Opinion ID: 1271232
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did Trial Court Err in Submitting a Flight Instruction?

Text: Trial court submitted to the jury Iowa Uniform Jury Instruction 501.22 (criminal) (Flight By The Accused). Defendant, although not objecting to the form of the instruction, did object there was no evidence to support giving this instruction. The jury could find from the evidence that when defendant returned his victim to a tavern parking area adjoining the bowling alley there was a squad car at the alley with its lights on. When the boy was freed he ran directly to the squad car. Defendant testified he would not dispute the victim's testimony. He asserted he awoke the next morning in the home of his sister's foster parents, and did not remember the incident until the afternoon of the next day. At that time he was scared and embarrassed. That day he left Muscatine, and about three weeks later was arrested in South Dakota on a sexual abuse charge issued from Poweshiek County. Defendant testified he had consumed over a case of beer during the day of this incident. There was evidence, however, from which the jury could have found defendant was not so intoxicated that he could not see the same patrol car the victim saw as he was released, or that he could not then have formed an intent to flee the scene. Defendant's failure to return the victim to the place from which he was abducted is an indication of his intent to flee from the then-present police. There is no constitutional requirement that the act of flight be found by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Webb, 309 N.W.2d 404, 409 (Iowa 1981). A flight instruction may be proper even though there is no direct evidence the accused fled to avoid a criminal charge. State v. Haskins, 316 N.W.2d 679, 681 (Iowa 1982); State v. Thrasher, 175 N.W.2d 397, 403 (Iowa 1970). Even though defendant admits doing the act alleged, evidence of his conduct in leaving the scene or locality may be circumstantially relevant to prove both the commission of the act and the intent and purpose for which that act was committed. State v. Bester, 167 N.W.2d 705, 710 (Iowa 1969). Applying the above principles to the record in this case, we hold trial court committed no error in submitting the flight instruction. It was for the jury to say, under all the circumstances, whether [defendant] departed because of his consciousness of guilt. State v. Galvan, 181 N.W.2d 147, 151 (Iowa 1970) (quoting State v. Bige, 195 Iowa 1342, 1348, 193 N.W. 17, 20 (1923)).