Opinion ID: 1168762
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Appellant approaches this question from two directions: First he contends the findings of a violation of the law prohibiting sale during hours interdicted by I.C. § 23-1012, is not sustained by the evidence; Secondly, assuming the facts show a sale of beer during such hours, the facts fail to show such sale as is made unlawful by I.C. § 23-1012. The trial court found:    that on or about the 27th day of August, 1961, the Petitioner sold, served or dispensed, or caused to be sold, served or dispensed, beer, on its licenxed premises between the hours of 1:00 A.M., Pacific Standard Time, August 27, 1961, and 7:00 A.M., Pacific Standard Time, August 27, 1961. The testimony of Mr. McKenzie was to the effect that in the company of Mr. Bradshaw he went to the appellant's place of business in Post Falls, Idaho, after 1:30 o'clock A.M., Pacific Daylight Saving time (which would have been 12:30 o'clock A.M. Pacific Standard Time.) They ordered food and were served at about 2:45 o'clock A.M., Pacific Daylight Savings Time, at which time they asked for a beer, and the waitress informed them they couldn't have beer on the premises but that we could have beer to go. McKenzie ordered a 6 pack of Olympia beer and was served six bottles of the same.    After they had finished their food at 3:00 o'clock A.M., Bradshaw also ordered six bottles of Lucky Lager beer which was also served to him. The two officers each paid for the beer and left. McKenzie's testimony was corroborated by the testimony of Bradshaw. The actual time of sale was put in direct conflict by the testimony of witnesses presented by appellant to the effect that no beer or liquor of any kind was sold after 1:00 o'clock A.M. The record presented to this court is one of direct conflict on the question of sale of beer and as to the time of such sale. This issue was resolved against appellant by the trial court. When the facts and circumstances disclosed by the record are carefully considered, there is competent and substantial, although conflicting evidence to support the findings of the trial court. Paffile v. Sherman, Idaho, 368 P.2d 434; Angleton v. Angleton, Idaho, 370 P.2d 788. Secondly, appellant claims that the evil towards which I.C. § 23-1012 is directed is not simply the sale during the hours interdicted by that statute, but is the consumption of beer during such hours, assuming there is such an ambiguity in the statute that it should be so construed. This contention is unsound. By the express terms of the statute, it is unlawful for any person in any place licensed    where beer is sold or dispensed to be consumed on the premises    to sell or permit to be consumed on the premises beer as the same is defined by law, between the hours of one o'clock A.M., and seven o'clock A. M., I.C. § 23-1012. The words employed    to sell or permit to be consumed on the premises are in the disjunctive, and make unlawful either of the acts. There is no need for construction of a statute when the language employed is unambiguous. State v. Riley, 83 Idaho 346, 362 P.2d 1075.