Case Name: PEOPLE v. JOHNSON
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1966-08-05
Citations: 4 Mich. App. 205
Docket Number: Docket No. 855
Parties: PEOPLE v. JOHNSON.
Judges: Lesinski, 0. J., and Rashid, J., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 4
Pages: 205–207

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. JOHNSON.
1. Criminal Law — Quantum op Evidence.
Proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt requires evidence in the reeord whieh negatives every reasonable theory consistent with defendant’s innocence.
2. Same — Exculpatory Statements — Evidence.
Ealse exculpatory statements made by defendant at scene of crime, while they may show consciousness of guilt, are not substantive evidence of guilt.
3. Same — Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime — Suppiciency op Evidence.
Defendant’s presence at scene of crime of breaking and entering in the nighttime, and his suspicious activities, ineluding exculpatory statements, even if false, held, not sufficient evidence that crime charged was committed by him (CL 1948, § 750.110).
References por Points in Headnotes
20 Am Jur, Evidence §§ 1256-1258.
20 Am Jur, Evidence § 224.
20 Am Jur, Evidence §§ 1256-1258.
Am Jur 2d, Burglary §§ 45, 50,
Appeal from Recorder’s Court of Detroit; Grillis (Joseph A.), J.
Submitted Division 1 May 11, 1966, at Detroit.
(Docket No. 855.)
Decided August 5, 1966.
Opinion filed September 13, 1966.
Louis Johnson was convicted of breaking and entering in the nighttime. Defendant appeals.
Reversed, without new trial.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengo ski, Solicitor General, Samuel E. Olsen, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torina, Chief Appellate Lawyer, Luvenia D. Dockeit, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Carolyn Florescu, for defendant.

Opinion:
T. G. Kavanagh, J.
The defendant was convicted by the court sitting without a jury of the crime of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime.
The appeal asserts that there was not sufficient evidence as a matter of law to support the conviction.
The evidence against the defendant was slight. He was arrested at the scene of the crime by police officers who were responding to a report of a break-in at a gasoline station. He was apprehended behind a sign in the rear of the gasoline station. The policeman testified that the defendant was in a stooped position when arrested. A screwdriver subsequently identified as having been taken from the station was found on the ground near him. His explanation of his presence at that time and place was variously that he had been drinking and had felt sick to his stomach and had regurgitated and that he had to urinate. No evidence of either action was found by the police officer. No stolen property or tools appropriate to the break-in were found in his possession.
The only criminating evidence adduced was the defendant's presence at the scene of the crime and his activities which the police regarded as suspicious. His explanation was that he lived next door to the gasoline station and no evidence was introduced to show he did not. His exculpatory statements, even if regarded as false, while they might show a consciousness of guilt are no substantive evidence of it. See United States v. McConney (CA 2, 1964), 329 F2d 467.
We find no evidence in the record which supports a conclusion that negatives every reasonable theory consistent with the defendant's innocence. See People v. Spann (1966), 3 Mich App 444, and the cases cited therein. We perceive this to be the measure of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt since the cases of Hall v. People (1878), 39 Mich 717; and People v. Millard (1884), 53 Mich 63.
Reversed, without new trial.
Lesinski, 0. J., and Rashid, J., concurred.
CL 1948, § 750.110 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.305).