254 A.2d 724 | D.C. | 1969
Appellant was charged with attempted burglary in the second degree
The court below sitting without a jury convicted appellant of petit larceny and acquitted him on the charge of attempted burglary. It is appellant’s argument that the two verdicts are inconsistent since identical evidence was introduced to prove both offenses charged, and that a resolution of the factual dispute in favor of appellant in acquitting him of attempted burglary would also require acquittal of petit larceny.
Appellant concedes that a jury verdict on several counts of a criminal indictment or information need not be consistent, and that a conviction will be upheld if there is sufficient evidence to support it even though the conviction cannot be reconciled with the acquittal on the other charge. Dunn v. United States, 284 U.S. 390, 52 S. Ct. 189, 76 L.Ed. 356 (1932); Silverman v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 144, 275 F.2d 173 (1960), rev’d on other grounds, 365 U.S. 505, 81 S.Ct. 679, 5 L.Ed.2d 734 (1961); Gillars v. United States, 87 U.S. App.D.C. 16, 182 F.2d 962 (1950). It is appellant’s argument that the rationale behind upholding inconsistent jury verdicts is inapplicable where the trial courts sits without a jury.
The record reflects that the arresting officer saw appellant carrying some of the stolen goods which he later abandoned when he attempted to flee. Under these circumstances the trial court could have found appellant guilty of both charges predicated on an inference of guilt raised by appellant’s unexplained possession of recently stolen property. Creighton v. United States, D.C.Cir., 406 F.2d 651, 652 (1968). However, even with this permissible inference, the trier of fact could have had a reasonable doubt that appellant had the necessary criminal intent upon entering the apartment to be convicted of attempted burglary.
We find sufficient evidence to support the conviction of petit larceny, and the judgment is therefore
Affirmed.
. D.C.Code 1967, §§ 22-103, and 22-1801 (b) (1969 Supp.).
. D.C.Code 1967, § 22-2202.
. See United States v. Maybury, 274 F.2d 899 (2nd Cir.1960).
. The Maybury principle, it has been held, “should not be expanded to include cases where it is merely difficult to find a truly satisfying explanation for the differing conclusions.” United States v. Wilson, 342 F.2d 43, 45, 18 A.L.R.3d 254 (2nd Cir.1965).
. There was no evidence that the apartment had been forcibly entered.
. Jones v. People, Colo., 445 P.2d 889 (1968); Commonwealth v. Watt, 187 Pa.Super. 51, 143 A.2d 423 (1958); Evans v. State, 224 Ind. 428, 68 N.E.2d 546 (1946); People v. Haupt, 247 N.Y. 369, 160 N.E. 643 (1928).