Green v. State
Green v. State
Opinion
Burglary and grand larceny; sentence: ten years.
The appellant was convicted for the burglary of the Authorized Service Company, Montgomery, Alabama, and the grand larceny of several items from that store. An accomplice testified that the appellant aided him in the commission of the charged crimes. The appellant did not testify nor present any evidence in his behalf.
There are two arguments presented by the appellant which deserve consideration: (1) Did the appellant's drunkenness prevent him from forming the specific intent necessary for burglary and grand larceny; and (2) was the circumstantial evidence corroborating the accomplice sufficient to authorize a conviction.
The undisputed evidence showed that on the evening of November 29, 1975, the appellant and Mack Norsworthy drove around Montgomery trying to figure out a way to make some money. They were both drinking "pretty heavy". They drove to the back door of the Authorized Service Company which Mr. Norsworthy knew was closed down. Norsworthy then went around to the front of the store and used a rock to break the front window and gain entry into the store. Norsworthy testified that he carried something out of the building and placed it in the car and told the appellant that there was still some "stuff" in the building. The appellant then went into the building, looked. around, and helped Norsworthy carry items out to the car, among these items being an adding machine and a calculator.
The appellant and Norsworthy then left Authorized Service and were stopped and arrested by two officers of the Montgomery Police Department who had received a description *Page 421 of an automobile involved in a burglary which was similar to the car driven by Norsworthy. After the appellant and Norsworthy stepped out of the car, the police officers saw an adding machine on the back seat and a calculator on the floorboard.
Four days before the trial of the appellant, Norsworthy pleaded guilty to breaking and entering Authorized Service Company.
The undisputed evidence shows that the appellant and his accomplice had been drinking beer and wine "pretty heavy" for a period of approximately two and one-half hours while riding around town prior to the crimes charged. Both of them were "drunk" but the appellant was not drunker than Norsworthy; they were "about the same" and had had about the same amount to drink. The appellant did not pass out. Norsworthy stated he could not remember what he took from Authorized Service but stated he thought there was a calculator and perhaps an adding machine. Norsworthy was able to drive his automobile after the burglary without having a wreck.
Although all the evidence shows that the appellant was drunk at the time of the commission of the crimes, there was no evidence to show as a matter of law that the appellant was intoxicated to such an extent as to render him incapable of harboring the required intent. Gautney v. State,
While the trial judge did not instruct the jury on the criteria of voluntary drunkenness, the trial judge will not be put in error for the failure so to charge unless the defendant asks for the appropriate instruction. Code of Alabama, Title 7, Section 273; Brown, supra.
We have searched the entire record for error as required by law and have found none. Therefore, this case is due to be and is hereby
AFFIRMED.
All the Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Delmos Green, Alias v. State of Alabama.
- Cited By
- 23 cases
- Status
- Published