State v. Causey

533 So. 2d 1050, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 2175, 1988 WL 113200
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 27, 1988
DocketNo. KA-8216
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 533 So. 2d 1050 (State v. Causey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Causey, 533 So. 2d 1050, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 2175, 1988 WL 113200 (La. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

BYRNES, Judge.

Defendant Alex Causey and co-defendant Joseph Bernard were charged and arraign[1051]*1051ed with the May 12, 1983 simple burglary of LaSalle Food Store, 2854 Street, in violation of La.R.S. 14:62. Thereafter, co-defendant Joseph Bernard pled guilty and upon trial by a six-member jury, Alex Cau-sey was found guilty as charged. On August 3,1983, Alex Causey was sentenced to six years at hard labor with payment of $74.00 court costs or an additional 30 days in jail in default, as well as a payment of $50.00 to the victim’s reparation fund. On July 15,1986 the trial court granted an out of time appeal.

FACTS

The testimony of Officer Craig Blair indicates that he responded to a radio dispatch call that related that several subjects were breaking into a food store at 2854 LaSalle Street at 1:30 a.m. on May 12, 1983. Upon reaching the scene, he saw the defendant walking about ten to fifteen feet away from the front of the store, carrying a large box. The officer testified that when he approached, the defendant “attempted to conceal the box behind some bushes in the rear of the store.” Further, defendant Causey “attempted to conceal the box that had the merchandise in it, attempted to get the box and drive off.” The officer identified State’s Exhibit 5 as “part of the box and the bike (defendant) tried to ride off on.” Blair detained the defendant when another subject came around the store carrying merchandise. Both were detained by Officer Blair until another police unit arrived.

The merchandise consisted of bottles of liquor which were dusted for fingerprints by the Crime Lab of the New Orleans Police Department. Officer Gilette testified that he was able to find four partial fingerprints and one-fifth of a partial print lifted from three of the bottles “in the box found near the rear of the building.” By stipulation the prints were identified as those of the defendant, Alex Causey, by Officer John Burns. No other prints could be identified from the crowbar (or tire tool) found near the store or at the point of entry at the door of the front of the building, which had an iron gate. The owner of the food store, Mr. Juan Candahaulti, said that he lived in his store and he did not give anyone permission to go into his store or take any merchandise after 6:00 p.m. When he was notified by his alarm system, around 2:40 a.m. he found the policemen there with the merchandise in the street. He recognized the defendant as a customer whom he had sometimes allowed to make purchases when he was a little short of the correct change.

Mary Johnson testified for the defense, stating that she lived across the street from the food store and saw several boys trying to break in. After she told them not to, the boys walked off and she returned to her house without calling the police. She also testified that an hour later, around 1:30 a.m. the defendant, who had been visiting her daughter, left her house on a bicycle. She said other boys from the neighborhood were taking liquor from the store and she warned the defendant not to go over there. She said that the defendant had nothing to do with it.

Mary Johnson’s daughter, Andrea Johnson, also testified that the defendant had been with her at her house from 10:00 p.m. until 1:40 a.m. She did not know about anything going on at the store but saw some people running away and did not find out the defendant had been arrested until the next morning.

Joseph Bernard admitted that he pled guilty to the crime although he did not actually commit the crime. Testifying that he did not know Alex Causey, he stated that Causey was walking past the store just as he was. As far as he knew, Alex Causey had not committed or helped in the burglary, but Mr. Bernard had seen some others carrying cases of liquor and running from the store. Joseph Bernard had picked up some bottles from the street.

The defendant testified that he left his girlfriend’s house at 1:40 a.m. and was stopped by “a little guy” who was carrying a box and who asked him if he wanted to buy any liquor. When the defendant replied that he didn’t have any money, the “little guy” gave him three bottles. When the police turned the corner, the “little [1052]*1052guy” ran. Causey also saw others running. Alex Causey said he was sitting on his bike when the police jumped out of the car and told him to get off his bike and put his hands on the car. Defendant said that the officer did not arrest him behind the store. Alex Causey also did not admit to giving the name Eliot Causey to the officer. Although he admitted that he knew the liquor was stolen, the defendant maintained that he did not burglarize the store.

ISSUES

Defendant Alex Causey raises three issues in his out of time appeal:

(1) there was insufficient evidence to prove simple burglary;
(2) the trial court erred in failing to inform defendant of his right to remain silent before he was found to be a second offender under La.R.S. 15:529.1; and
(3) imposition of 30 days jail time in default of paying court costs is improper as defendant is indigent.

SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

Under the standard of review mandated by Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), this Court must determine after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution whether there is sufficient evidence in the record for the jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of every essential element of the offense of simple burglary. Under La.R.S. 14:62, the essential elements of simple burglary include:

(1) an unauthorized entry;
(2) with the intent to commit a theft or any felony therein.

The Crime Lab could not identify fingerprints at the point of entry, inside the food store or on the crowbar. Defendant contends that although the store had been burglarized and there was an unauthorized entry, there is no showing that defendant or his belongings were used in the commission of the crime. The defendant maintains that in all cases the state has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant entered the store or he assisted another to enter with the intent to commit a theft or felony therein.

The record reflects that only circumstantial evidence was established at trial. Under La.R.S. 15:438,

The rule as to circumstantial evidence is: assuming every fact to be proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.

As noted in State v. Woods, 526 So.2d 443, 445 (La.App. 4th Cir.1988), “R.S. 15:438 does not establish a stricter standard of review than the more general rational juror’s reasonable doubt formula; it is merely an evidentiary guide for the jury when considering circumstantial evidence.”

In State v. Nelson, 487 So.2d 695 (La.App. 5th Cir.1986), the Appellate Court reversed the conviction based on insufficient evidence when the defendants were stopped by the police and they dropped keys having tags from the dealership on the corner. However, it had been 30 hours since the business had been open and there was no indication of approximately when the burglary had taken place.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
533 So. 2d 1050, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 2175, 1988 WL 113200, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-causey-lactapp-1988.