State v. Saul

346 N.W.2d 282, 1984 N.D. LEXIS 273
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 21, 1984
DocketCr. No. 957
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 346 N.W.2d 282 (State v. Saul) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Saul, 346 N.W.2d 282, 1984 N.D. LEXIS 273 (N.D. 1984).

Opinion

EKICKSTAD, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal by .the defendant, Douglas J. Saul, from a judgment of conviction entered by the County Court of Cass County on July 26, 1983, finding him guilty of attempted theft of property in violation of Sections 12.1 — 06—01 and 12.1-23-02 of the North Dakota Century Code. We affirm.

In a criminal complaint dated May 23, 1983, Christopher R. Lehse, not a party to this appeal, and appellant Saul were jointly charged with committing the offenses of attempted theft of property and theft of property on or about May 21, 1983, outside the Hardees restaurant in the northside of Fargo. Count one of the complaint alleged that Lehse and Saul, individually and each aiding the other, knowingly attempted to take the wallet and wristwatch of Tim Lester. Count two of the complaint alleged that Saul and Lehse, individually and each aiding the other, knowingly took unauthorized control over Tim Lester’s bicycle.

On May 23, 1983, Saul pled guilty to the theft of the bicycle and was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment in the county jail. Saul and Lehse were tried together on the remaining charges pursuant to Rule 13, N.D.R.Crim.P. The trial court found Saul guilty as to count one, the attempted theft of the wallet and wristwatch, and found Lehse guilty as to count two, the theft of the bicycle.1 Saul was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment in the county jail with credit for time served on count two, which sentence was suspended for one year on the condition that he be placed on supervised probation, pay court costs of $150, and complete 60 hours of community service.

Saul’s contention on appeal is that the evidence is insufficient to support the judgment of conviction for criminal attempt. Our standard of review in cases challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a trial court’s finding of guilt is well-settled:

“We have often stated that in a criminal trial to the court without a jury, the trial court is the trier of facts and thus its findings will have the same force and effect as a jury verdict upon review in the appellate court. State v. Engebretson, 326 N.W.2d 212, 215 (N.D.1982); State v. Berger, 235 N.W.2d 254, 263 (N.D.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 913, 96 S.Ct. 1511, 47 L.Ed.2d 764 (1976); State v. Berger, 234 N.W.2d 6, 12 (N.D.1975); State v. Neset, 216 N.W.2d 285, 287 (N.D.1974); City of Minot v. Spence, 123 N.W.2d 836, 837 (N.D.1963). Thus, our standard of review in cases challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction is the same whether or not the defendant attacks a jury’s finding of guilt or a trial court’s finding of guilt.
“Recently, in State v. Manke, 328 N.W.2d 799, 805 (N.D.1982), we stated that:
“ ‘Past decisions of this court have well established the standard of review which we will employ in cases challenging the sufficiency of evidence to sustain a conviction. In such cases we do not weigh conflicting evidence, nor do we judge the credibility of witnesses; instead, we look only to the evidence most favorable to the verdict and the reasonable inferences therefrom to see if there is substantial evidence, to warrant a conviction. State v. Cox, 325 N.W.2d 181 (N.D.1982); [284]*284State v. Olson, 290 N.W.2d 664 (N.D.1980); State v. Larson, 274 N.W.2d 884 (N.D.1979); State v. Piper, 261 N.W.2d 650 (N.D.1978); State v. Allen, 237 N.W.2d 154 (N.D.1975).’ ”
State v. Christian, 328 N.W.2d 815, 817 (N.D.1982).

Tim Lester, age 16, his brother Scott Lester, age 13, and another young boy were leaving the Hardees restaurant on their bicycles at about midnight on May 21, 1983. Two larger boys, one of whom wore glasses and was riding a bicycle, approached Tim in the Hardees’ parking lot. Scott testified at trial that he was riding his bicycle several feet ahead of Tim. Scott heard “some banging,” then turned around and saw Saul, “the one with the glasses on,” turn the front wheel of his bicycle into the back wheel of Tim’s bicycle. Tim testified as follows:

“A. Well, we come out of Hardees and they didn’t say anything to us. And we, then we came out and we started riding away. And we got out by the street and the one with the glasses, he grabbed me and demanded my watch and my wallet with my money in it.
“Q. What did you say?
“A. I said, ‘No,’ and dropped my bike and started running.
“Q. How did he grab you, Tim?
“A. By my shoulder on my jacket.
“Q. Was he in front of you or behind you or where was he?
“A. He was right beside me.
“Q. You said he demanded your watch and your money. Do you recall exactly what he told you?
“A. He said, ‘Give me your money and your watch.’ ”

Tim identified Saul as the person who grabbed him and demanded his wallet and watch.

“Q. (By Mr. Hoy) Tim, just so we have got a clear record here, you’ve identified the two gentlemen essentially sitting right over here (indicating) as being the two people that confronted you outside of Hardees that night; is that correct?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Now one of these gentlemen is wearing glasses and one is not. Is the gentleman that’s wearing glasses; that is, Mr. Saul, is he the gentleman that grabbed you by the shoulder asked for your wallet and your money?
“A. Yes.”

A person can be found guilty of a criminal attempt if “acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for commission of a crime, he intentionally engages in conduct which, in fact, constitutes a substantial step toward commission of the crime.” Section 12.1-06-01(1), N.D.C.C. A “substantial step” is defined in Section 12.-1-06-01(1) as “any conduct which is strongly corroborative of the firmness of the actor’s intent to complete the commission of the crime.”

Saul argues that the grabbing of Tim Lester's shoulder and a request for his wallet and watch “can hardly be considered a substantial step toward commission of the crime of theft when no threat, express or implied, was given.”

Our theft of property statute, Section 12.1-23-02, N.D.C.C., reads as follows:

“A person is guilty of theft if he:
1.

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

Related

City of Wahpeton v. Wilkie
477 N.W.2d 215 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1991)
State v. Wright
470 N.W.2d 594 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1991)
State v. Johnson
425 N.W.2d 903 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
346 N.W.2d 282, 1984 N.D. LEXIS 273, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-saul-nd-1984.