Opinion ID: 883908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the District Court err in denying Allen's motion for a directed verdict?

Text: A district court's decision to grant or not to grant a directed verdict will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. A decision to grant an acquittal is appropriate only where there is no evidence to support a guilty verdict. State v. Bromgard (1993), 261 Mont. 291, 293, 862 P.2d 1140, 1141; State v. Haskins (1992), 255 Mont. 202, 210, 841 P.2d 542, 547. In the instant case, the District Court was justified in finding that there was enough evidence for the jury to consider the charges against Allen. Allen argued that the aggravated burglary statute requires both the purpose to commit an offense, and the infliction of bodily injury. See Section 45-6-204(2), MCA. Allen maintains that since the State was relying on his assault of both Evans and D.E. as the requisite offense for the simple burglary, it needed to prove infliction of bodily injury upon someone other than Evans or D.E. in order satisfy its burden of aggravated burglary. Section 45-6-204(2), MCA. In other words, Allen argues that since his assaults of Evans and D.E. were the basis for the burglary charge, they could not also support the aggravated burglary charge. Without ruling on the validity of Allen's analysis of the requirements of aggravated burglary under these facts, we note that the record indicates that the State presented the jury with testimony from Evans, and D.E., both of whom explained that Allen remained in Evans' home and assaulted D.E. after he assaulted Evans. From the record, it is clear that the jury was presented with sufficient evidence to find each of the elements of each crime. Therefore, we find that there was sufficient evidence to support a jury conviction and affirm the District Court's decision not to grant Allen a directed verdict.