Opinion ID: 880214
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the District Court properly instruct the jury as to the defense of entrapment?

Text: The District Court gave the following instruction regarding entrapment: The elements of the defense of entrapment: (1) Criminal intent or design originating in the mind of the police officer or informer; (2) absence of criminal intent or design originating in the mind of the accused; and (3) luring or inducing the accused into committing a crime he had no intention of committing. Appellant contends that this instruction is error because it is unnecessarily complex and misleading and not required by Montana's Entrapment Statute, § 45-2-213, MCA. Appellant also argues that a due process instruction based on outrageous government conduct should have been given. We reject both appellant's contentions. The instruction at issue, while not a model, expresses the law adopted by this Court and approved in numerous cases. See, State v. Kamrud (1980), 188 Mont. 100, 105, 611 P.2d 188, 191; State v. Kelly (1983), 205 Mont. 417, 441, 668 P.2d 1032, 1045; State v. Canon (1984), 212 Mont. 157, 167, 687 P.2d 705, 710; and State v. Walker (1987), 225 Mont. 415, 422, 733 P.2d 352, 357. Appellant provides absolutely no rationale for his contention that the instruction is unnecessarily complex and misleading to the jury. Further, although appellant argues that a due process instruction should have been given, appellant did not submit such an instruction for consideration by the District Court. Section 46-16-401(4)(a), MCA, provides that: When the evidence is concluded, if either party desires special instruction to be given to the jury, such instructions shall be reduced to writing, numbered, signed by the party or his attorney, and delivered to the court. We have held this statutory language to be mandatory. (Citation omitted.) Walker, 733 P.2d at 357. Because appellant failed to offer a proposed due process instruction he has waived this claim. We hold that the District Court properly instructed the jury regarding the entrapment defense.