State v. Stewart

507 P.2d 1050, 161 Mont. 501
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1973
Docket12382
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 507 P.2d 1050 (State v. Stewart) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana 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. Stewart, 507 P.2d 1050, 161 Mont. 501 (Mo. 1973).

Opinions

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE JAMES T. HARRISON

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

This is an appeal from the district court of the fourteenth judicial district in Musselshell County with the Honorable Nat Allen presiding. The defendant is appealing from a jury verdict finding him guilty of the crime of burglary in the second degree and a denial of the defendant’s motion for a new trial. ■

From the record it appears that John W. Owen resided on a ranch in Musselshell County, and arrived home from work about 6:30 p.m. on July 6, 1972 and remained there until 7:00 p.m. At this time his home was in order, nothing was missing. Owen then went to his uncle’s house and returned to his home at approximately 9 :45 p.m. Owen testified that ho was going to lie down and watch television before going to bed, and at this point he realized that his television was missing.

[503]*503Owen changed clothes and was preparing to go to Roundup to report the theft when he heard a knock at his back door. Owen answered the knock; however, no one was there. Another knock was heard at the front door which, when answered, produced the defendant David Lee Stewart. Stewart, according to Owen’s testimony, was “standing there with long straggly hair and a shirt with red and white stripes on it and he had a knife in his hands, or it was mostly concealed by the palms of his hands, over the sheath of the knife which the blade was in, and the other palm of his hand had the handle of it and it seemed to be predominantly leveled to me.”

Stewart told Owen that Stewart’s friend had stolen Owen’s television and stereo and had lost the keys to his car. Stewart promised Owen that if he could help locate the keys that he would return the stolen articles. Stewart, with the aid of Owen’s flashlight, began looking for the keys in the house— directing his investigation to those areas where the television and stereo were formerly located.

Owen went to his uncle’s house to obtain another flashlight, however, he also borrowed his uncle’s shotgun. Owen then returned to Stewart, who was waiting by his automobile several hundred yards from Owen’s house. Stewart had still not located the keys to his automobile. Holding the shotgun in his hand, Owen stated that he did not believe Stewart’s story, and Owen wanted to know who Stewart’s friend was that took his stereo and television. Stewart refused to identify his friend. Owen, to demonstrate his sincerity in getting to the basis of the robbery, fired one barrel of his shotgun, the volley of pellets being directed at the defendant’s side. Stewart still was unwilling to volunteer any information in regard to the details of the robbery. Owen fired another shotgun blast, but the pellets were directed at the other side of Stewart. Stewart still refused to give any information in regard to the robbery. Owen procured the local law enforcement personnel who, with the help of Owen and his friend, apprehended the defendant [504]*504and recovered the television and stereo from the vicinity of Stewart’s automobile.

Four issues are presented to this Court for review. First, did the district court err in granting the state’s motion to amend the charge in the information from burglary in the first degree to burglary? Second, did the district court err in proceeding with the trial? Third, did the district court err in denying defendant’s motion for a directed verdict? Fourth, did the' district court err in refusing to give defendant’s offered instructions Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11?

First, the district court did not err in granting the prosecution’s motion to amend the charges in the information from burglary in the first degree to burglary. As the record indicates, the defendant was charged with burglary in the first degree. On the day set for trial the prosecution amended the charge to burglary. The defendant objected to this, claiming that the substance of the charge was substantially changed. This objection was overruled. Defendant now contends that the court erred in permitting the information to be amended.

This Court has just recently held that an information may charge a defendant with the crime of burglary. State ex rel. Wilson v. District Court, 159 Mont. 439, 498 P.2d 1217, 29 St.Rep. 523. In the instant case the prosecution did just that, leaving the question of the degree of burglary to the jury. The question to be decided by this Court is whether the amended information charged a crime different in nature from that previously charged, and if such amendment sufficiently appi’ised the defendant of the charges against him.

The crime charged is the same, i.e., burglary. The elements of the crime are the same. The proof to the crime would remain the same. The only differexxee between the two charges would be the degree of the crime, which xnust be determined by the jury. The amendment of the information did not surprise the defendant and did not prohibit him from preparing his defense against the crime.

[505]*505Defendant claims he was prejudiced by the district court’s holding, but he has failed to show how this alleged error .affected any of his substantial rights. The prosecution and defense both thoroughly investigated the incident. As the transcript shows, all the evidence presented firmly shows how .and when the burglary transpired. All the evidence and testimony support the prosecution’s case.

The original information charged the defendant with 'burglary in the first degree: that is, during the nighttime. If this charge had been allowed to stand the prosecution would have had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the ■defendant committed the burglary during the nighttime. If the prosecution could not do this, or the jury believed that the defendant did commit the burglary but that he did the act during the daytime, then the defendant would have to be acquitted of the charge against him. On a specific charge of first degree burglary there may not be a conviction for second degree burglary. State ex rel. Wilson v. District Court, supra. Second degree burglary is not a lesser included offense of first degree burglary.

Section 95-1505 (b), R.C.M.1947, permits the charge against the accused to be amended at any time provided ■“* * # no additional or different offense is charged and if the substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.” No additional or different offense was charged by allowing the amendment; the crime was the same, the offense was the same, and only the degree of the crime was altered. The defendant has not shown how any of his substantial rights were prejudiced, nor has he shown any surprise or inability to prepare a defense because of the district court’s holding.

A point was brought out in oral argument before this Court that is worthy of note. On the Friday before the trial, the county attorney of Musselshell County informed the defense counsel that the charge would be amended from first degree burglary to burglary.

[506]*506The second issue raised on the appeal is, did the trial court err in proceeding with the trial? The defendant maintains that the district court erred in allowing the information to be amended and further erred when the district court proceeded with the trial without giving the defendant the chance to enter a plea to the amended information.

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Related

State v. Sorenson
619 P.2d 1185 (Montana Supreme Court, 1980)
Bretz v. Crist
546 F.2d 1336 (Ninth Circuit, 1976)
State v. Brown
Montana Supreme Court, 1976
State v. Turley
521 P.2d 690 (Montana Supreme Court, 1974)
State v. Stewart
507 P.2d 1050 (Montana Supreme Court, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
507 P.2d 1050, 161 Mont. 501, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-stewart-mont-1973.