Opinion ID: 2274894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence as to second-degree robbery

Text: Appellant first argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict as to second-degree robbery. Appellant moved for a directed verdict on all counts as to both first- and second-degree robbery. The trial court granted Appellant's motion as to first-degree robbery (with the exception of the August 11, 2006 robbery), but denied the motion as to second-degree robbery. KRS 515.030(1) provides that [a] person is guilty of robbery in the second degree when, in the course of committing theft, he uses or threatens the immediate use of physical force upon another person with intent to accomplish the theft. On appeal, Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of second-degree robbery, in that there was no evidence that he used or threatened the use of physical force. We disagree. An individual, particularly when masked or otherwise disguised, coming into a bank aggressively demanding money is a threat in and of itselfthe implication clearly being that if the employees or customers do not comply, that physical force will follow. See Lawless v. Commonwealth, 323 S.W.3d 676 (Ky.2010). Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying Appellant's motion for directed verdict as to second-degree robbery with respect to any of the counts in this case.