Opinion ID: 2219440
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: In ruling on a claim of insufficient evidence, we review the record in the light most favorable to the State. State v. Bass, 349 N.W.2d 498, 500 (Iowa 1984). The jury verdict is binding unless there is no substantial evidence to sustain it. State v. Allen, 348 N.W.2d 243, 247 (Iowa 1984). The court considers both direct and circumstantial evidence in determining whether a fair inference of guilt and more than speculation, suspicion, or conjecture is raised. State v. Hamilton, 309 N.W.2d 471, 479 (Iowa 1981). Iowa Code section 713.1 defines the crime of burglary: [A]ny person, having the intent to commit a felony, assault or theft therein, who, having no right, license or privilege to do so, enters an occupied structure, such occupied structure not being open to the public, or who remains therein after it is closed to the public or after the person's right, license or privilege to be there has expired, or any person having such intent who breaks an occupied structure, commits burglary. (Emphasis added.) The first issue is whether sufficient evidence supports the jury's finding that the defendant did not have the right, license or privilege to enter the house. The house had been the marital home of the parties, but the defendant was at that time residing at some unknown location. His wife was in the process of moving to another community, but at the time of the incident she and the children were in this house. Apparently, none of our cases have discussed the right, license or privilege language of section 713.1 under similar circumstances. The defendant concedes that under some circumstances a party may not have a right to enter a home, even if it is his own. He claims, however, that the restraining order did not prevent him from entering the house; it restrained him only from confronting his wife and the children, and they just happened to be in the home at the time. The State counters that the restraining order prohibited the defendant from confronting his wife or the children at any location, and this would necessarily include the house. In an analogous case, we held that a person may be convicted of criminal mischief for destroying property owned with his spouse. State v. Zeien, 505 N.W.2d 498, 499 (Iowa 1993). In Zeien, the defendant was charged with criminal mischief for damaging contents of his estranged wife's home. Section 716.1 (1991) defined criminal mischief as actions by one who has no right to so act. We rejected the husband's argument that because he had an ownership interest in the property he had the right to so act. Zeien, 505 N.W.2d at 498-99. Also, in State v. Sylvester, 516 N.W.2d 845, 848-49 (Iowa 1994), we held that a partner may be convicted of embezzling from her own partnership; and in State v. Mann, 463 N.W.2d 883, 884 (Iowa 1990), we held that a tenant, though possessing some ownership rights, could be convicted of criminal mischief as a result of damage done to the landlord's property. As we acknowledged in Zeien, criminal statutes are to be construed in the defendant's favor, but they must be construed reasonably and in such a way as to not defeat their plain purpose. Zeien, 505 N.W.2d at 499. Public policies underlying our decision in Zeien apply to the present case as well. Application of our burglary law in these circumstances will tend to discourage domestic violence and promote security in the home. Cases from other jurisdictions support the application of burglary statutes under analogous circumstances. See, e.g., People v. Davenport, 268 Cal.Rptr. 501, 219 Cal.App.3d 885 (1990); Ellyson v. State, 603 N.E.2d 1369 (Ind.Ct.App.1992); State v. Dively, 431 N.E.2d 540 (Ind.Ct.App.1982); People v. Pohl, 202 Mich.App. 203, 507 N.W.2d 819 (1993); State v. Stallings, 812 S.W.2d 772 (Mo.Ct.App.1991); People v. DeLarosa, 172 A.D.2d 156, 568 N.Y.S.2d 47 (1991); People v. Jones, 169 A.D.2d 986, 565 N.Y.S.2d 262 (1991); Stanley v. State, 631 S.W.2d 751 (Tex.Crim.App.1982); Ex parte Davis, 542 S.W.2d 192 (Tex.Crim.App.1976); State v. Teynor, 141 Wis.2d 187, 414 N.W.2d 76 (1987). Peck distinguishes these cases on the ground that this house was the marital residence of the parties rather than the separate property of the victim-spouse as in several of the cases set out above. He contends that he had paid the rent on this house and therefore had a greater right to possession. It is true that the occupant of a home ordinarily would have the right to enter and therefore could not be guilty of burglary. This is consistent with the common-law rule: There is no breaking in entering a building or room, and therefore no burglary, if the person entering has a right so to do, although he may intend to commit, and may actually commit, a felony, and although he may enter in such a way that there would be a breaking if he had no right to enter. This is the case of a servant, or boarder, or joint occupant of a room, with the right to enter. 12A C.J.S. Burglary § 23, at 202-03 (1980). We reject the defendant's argument that he necessarily had the right of entry because he had the greater right of possession. Because of the court order, he had no right to enter  any premises occupied by the petitioner and minor children. (Emphasis added.) Again, under the general rule, a person who has a general right of entry is guilty of burglary ... if he exceeds his rights either with respect to the time of entering or the place into which he enters. So, a servant, employee, or a guest or boarder, with the right to be in the building or room, may be convicted of burglary on proof that he broke and entered at a time or place beyond his authority, or remains at a time or place beyond his authority. Id. at 203. By his own testimony, the defendant knew that the children, and presumably his wife, were in the house before he entered it. Entering the home under these circumstances was expressly prohibited by the restraining order. We conclude that substantial evidence supported the jury's verdict that the defendant lacked the right to enter the premises.