Opinion ID: 1577692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 58

Heading: Second-Degree Burglary and Criminal Trespass

Text: Appellant was not entitled to a second-degree burglary instruction. The uncontroverted testimony at trial was that Appellant had a knife and razor blades on his person when he was arrested in Horton's bedroom and, therefore, the trial court instructed the jury only on first-degree burglary. The fact that the jury might not have believed this testimony does not warrant instruction on second-degree burglary; rather, it would have authorized an acquittal on the first-degree burglary charge. The trial court has no duty to instruct on theories of the case that are not supported by the evidence. Payne v. Commonwealth, 656 S.W.2d 719, 721 (Ky.1983). For the same reason, Appellant was not entitled to a first-degree criminal trespass instruction. There was no evidence that Appellant entered Horton's home for a lawful purpose without the intent to commit a crime. See Commonwealth v. Sanders, 685 S.W.2d 557, 559 (Ky.1985). From the time of entry (after midnight) and the method of entry (through removal of a storm window), the jury could infer Appellant entered the home unlawfully. There was no error.