Opinion ID: 2329095
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Theft By Unauthorized Taking or Transfer

Text: [¶ 15] The charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer was based on Bouchard's use of the State fuel credit card to obtain cash. A conviction for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer is supported by evidence that the defendant: (1) obtained or exercised unauthorized control (2) over the property of another (3) with intent to deprive the owner of that property. State v. Willette, 2002 ME 165, ¶ 8, 809 A.2d 617, 620; see also 17-A M.R.S.A. § 353. Because Bouchard charged $14,631.75 to the State fuel card, he was charged with the theft as a Class B offense. [1] See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 353(B)(1). [¶ 16] The evidence showed that Bouchard used his State fuel credit card to obtain cash from Dudley Citgo, a business that did not sell aviation fuel. Bouchard intended to, and did, obtain cash in an amount exceeding $10,000 from State funds contrary to the purpose for which the card was issued to him. Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, that evidence supports a finding beyond a reasonable doubt as to each of the elements of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. [¶ 17] During the time that he was improperly obtaining cash with his State fuel card, Bouchard contends that he was also using some portion of that money to reimburse himself for prior legitimate fuel purchases. Nevertheless, the $14,631.75 charged to the State fuel credit card exceeded the value of the fuel Bouchard actually used during that period. Thus, although Bouchard asserts that he used some of the $14,631.75 charged on the State fuel card to reimburse himself for authorized fuel purchases, not all of the $14,631.75 could have gone for such purchases. [¶ 18] Bouchard contends that because the evidence showed that at least some portion of the money obtained by the fuel card was used for the legitimate purpose of paying for previously-made authorized fuel purchases, the State failed to prove that he committed the theft in an amount exceeding $10,000, and therefore that he was erroneously convicted of Class B theft. We are unpersuaded by Bouchard's argument. The unauthorized control and deprivation to the State occurred when the cash was improperly obtained. The fact that Bouchard may have subsequently used some portion of the cash he obtained to make an otherwise legitimate purchase of fuel or to reimburse himself for such a purchase does not change the fact that Bouchard took more than $10,000 in an unauthorized manner as prohibited by section 353. See State v. Kotredes, 2003 ME 142, ¶¶ 5, 11-12, 838 A.2d 331, 333, 335 (concluding that sufficient evidence supported the defendant's conviction for theft for his unauthorized use of a town-issued credit card in his capacity as town manager to obtain personal cash advances and make personal purchases, even though some portion of the charges incurred on the card were made to reimburse himself for approved town-related expenses).