Ex Parte Oliver
Ex Parte Oliver
Opinion
We granted this petition for writ of certiorari to determine whether issuing a worthless check, a violation of §
The case involves the following facts: Cathryn Mook advertised a man's ring for sale, and on January 2, 1984, she received a call from Beverly Oliver regarding the advertisement. Oliver inquired about the ring and requested directions to Mrs. Mook's house. Mrs. Mook agreed to sell Oliver the man's ring and two other pieces of jewelry (a lady's diamond ring and a diamond bracelet) for $7,250. Oliver paid for the jewelry by writing a check, which was drawn on First Alabama Bank and was made out to Mrs. Mook. The check was drawn on a closed account, and Oliver knew that the account was closed when she wrote the check.
Beverly Oliver was later indicted by the Montgomery County Grand Jury for theft by deception, §
We hold that the trial court erred when it refused to charge the jury on issuing a worthless check in violation of §
Section
"(a) A defendant may be convicted of an offense included in an offense charged. An offense is an included one if:
"(1) It is established by proof of the same or fewer than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged; or
"(2) It consists of an attempt or solicitation to commit the offense charged or to commit a lesser included offense; or
"(3) It is specifically designated by statute as a lesser degree of the offense charged; or
"(4) It differs from the offense charged only in the respect that a less serious injury or risk of injury to the same person, property or public interests, or a lesser kind of culpability suffices to establish its commission.
"(b) The court shall not charge the jury with respect to an included offense unless there is a rational basis for a verdict convicting the defendant of the included offense. (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, § 126.)"
A defendant is entitled to a charge on a lesser included offense if there is any reasonable theory from the evidence that would support the position. Chavers v. State,
In this case, Oliver was indicted and convicted of theft by deception under §
"A person commits the crime of theft of property if he:
"* * *
"(2) Knowingly obtains by deception control over the property of another, with intent to deprive the owner of his property. (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, § 3201.)"
To make out a case of theft by deception, the state must prove three elements: (1) that the defendant knowingly obtained the property; (2) that the defendant obtained the property by deception; and (3) that the defendant intended to deprive the owner of the property. Loper v. State,
Code of Alabama 1975, §
"(a) A person commits the crime of negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument if he negotiates or delivers a negotiable instrument for a thing of value and with the intent, knowledge or expectation that it will not be honored by the drawee.
"(b) For the purposes of this section, it is prima facie evidence that the maker or drawer intended, knew or expected that the instrument would not be honored if:
"(1) The maker or drawer had no such account with the drawee at the time the negotiable instrument was negotiated or delivered, as determined according to section
7-3-503 (2); or"(2) Payment was refused by the drawee for lack of funds, upon presentation within 30 days after delivery, *Page 707 and the maker or drawer shall not have paid the holder thereof the amount due thereon, together with a service charge of not more than $10.00, within 10 days after receiving written notice from the holder of the instrument that payment was refused upon such instrument, as provided in section
13A-9-13.2 ; or"(3) Notice that payment was refused is mailed by certified or registered mail and is returned undelivered to the sender, when such notice is mailed within a reasonable time after dishonor to the address printed on the instrument or given by the maker or drawer at the time of issuance of the instrument.
"(c) Negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument is a Class A misdemeanor.
"(d) The definition of 'negotiable instrument' in section
7-3-104 applies to this section and sections13A-9-13.2 and13A-9-13.3 ."(e) The definition of 'negotiation' in section
7-3-202 applies to this section and sections13A-9-13.2 and13A-9-13.3 ."(f) The definition of 'delivery' in section
7-1-201 (14) applies to this section and sections13A-9-13.2 and13A-9-13.3 . (Acts 1980, No. 80-200, p. 279, § 1.)"
In order for a person to be convicted under this statute, it must be shown that the person negotiated or delivered a negotiable instrument in return for a thing of value with the intent, knowledge, or expectation that the negotiable instrument would not be honored by the drawee. Huguley v. Cityof Demopolis,
Section
In this case, the facts established at trial were that Oliver wrote or issued a check for the jewelry, knowing that the check was drawn on a closed account and that it would not be honored. She then took possession of the jewelry. This evidence would support a conviction of theft by deception or a conviction of issuing a worthless check. This meets the requirement of §
The judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals is due to be reversed and the cause remanded.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
JONES, ALMON, SHORES, BEATTY, ADAMS and HOUSTON, JJ., concur.
TORBERT, C.J., and STEAGALL, J., not sitting.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ex Parte Beverly Oliver. (Re Beverly Oliver v. State of Alabama).
- Cited By
- 39 cases
- Status
- Published