State v. Jones

426 So. 2d 1323
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedFebruary 28, 1983
Docket81-KA-0699
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 426 So. 2d 1323 (State v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Jones, 426 So. 2d 1323 (La. 1983).

Opinion

426 So.2d 1323 (1983)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Ronnie W. JONES.

No. 81-KA-0699.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

January 21, 1983.
Dissenting Opinion February 28, 1983.

*1324 William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., John M. Mamoulides, Dist. Atty., Abbott Reeves, Art Lentini, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-appellee.

Robert Garrity, Jr., Harahan, for defendant-appellant.

DIXON, Chief Justice.

On May 21, 1980 Ronnie W. Jones was charged by bill of information with the *1325 crime of simple burglary, a violation of R.S. 14:62; on October 31, 1980 a jury found him guilty of attempted simple burglary (R.S. 14:27). His motion for a new trial was denied, and he was sentenced to five years at hard labor. Defendant now appeals his conviction on one assignment of error and one argument.

At approximately 12:00 a.m. on May 21, 1980, Sarah Dillon was awakened by the sound of her daughter's bedroom door opening. Mrs. Dillon testified that she had fallen asleep next to her child while putting her to bed. Assuming that her husband was coming in to awaken her, she called out his name three times. No one answered and a person entered the bedroom. Mrs. Dillon then screamed for her husband who was asleep in front of the television in their bedroom next door. Getting no response she started banging on the wall, which finally roused him from his sleep. Mr. Dillon ran into the room, and apprehended the intruder, punching him several times. Mrs. Dillon then switched on the hall light and they recognized the prowler as their neighbor, the defendant, who lived two houses down the street.

In his assignment of error defendant contends that his conviction should be reversed because the state failed to produce sufficient evidence that his unauthorized entry into the dwelling of Mr. and Mrs. Dillon was with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein.

The state argues that defendant's unauthorized presence in the dwelling proved intent to commit a theft or felony in the victims' home. The defendant urges that his mere presence in the residence is not proof of his guilty intent.

R.S. 14:62 states in pertinent part:
"Simple burglary is the unauthorized entering of any dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure, movable or immovable, with the intent to commit a felony or any theft therein, ..."

The defendant must have had the specific intent to commit either a felony or a theft at the time of his unauthorized entry, both for the crimes of simple burglary and attempted simple burglary. State v. Marcello, 385 So.2d 244 (La.1980); State v. Anderson, 343 So.2d 135 (La.1977); State v. Walker, 328 So.2d 87 (La.1976).

In State v. Marcello, supra at 245, this court stated:

"Specific criminal intent is that state of mind which exists when the circumstances indicate that the offender actively desired and prescribed criminal consequences to follow his act or his failure to act. LSA-R.S. 14:10. The State had to introduce at least some evidence that defendant had the active desire to commit a felony or theft in the ... building."

In determining whether evidence is sufficient to support a conviction, there must be sufficient evidence to justify a rational trier of fact in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).

Defendant testified that he was watching television at his home when suddenly something started to annoy him "universal wise." He elaborated that he became so tense and depressed that he decided to go to the hospital. He had previously been treated at the hospital for mental illness earlier in 1980 for about a week and a half. At that time he was admitted because he felt "kinda bad, kinda nauseated."

According to his testimony, his younger brother Stanley suggested that he "go ask McCharles [Dillon] he's got a car" to drive him to the hospital. Stanley worked for the Dillons on occasion and was acquainted with them.[1] Both cars of the Dillons were parked in the driveway, and the television was on. Defendant testified that he went "down to the Dillons to ask them ... would they bring me to the hospital and I rung *1326 the doorbell ... kept ringing the doorbell and I don't know I kinda got woozy or whatever. The next thing I know I'm standing in front [of] a cop's car and I was wondering what's going on ..."

The victims' testimony is not inconsistent with defendant's account and, in fact, supports a finding that defendant was sick and in need of medical attention. Mrs. Dillon testified that when she asked defendant, "What are you doing in my house?" he responded, "I don't know." She described defendant as looking "like he was drunk or something," "stooped over like and swaying," and "like a person in a drunk stupor with his arms swinging and like stuttering, like he really couldn't say anything." In addition, in the minute and a half that elapsed after Mrs. Dillon began screaming for her husband and before her husband appeared, defendant remained in the same position and "didn't do anything."

Mr. Dillon described his encounter with the defendant: "Well, when I hit him and he hollered and put his hand behind his back well I know how guys look when they drunk or on drugs and he act like he was on drugs to me." Defendant asked Mr. Dillon, "Man, is this real?" Later, defendant explained his presence in the house by saying that his brother Stanley suggested he ask the Dillons for a ride to the hospital.

The arresting officer testified that at the time of the arrest defendant's "eyes appeared to be glossy," but otherwise he appeared to be "coordinated" to the officer.

In the case of State v. Marcello, supra, this court reversed a conviction for attempted simple burglary when the testimony showed that the defendant, who had entered the NOPSI building at 921 Union Street, did not have the requisite intent to commit a felony or theft in the building. Defendant had been sleeping on the roof of the office building and had entered a restroom in the building to wash. In reversing the conviction, this court reasoned that:

"... No property was reported missing. Marcello took nothing from NOPSI except some soap and a paper towel. Compare State v. Anderson, supra, where Anderson was apprehended with stolen property. Marcello had no burglary tools. His flight does not necessarily show guilty intent to commit theft or a felony under these circumstances. Marcello may have run merely because he was not authorized to be on the NOPSI premises and had past convictions for `sleeping in public places' (Tr. 17). His activity in the building negates any implication that he intended the offense charged." 385 So.2d at 245. (Emphasis added).

In the present case defendant did not remove any property from the premises nor did he commit a felony within the Dillons' home. No property was reported missing.[2] Defendant had no burglary tools in his possession, nor was there any other evidence of an intent to burglarize his neighbors' home, other than his mere presence in the house.

"When the evidence does not support a conviction of the crime charged, the Court has generally remanded with instructions to discharge the defendant." State v. Byrd, 385 So.2d 248, 251 (La.1980).

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Bluebook (online)
426 So. 2d 1323, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-jones-la-1983.