State v. Mickelson

378 N.W.2d 17, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4906
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedNovember 26, 1985
DocketC1-85-995
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 378 N.W.2d 17 (State v. Mickelson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Mickelson, 378 N.W.2d 17, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4906 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION

PARKER, Judge.

Appellant Thomas William Mickelson was convicted of theft by temporary control following a jury trial in Dakota County District Court. The charge arose out of a transaction at Drovers First American Bank, where Mickelson is alleged to have received and retained $13,000 instead of the $1,300 to which he was entitled. A stay of imposition of sentence was granted; Mick-elson was placed on probation for three years, ordered to pay restitution in the sum of $11,700 with simple interest within 90 days, and required to complete 100 hours of community service work. We affirm.

FACTS

On Friday, July 6, 1984, Mickelson went into Drovers First American Bank in South St. Paul at approximately 3:15 p.m. with another man, Earl Trageser, and a young girl. The bank was busy. Trageser endorsed a check to Mickelson; Mickelson in turn endorsed it and gave the check to the woman at the teller window. Mickelson asked that the proceeds of the check be applied to two mortgage payments and the balance given to him in cash. The balance after two mortgage payments were made was $1,349.68.

The teller, Robin Witte, did not have enough cash in her drawer to give Mickel-son the $1,349.68, so she obtained the money from the vault teller, Natalie Scott.

Scott counted out 13 bundles of money amounting to $13,000. She testified that she gave the $13,000 to Witte along with a cash-out ticket for that amount. Witte gave the 13 bundles to Mickelson along with, $49.68 from her teller drawer. Witte testified that at the time she gave Mickel- *19 son $13,049.68, she thought she had given him $1,349.68.

Sometime after Mickelson left the bank, Sheri Richtzigel, Witte’s supervisor, reviewed the transaction. Upon review of the endorsed check, the mortgage payment slips and the cash-out slip, Richtzigel determined that the transaction did not balance. After some confusion, both Scott and Witte came to the conclusion that they had given Mickelson $13,049.68, rather than the $1,349.68 he was entitled to. Another bank employee then performed a cash audit, which revealed a cash shortage of $11,700.

On the following Monday, July 9, Bruce Ruecker, a vice president at the bank, called Mickelson and left a message on his answering machine. Mickelson returned Ruecker’s call at approximately 6:30 p.m. Ruecker told Mickelson he called regarding the incident that took place in the bank lobby Friday, July 6. Ruecker paused at that point and Mickelson did not say anything for five to ten seconds. Mickelson then said he was not prepared to talk about that matter until they could talk and settle another problem he was having with the bank.

Mickelson told Ruecker that he had a long-standing problem with Len Nerka, vice president of real estate, regarding attorney’s fees in the amount of $900 which the bank had assessed against him in a mortgage transaction. Ruecker asked Mickelson to contact the bank on Tuesday to set up a meeting. Mickelson did not contact the bank the following day.

On July 12 John Gutzman, a sergeant with the South St. Paul Police Department, was assigned to investigate. Gutzman left a message on Mickelson’s answering machine stating that arrangements could be made to return the money without criminal charges being filed. Mickelson did not return the call. Gutzman also drove out to Mickelson’s residence on several occasions. Although someone was clearly home, the door was not answered when Gutzman rang the bell.

On July 18 Gutzman attempted to deliver a letter written by an assistant Dakota County attorney to Mickelson’s residence. When Gutzman rang the bell, he saw a person look down the stairway toward him, duck back around the corner, and finally walk toward the door. Mickelson identified himself but refused to open the door. Gutzman then left the letter in the door.

On July 23, 1984, Mickelson was charged in Dakota County District Court with two counts of theft. The $11,700 had not been returned to Drovers Bank at the time of the trial in January 1985.

ISSUES

1. Did the trial court err in permitting the prosecution to amend the complaint to add a new charge after the case was set for trial?

2. Did the trial court err in denying appellant’s requested jury instruction on a “set-off” theory of defense?

3. Was there sufficient evidence to support appellant’s conviction of theft by temporary control?

DISCUSSION

I

Mickelson contends the trial court erred in permitting the prosecution to amend its complaint to add the count of theft by temporary control. See Minn.Stat. § 609.-52, subd. 2(5)(a) (1984).

Mickelson appeared with counsel ready for trial on December 18, 1984. At that time he was charged with two counts of theft: theft with intent to deprive permanently, Minn.Stat. § 609.52, subd. 2(1) (1984), and theft with intent to restore property to the owner only if a reward is paid, Minn.Stat. § 609.52, subd. 2(5)(c) (1984). The State moved for a continuance based on the prosecution’s trial schedule conflicts. The State’s motion was granted, and Mickelson’s trial was rescheduled for January 7, 1985.

On December 28, 1984, ten days before trial, the prosecutor served defense counsel with a notice of motion and motion to amend the complaint to add a third count. *20 Over defense counsel’s objection, the motion to amend was granted on the day of the trial. The court offered to grant Mick-elson a continuance. It was refused and the trial began as scheduled. At the close of the State’s case, Mickelson’s motion to dismiss counts I and II of the complaint was granted. Mickelson was convicted under count III (theft by temporary control), the new charge added at the beginning of the trial.

Mickelson argues that Minn.R. Crim.P. 17.05 bars the prosecution from amending its complaint to add count III. Rule 17.05 provides:

The court may permit an indictment or complaint to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different offense is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.

Id. The supreme court has interpreted Rule 17.05 to apply only to motions to amend after the commencement of trial. State v. Alexander, 290 N.W.2d 745, 748 (Minn.1980) (citing State v. Doeden, 309 Minn. 544, 245 N.W.2d 233 (1976)). Because the trial court granted the motion to amend before the trial commenced, Rule 17.05 does not apply.

Under Minn.R.Crim.P. 3.04, subd. 2, a new complaint may be filed during pretrial proceedings. Alexander, 290 N.W.2d at 748 (amendment of complaint adding new counts allowed under Rule 3.04, subd. 2, after mistrial and prior to commencement of new trial); Doeden, 309 Minn. 544, 245 N.W.2d 233 (amendment of complaint allowed under Rule 3.04, subd. 2, at an omnibus hearing). In State v. Smith,

Related

State v. Whitley
649 N.W.2d 180 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2002)
State v. Elliott
585 A.2d 304 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1990)
Ouellette Ex Rel. Ouellette v. Subak
379 N.W.2d 125 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
378 N.W.2d 17, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4906, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mickelson-minnctapp-1985.