Opinion ID: 1454560
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Instruction Lesser Included Offense

Text: The trial court has a duty to instruct on all lesser included offenses supported by the evidence. K.S.A. 21-3107(3). State v. Cummings, 242 Kan. at 91, 744 P.2d 858. The evidence supporting such an instruction must be considered in the light most favorable to the defendant. The test is whether the evidence might reasonably cause a jury to convict the defendant of the lesser charge. 242 Kan. at 91, 744 P.2d 858. Theft of property valued at $500 or more is a felony while theft of property valued less than $500 is a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor theft is a lesser included offense of felony theft. State v. Parsons, 11 Kan.App.2d 220, 220-21, 720 P.2d 671 (1986). Owens argues that the State did not present sufficient evidence from which the jury could determine the value of the stolen property was $500. The State advances two counter-arguments. First, the State asserts that Leonard Bierman, the father of the homicide victim (Syndi) and the codefendant (Shari), testified the value of the property was greater than $500. Second, the State asserts that the jury was instructed on misdemeanor theft. The jury filled out a verdict form finding Owens guilty of theft and the value of the property to be $500 or more. The following property was stolen from the Bierman residence: a computer and printer, a VCR, a beer-sign mirror, a camera, a radio, two watches, a flashlight, several cassette tapes, and $60. The value to be used in determining whether theft is a felony or misdemeanor is the fair market value of the property. State v. Robinson, 4 Kan.App.2d 428, 431, 608 P.2d 1014 (1980). Although, there was no evidence supporting an instruction for misdemeanor theft, the jury was given the option to find the value of the property was less than $500. However, it found the value of the property was $500 or more. This finding is supported by the evidence. The trial court did not err. Affirmed.