Opinion ID: 2135661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Intent to Commit an Assault.

Text: A burglary is committed when [a]ny person, having the intent to commit a felony, assault or theft therein, . . . enters an occupied structure not being open to the public.... Iowa Code § 713.1 (1991). Finnel argues that the evidence was insufficient to show that he intended to commit an assault when he broke into Brown's apartment. Therefore, he concludes he should not have been found guilty of second-degree burglary or of assault while participating in a felony, the burglary being the underlying felony. [T]he element of intent in burglary is seldom susceptible to proof by direct evidence. State v. Olson, 373 N.W.2d 135, 136 (Iowa 1985). Usually proof of intent will depend upon circumstantial evidence and inferences drawn from such evidence. Id. A factfinder may infer an intent to commit an assault from the circumstances of the defendant's entry into the premises and his acts preceding and following the entry. The requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is satisfied if it is more likely than not that the inference of intent is true. Id. at 137. In Olson we found that the defendant's violent entry into an apartment, his possession of a dangerous weapon, his assault with the weapon upon the apartment's occupant, and his parting statement to the occupant that he was going to kill his wife made the inference that he entered the apartment with an intent to commit assault more likely than not true. Id. Similarly, the evidence here included Finnel's violent, nonconsensual entry into Brown's apartment, his knowledge that any physical contact between him and Brown would be offensive to her, his threats to kill Brown, and his assaultive actions once inside. We believe the district court could properly infer Finnel's intent to commit an assault from this evidence. Therefore, there was sufficient proof to support Finnel's convictions of second-degree burglary and assault while participating in a felony.