No. 27756 | Colo. | Jan 29, 1979
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case arose from an incident in which the defendant severely beat Haden Alldredge, an older man. Dowdell was charged in a two-count information with assault in the first degree in the course of and in furtherance of the attempted commission of robbery, section 18-3-202(1 )(d), C.R.S. 1973, and attempted robbery, section 18-2-101, C.R.S. 1973. At trial, after the People’s case was concluded, the judge found the People had failed to prove “serious bodily injury” beyond a reasonable doubt. The first count was dismissed, and the prosecution, with the consent of the court, elected to proceed on the lesser included offense of third-degree assault, section 18-3-204, C.R.S. 1973. The jury rendered a verdict of not guilty on the attempted robbery chárge and guilty on the assault charge.
The defendant thereafter filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, contending that third-degree assault was not a lesser included offense of first-degree felony assault. The motion was granted. The sole issue raised by the defendant in the trial court was whether third-degree assault is a lesser included offense of first-degree felony assault.
We do not reach this question because the defendant consented to proceeding on the charge of third-degree assault. After the court ruled that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case as to first-degree assault, the district attorney elected to proceed on the third-degree assault charge.
When the defendant agreed to proceed on third-degree assault, it became immaterial whether it was a lesser included offense. It was the only assault charge to be adjudicated or ruled upon. He had waived whatever right he may have had to contend that it was not a lesser included offense.
The judgment of acquittal is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to reinstate the verdict of guilty on the third-degree assault charge and sentence the defendant according to law.
MR. JUSTICE GROVES and MR. JUSTICE ERICKSON dissent.
MR. JUSTICE CARRIGAN does not participate.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. The prosecution, utilizing section 16-10-102, C.R.S. 1973, appealed to determine whether the district court erred as a matter of law in ruling that third-degree assault (section 18-3-204, C.R.S. 1973), is not a lesser included offense of first-degree assault (section 18-3-202, C.R.S. 1973).
The record does not support the majority opinion’s assertion that the defendant agreed to proceed on the third-degree assault charge. Moreover, the majority has provided a solution to the case which is not dealt with in the briefs which are before this court.
MR. JUSTICE GROVES joins me in this dissent.