Todd Michael Sindelar v. State

2016 WY 88, 378 P.3d 309, 2016 Wyo. LEXIS 96, 2016 WL 4572189

• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court
• Decided: August 31, 2016
• Docket: S-16-0119
• Status: Published

Opinion

OrpEr Reversing JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE

E, JAMES BURKE, Chief Justice

[T1] This matter came before the Court upon a "Stipulated Motion to Reverse and Remand," e-filed herein August 18, 2016. After a careful review of the motion and the file, this Court finds as follows. After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of one count of second-degree murder. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-104. In the stipulated motion, the parties submit that Appellant's conviction should be reversed because the jury was given a "flight" instruction, contrary to Hadden v. State, 2002 WY 41, 42 P.3d 495 (Wyo. 2002). There, this Court wrote:

We will affirm. However, we will also hold that after the publication of this opinion in the advance sheets of Pacific Reporter Third, the giving of a flight instruction in a criminal case will constitute reversible error, though the prosecution may still prove up and argue flight as a cireumstance from which guilt may be inferred.

Id., 1 2, 42 P.3d at 496. In his brief, Appellant contends his conviction should be reversed based on the quoted precedent. The State of Wyoming agrees. This Court agrees as well. It is, therefore,

[12] ORDERED that the "Judgment Upon Guilty Verdict of Jury" entered in this matter on December 16, 2015, and the "Sentence" entered on March 11, 2016, be, and hereby are, reversed and vacated. This matter is remanded to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.

[13] DATED this 31st day of August 2016.

BY THE COURT:

/s/ E. JAMES BURKE Chief Justice