Opinion ID: 2134799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Requirements for First-Degree Burglary.

Text: The trial court instructed the jury on the elements of burglary. However, during the jury's deliberation, it sent a note to the court, which stated: Does the occupant have to be in her trailer at the time of entry to qualify Item # 2 on Instruction # 38 or If anyone is in the structure at any time during the burglary does Item # 2 on Instruction # 38 apply. In response to the question, the court instructed the jury that the elements of first-degree burglary are met if one or more persons were present at any time during the burglary. Tillman argues that in order to commit burglary a person must be present at the time of the entry in order to constitute the crime. He argues that the supplemental instruction was therefore erroneous. Iowa Code section 713.3 (Supp.1992) provides: A person commits burglary in the first degree if, while perpetrating a burglary in or upon an occupied structure in which persons are present, the person has possession of an explosive or incendiary device or material, or a dangerous weapon, or intentionally or recklessly inflicts bodily injury on any person. The persons are present language was added to section 713.3 by the 1992 legislature. The issue of whether another person's presence is required as of the time of the entry or at any time during the commission of the burglary has not yet been decided. Tillman has two problems in establishing this argument. First, the evidence is clear that the victim was in the trailer at the time he entered. The victim and even Tillman so testified. Also, under Iowa Code section 702.13, a crime commences with the first act directed toward the commission of the crime and ends with the perpetrator's capture or elusion of pursuers. Even if a person entered the premises only after the burglary had commenced, section 713.3 makes it first-degree burglary. The presence of another person on the premises is not required to constitute the act of burglary itself. It simply elevates it to first-degree burglary. The court did not err in giving its supplemental instruction. AFFIRMED.