Opinion ID: 1722059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was trial court right in submitting to the jury the instruction on concealment of unpurchased goods?

Text: The court submitted to the jury its instruction 7 which provided in relevant part, The fact that any person has concealed unpurchased goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment, either on the premises or outside the premises of such store, shall be material evidence of concealment of such article with the intention of converting the same to his own use without paying the purchase price thereof   . This instruction was based on § 709.21, The Code. See State v. Estrella, 257 Iowa 462, 469, 133 N.W.2d 97, 101 (1965). Defendant excepted on the ground there was no evidence in the record showing concealment. Defendant relies on the principle an instruction submitting an issue unsubstantiated by evidence is generally prejudicial. State v. Mays, 204 N.W.2d 862, 865 (Iowa 1973); State v. Cameron, 254 Iowa 505, 509, 117 N.W.2d 816, 818 (1962). On the other hand, it seems clear this instruction, like other instructions, may be based on circumstantial evidence. Cf. State v. Bales, 251 Iowa 677, 683-684, 102 N.W.2d 162, 166 (1960). We hold the circumstantial evidence of concealment in this case, detailed in the preliminary factual recital, supra, was sufficient to justify the above instruction based on the statutory inference. Because we find no reversible error in any of the grounds for reversal relied on by defendant, trial court's judgment is affirmed. AFFIRMED.