Opinion ID: 2183938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Element of Confidence.

Text: The defendant's principal contention is that the state failed to prove the element of confidence at trial. It is true that the `gist of the crime of confidence game is the obtaining of the confidence of the victim by some false representation or device.' State v. Cole, 1969, 84 S.D. 111, 113, 168 N.W.2d 507, 508. We find, however, that there was sufficient evidence of the obtaining of confidence. The defendant had been engaged in a quick change or short change scheme. In each instance he commenced his operation by offering a clerk or cashier more money than the clerk or cashier was entitled to have. Through this simple method he gained the requisite confidence of the clerk. The defendant, through citation of State v. Cole, supra , a case involving an elaborate scheme, implies that each confidence game must be of such a quality. This is not the case. For example, the simple passing of a bad check by a regular customer has been held to violate a confidence game statute. McBride v. People, 1952, 126 Colo. 277, 248 P.2d 725. Thus it is not the duration of the scheme which is important. It is sufficient if the scheme results in the gaining of confidence by the confidence man. Nor must the confidence be of an extremely high quality. [T]he law does not require that the victim's confidence be absolute, unlimited, and without qualification. Marshall v. People, 1966, 160 Colo. 323, 417 P.2d 491. Here each cashier reacted predictably, extending her trust to the confidence man because he had made the offer of too much money. This degree of confidence was sufficient under our statute. We therefore conclude that the elements of the crime of confidence game were proven at trial. Furthermore, we note that the defendant's contention that he was not afforded a preliminary examination because the confidence element was not proven at the hearing must fail because the same evidence as to each of the elements of a crime was produced at the hearing as was produced at trial.