La. C.C.P. art. 2168.
22-KA-363 14 despite defendant’s assertion to the contrary, the subdivision was not a feasible “cut-
through” to his residence. Additionally, defendant’s act of fleeing law enforcement
patrolling the subdivision in an attempt to avoid apprehension, on two separate
occasions, and his presence in the vicinity and during the time of the attempted
simple burglary, are circumstances from which the jury could have inferred a guilty
conscience. State in Interest of E.M., supra; State v. Hooker, 623 So.2d 178, 184
(La. App. 2 Cir. 1993); State v. Fuller, 418 So.2d 591.
Considering the evidence and the Jackson standard, a rational juror could have
found defendant’s alternative hypothesis of innocence sufficiently unreasonable and
could have concluded that the evidence proved that he intended to commit a felony
or theft therein of the vehicle or its contents. Viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, we find the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt
that defendant had the specific intent to commit a felony or theft therein of the
For the reasons stated herein, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable
to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found that the State proved the
essential elements of attempted simple burglary beyond a reasonable doubt and to
the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.
ERRORS PATENT
The record was reviewed for errors patent, according to the mandates of La.
C.Cr.P. art. 920; State v. Oliveaux, 312 So.2d 337 (La. 1975); and State v. Weiland,
556 So.2d 175 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1990). Our review reveals there are no errors patent
in this case.
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED
22-KA-363 15 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. CORNELIUS E. REGAN, PRO TEM FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
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