State v. Williams

464 So. 2d 451
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided February 26, 1985·No. 84 KA 0876, 84 KA 0877·Published·Cited by 18 cases

Opinion

464 So.2d 451 (1985)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Bobby WILLIAMS.

Nos. 84 KA 0876, 84 KA 0877.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

February 26, 1985.

*453 Ossie Brown, Dist. Atty. by Donald Wingerter, Asst. Dist. Atty., Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellee.

Johnny Wellons, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellant.

Before WATKINS, CRAIN and ALFORD, JJ.

CRAIN, Judge.

Defendant, Bobby Williams, was charged by bill of information with the simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62.2.[1] After a trial by jury, defendant was convicted as charged. The state filed a petition to have defendant declared an habitual offender under the provisions of La.R.S. 15:529.1. Defendant stipulated to the bill of information charging him as a second felony offender.[2] He was subsequently sentenced to serve twelve years at hard labor, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. He has appealed his conviction and sentence, alleging five assignments of error. For the reasons expressed, defendant's conviction is affirmed. *454 However, the sentence imposed must be vacated, and the matter remanded for resentencing in accordance with this opinion.

Defendant was charged for the burglary of a residence on North 38th Street, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge City Police were summoned by the residents of the dwelling, who showed the officers that a window had been pried off the side of the house, an entry made, and the home ransacked. One of the victims testified that, after the burglary, a list was made of items missing from the home. The list included two television sets, some silverware, a microwave oven, and jewelry.

Some of the items taken from the house were recovered and defendant was arrested as the result of information furnished by a witness, Charles Bonaventure, who testified that he was approached by one of his neighbors, whom he identified as John Henry, for the purpose of borrowing money against the merchandise. Bonaventure testified that he immediately recognized the items as having been stolen, and notified the police. A short time later he witnessed the arrest of Henry and his two companions, including defendant.

After his arrest, defendant made a voluntary statement in which he admitted participation in the burglary. The items recovered by the city police were dusted for fingerprints. At trial, defendant was fingerprinted. A latent print examiner of the Louisiana State Police, Carole E. Richard, then compared defendant's fingerprints with the latent prints which had been removed from the microwave oven, and testified that the latent prints matched the fingerprints taken from defendant.

Defendant testified at the hearing on the predicate to determine the admissibility of his written inculpatory statement, and denied that he had made the statement. Defendant further testified that on the morning of September 1, 1983, an acquaintance by the name of Jimmy arrived at defendant's residence and attempted to carry a microwave oven into the residence; and that the fingerprints of defendant appeared on the microwave oven when he helped Jimmy carry the microwave back to the car.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR ONE, FOUR AND FIVE

In these assignments of error, defendant argues that the evidence does not support the conviction. In assignment of error number one, defendant alleges the jury erred in failing to require the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was in fact a principal in the simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling. In assignment of error number four, defendant argues the trial judge erred in refusing to reverse the jury conviction because the state failed to prove specific intent. In assignment of error number five, defendant argues the court erred in failing to overturn and reverse the conviction based on the failure of the state to prove simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.

The applicable standard for reviewing sufficiency of the evidence is whether or not, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could conclude that the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. La.C.Cr.P. art. 821; State v. Korman, 439 So.2d 1099 (La. App. 1st Cir.1983). The evidence presented herein is sufficient under this standard of review.

Defendant argues that the state failed to prove his participation as a principal in the burglary. The definition of "principal" is contained in La.R.S. 14:24, and provides as follows:

All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether present or absent, and whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense, aid and abet in its commission, or directly or indirectly counsel or procure another to commit the crime, are principals.

The offender need not personally enter the burglarized building in order to be guilty as a principal. State v. Holmes, 451 So.2d 1175 (La.App. 1st Cir.1984).

*455 In his voluntary statement, introduced at trial, defendant admitted that he went with Jimmy to get "some stolen stuff." Jimmy went in and defendant stood outside and "put the stuff in the car...." By his own admission, defendant aided the commission of the crime by facilitating the removal of the items taken in the burglary. Although an accused party cannot be legally convicted on his own uncorroborated confession without proof that a crime has been committed by someone, here that requirement has been satisfied. Therefore, a confession alone may be used to identify the accused as the perpetrator of the crime. State v. Celestine, 452 So.2d 676 (La.1984), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 105 S.Ct. 224, 83 L.Ed.2d 154 (1984). The testimony of the victims clearly established that a burglary had been committed. Defendant's confession established his participation in the burglary. This assignment of error has no merit.

Defendant's argument that the state failed to prove specific intent and unauthorized entry are equally without merit. His intent to commit the crime may be inferred from the circumstances surrounding the transaction. La.R.S. 15:445. Defendant admitted that he helped load and attempt to sell the merchandise. He was apprehended at the time of the attempted sale, with the merchandise. His fingerprints were on the items stolen. The fact that the state did not prove that defendant made an unauthorized entry into the residence is irrelevant because proof that he personally entered the premises is immaterial to his conviction. See Holmes, 451 So.2d at 1178. The elements necessary to convict defendant were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO:

In this assignment of error, defendant argues that the trial attorney was incompetent because she failed to file an answer to the state's motion for discovery in which a request for notice of alibi was made, thereby precluding him from presenting evidence of an alibi.[3] He asserts that he had several witnesses who could have testified as to his whereabouts at the time of the crime.

After the state had rested a hearing was conducted, out of the presence of the jury, to determine the admissibility of alibi evidence. At that time the state asserted that notice of alibi had been requested November 9, 1983, and defendant had responded January 25, 1984, stating that the names and addresses of alibi witnesses would be provided when received by the office of the public defender. The state argued that, since tha

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State v. Williams, 464 So. 2d 451 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

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