State v. Puga

510 P.2d 1075, 85 N.M. 204
New Mexico Court of Appeals·Decided May 23, 1973·No. 1046·Published·Cited by 34 cases

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Convicted of two counts of robbery, defendant appeals. Section 40A-16-2, N.M. S.A.1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6). The issues concern: (1) intent as an element of robbery, and (2) instructions concerning intent. We affirm.

Section 40A-16-2, supra, states:

“Robbery consists of the theft of anything of value from the person of another or from the immediate control of another, by use or threatened use of force or violence.”

Intent as an element of robbery.

Section 40A-16-2, supra, does not specifically mention “intent.” The Attorney General states: “ . . . criminal intent is not an essential element of the crime of robbery. . . . ” We disagree for two reasons.

First, State v. Shedoudy, 45 N.M. 516, 118 P.2d 280 (1941) holds “ . . . the existence of a criminal intent is to be regarded as essential, although the terms of the statute do not require it. ” Further, “ . . . the legislature may forbid the doing of an act and make its commission criminal, without regard to the intent with which such act is done; but in such case it must clearly appear . that such was the legislative intent. . . . ” State v. Craig, 70 N.M. 176, 372 P.2d 128 (1962) and State v. Lawson, 59 N.M. 482, 286 P.2d 1076 (1955) applied this rule as to criminal intent. This court has applied this rule in numerous cases; recent ones are State v. Fuentes, (Ct.App., 84 N.M. 757, 508 P.2d 27) (1973); State v. Pedro, 83 N.M. 212, 490 P.2d 470 (Ct.App.1971). It does not clearly appear from § 40A-16-2, supra, that the Legislature intended to make robbery a crime without regard to the intent with which the act is done. Thus, robbery does require a criminal intent under State v. Shedoudy, supra.

Second, robbery is an aggravated form of larceny. 2 Wharton’s Criminal Law and Procedure §§ 547, 548 (1957). This is demonstrated by comparing the definition of larceny with the definition of robbery. Section 40A-16-1, N.M.S.A. 1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6) states: “Larceny consists of the stealing of anything of value which belongs to another.” Section 40A-16-2, supra, which is quoted above, requires a theft. “Theft” is the act of stealing. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1966).

A criminal intent is required for larceny. State v. Eckles, 79 N.M. 138, 441 P.2d 36 (1968); State v. Paris, 76 N.M. 291, 414 P.2d 512 (1966); State v. Curry, 32 N.M. 219, 252 P. 994 (1927). The criminal intent required for larceny is also required for its aggravated form — robbery. 2 Wharton’s, supra, § 548.

The Attorney General asserts no criminal intent is required for robbery because, by statutory definition, robbery requires the theft of something of value “by use or threatened use of force or violence.” In so contending, the Attorney General refers to the criminal intent of conscious wrongdoing.

This argument mistakes the criminal intent involved for there to be a robbery. The intent necessary for robbery includes the general criminal intent of conscious wrongdoing. See State v. Austin, 80 N.M. 748, 461 P.2d 230 (Ct.App.1969). But more than conscious wrongdoing is involved.

The criminal intent necessary for larceny is the intent to permanently deprive the owner of his property. State v. Eckles, supra; see State v. Austin, supra. This is the intent to steal. State v. Paris, supra. This same intent to steal is necessary for there to be a robbery. “ . [Rjobbery requires an intent to steal. . . . . [Ajn intent to steal is an essential element. . . .”2 Wharton’s, supra, § 548. Since one cannot intend to steal without consciously intending to do wrong, our concern with criminal intent in robbery cases is not with the general criminal intent discussed in State v. Austin, supra, but with a specific intent— the intent to steal.

The use or threatened use of force or violence does not eliminate such an intent as an element of robbery. Force or violence could be used in a taking of property in jest, in taking one’s own property or in taking property when so drunk that an intent could not be formed. Such takings, although employing force or violence, could be done without an intent to steal. 2 Wharton’s, supra, § 548.

We hold that a criminal intent is an essential element of the crime of robbery. McGruder v. State, 213 Ga. 259, 98 S.E.2d 564 (1957); People v. Singleton, 21 A.D.2d 907, 251 N.Y.S.2d 714 (1964). That criminal intent is the intent to steal.

Instructions concerning intent.

The only specific mention of intent in the instructions to the jury referred to the manner of proving intent. The instruction states: “Intent is seldom susceptible of direct proof, and may be inferred from the facts and circumstances surrounding the case.” The jury was not specifically instructed that an intent to steal was an element of robbery. No issue was raised in the trial court concerning the intent to steal. This intent, being an essential element of the crime, is jurisdictional and may be raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Walsh, 81 N.M. 65, 463 P.2d 41 (Ct.App.1969).

State v. Maestas, 63 N.M. 67, 313 P.2d 337 (1957) states: “ . . . Instructions are sufficient which substantially follow the language of the statute or use equivalent language. . . . ” This Court applied this rule in State v. Fuentes, supra, and State v. Baca, 85 N.M. 55, 508 P.2d 1352 (Ct.App.1973). Both cases involved statutes which expressly refer to the required intent. See § 54-11-22(A), N.M.S.A. 1953 (Int.Supp.1972) and § 40A-16-3, N.M. S.A. 1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6). That is not the situation here. The language of our robbery statute, § 40A-16-2, supra, does not mention intent. Neither Fuentes nor Baca is applicable to the fact situation in this case.

State v. Lopez, 80 N.M. 599, 458 P.2d 851 (Ct.App.1969), cert. denied, 398 U.S. 942, 90 S.Ct. 1860, 26 L.Ed.2d 279 (1970) applied the rule stated in State v. Maestas, supra, to the instructions in a robbery case. It did so without discussion. This appeal raises the question of whether the Maestas rule was properly applied in Lopez.

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State v. Puga, 510 P.2d 1075, 85 N.M. 204 (N.M. Ct. App. 1973).

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