State v. Nylon

563 S.W.2d 540, 1978 Mo. App. LEXIS 2519
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 7, 1978
Docket38642
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 563 S.W.2d 540 (State v. Nylon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Nylon, 563 S.W.2d 540, 1978 Mo. App. LEXIS 2519 (Mo. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

DOWD, Presiding Judge.

Defendant appeals his conviction in a jury trial for robbery in the first degree by means of a dangerous and deadly weapon. Sections 560.120 and 560.135, RSMo 1969 V.A.M.S. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment under the Second Offender Act. § 556.280 RSMo 1969. We affirm.

*542 Based on the evidence presented at trial, a jury could reasonably find that on January 31, 1976 Mr. Donald Fudge drove his wife and baby to a fast food restaurant. A man parked next to them and engaged in friendly conversation with Mrs. Fudge while her husband purchased food. The man then requested their assistance in starting his auto. After Mr. Fudge helped him get his auto started by using booster cables the man asked the Fudges to follow him a short distance. Several blocks later he pulled to the side of the road. Mr. Fudge passed him, and the man then followed them to the parking lot near their residence.

The Fudges parked the auto in the parking garage and returned through the lot on the way to their residence. The man once again followed them, and when Mrs. Fudge attempted to run away with the baby, the man put a pistol to Mr. Fudge’s head to force her to return. The man entered the building with the couple and struck Mr. Fudge on the head with a pistol as Fudge attempted to hit the fire alarm. Once inside the residence the man took money from Mr. Fudge’s wallet, and tied up both Mr. Fudge and a relative who lived with the couple. Mrs. Fudge stated during the trial that the man also tied up two children in a bedroom.

Police located the automobile driven by the man that same night at a gas station. Police went to a house where they believed defendant was located. As a police officer stepped into a bedroom, the defendant reached for a gun which was later admitted into evidence. The day following the arrest police conducted a lineup where both Mr. and Mrs. Fudge identified defendant as the robber. The police officer also investigated another person who looked similar to the robber, but found he had an alibi.

The state charged defendant under the names of Johnny Nylon a/k/a L. W. Brown. It introduced two exhibits which included certified copies of six prior convictions against L. W. Brown. The record also contained fingerprints and a photograph. The trial court concluded Johnny Nylon and L. W. Brown are the same person and sentenced him under the Second Offender Act. § 556.280 RSMo 1969.

Defendant raises seven issues in his appeal. First, he alleges the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the gun recovered at the time of his arrest. He claims no evidence was presented to show it was the weapon used during the robbery since the victims could only testify that the gun was similar to the weapon used during the robbery. A gun which was in the possession of defendant at the time of his arrest and was shown to be similar to the one used in the crime is admissible as evidence. State v. Cuckovich, 485 S.W.2d 16, 23 (Mo. banc 1972). The gun was properly admitted.

Defendant also contends that the trial court erred in permitting Mrs. Fudge to testify that her children were tied up. He argues that because the money was taken from Fudge before the robber went to the children’s bedroom, such testimony is irrelevant to proving the crime of robbery.

The general rule is that proof of commission of other crimes is not admissible unless it tends to establish the charge for which defendant is being tried. State v. Holbert, 416 S.W.2d 129, 132 (Mo.1967); State v. Reese, 364 Mo. 1221, 274 S.W.2d 304, 307 (Mo. banc 1954). However, there are many exceptions to this general rule. One exception is where the different crimes are so linked together that proof of one also involves proving the other. In such a situation evidence of the act constitutes a part of the res gestae and is admissible. State v. Garrison, 342 Mo. 453, 116 S.W.2d 23 (1938). To be a part of the res gestae the act must be substantially contemporaneous with the commission of the crime. It must occur in the same transaction as the crime, State v. Robb, 439 S.W.2d 510, 514 (Mo.1969), or the circumstances must indicate it is part of one continuous transaction in the accomplishment of a common design. State v. Jackson, 519 S.W.2d 551, 558 (Mo.App.1975).

In this case, the tying of the children was contemporaneous with the robbery *543 since it occurred on the same occasion as the robbery. The act was part of a single continuous transaction taking place in the Pudge residence at the time of the robbery. For this reason, defendant’s second point is without merit.

Defendant also raises the point that there was insufficient evidence from which the trial court could conclude that Johnny Nylon and L. W. Brown were the same person for purposes of sentencing under the Second Offender Act.

Defendant is correct in that the person named in the prior conviction and defendant must be shown to be the same person. State v. Harris, 547 S.W.2d 473, 476 (Mo.1977). The state however, did show in this case, that Johnny Nylon and L. W. Brown are one and the same person. A photograph was included with the prior conviction, and while this court cannot compare the picture with defendant, “it may be reasonably and safely assumed that the trial judge compared the two.” State v. Collins, 394 S.W.2d 368, 371 (Mo.1965).

Thus, sufficient evidence was presented for the trial court to conclude Johnny Nylon and L. W. Brown were the same person. In addition, it is noted that the state’s information charged defendant under both names. Defendant’s contention is without merit.

The fourth point raised by defendant is that the jury should have had an opportunity to consider all lesser concluded offenses of the crime charged. Thus, it is contended the trial court erred in not submitting defendant’s instruction on stealing to the jury, since it includes all the elements of robbery except fear.

Where there is substantial evidence that the taking of money occurred without violence or putting the victim in fear, the court should submit instructions to the jury allowing them to find defendant guilty of stealing. State v. Parker, 324 S.W.2d 717, 722 (Mo.1959). However, fear is presumed where a deadly weapon is used to obtain money. State v. Keeney, 425 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Mo.1968); State v. Ray, 354 S.W.2d 840, 843 (Mo.1962). Where the state provides evidence of all the elements of robbery, including fear, and defendant presents evidence showing only that he committed no crime, no instruction on stealing is required.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. West
697 N.E.2d 1216 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1998)
State v. Merritt
735 S.W.2d 399 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1987)
State v. Duggar
710 S.W.2d 917 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1986)
State v. Perry
689 S.W.2d 123 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1985)
State v. Winston
657 S.W.2d 399 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1983)
State v. Calmese
657 S.W.2d 660 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1983)
State v. McCrary
652 S.W.2d 220 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1983)
State v. Kenner
648 S.W.2d 552 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1983)
State v. Harden
639 S.W.2d 90 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1982)
State v. Daniels
634 S.W.2d 490 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Tyler
622 S.W.2d 379 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Hurst
612 S.W.2d 846 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Brooks
610 S.W.2d 43 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1980)
State v. Montgomery
596 S.W.2d 735 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1980)
State v. Preston
583 S.W.2d 577 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1979)
State v. Davis
577 S.W.2d 110 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1978)
State v. Thomas
572 S.W.2d 880 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1978)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
563 S.W.2d 540, 1978 Mo. App. LEXIS 2519, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-nylon-moctapp-1978.