Opinion ID: 1694840
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Attempted Simple Robbery

Text: La. R.S. 14:65(A) defines simple robbery as the taking of anything of value belonging to another from the person of another or that is in the immediate control of another by use of force or intimidation, but not armed with a dangerous weapon. La. R.S. 14:27(A) further provides that to attempt to commit a crime, an accused must do or omit an act tending directly toward the accomplishment of the crime while having a specific intent to commit the crime. La. R.S. 14:10(1) defines specific criminal intent as that state of mind which exists when the circumstances indicate that the offender actively desired the prescribed criminal consequences to follow his act or failure to act. In order to prove an attempted simple robbery, the State had to prove that the defendant: (1) had a specific intent to commit the crime of simple robbery, and (2) did an act for the purpose of and tending directly toward the commission of the crime of simple robbery. In the instant case, the evidence showed that the defendant surprised Mr. Hambrick by jumping onto the counter, subduing Mr. Hambrick, and stating, I got you. I got you. Although Mr. Hambrick asked the defendant during their physical struggle why he was attacked, the assailant gave no response. Instead, the defendant continued to attack Mr. Hambrick. Mr. Hambrick was able to fight off the defendant, and the defendant fled the grocery store. The State did not provide any evidence tending to show that the defendant was attempting to take anything of value from Mr. Hambrick or his grocery store. In fact, the officer at the scene testified that when he arrived at the grocery store, the cash register was closed. Mr. Hambrick also testified that he did not notice any money or supplies missing from the store. Furthermore, the State did not provide any evidence showing that the defendant attempted to open the cash register or take any supplies from the grocery store. The main fact to be proved by the State was that the defendant entered Hambrick's Grocery to take something of value from the owner. However, based on the evidence presented, we find that no reasonable juror could have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant attempted to take anything of value from Mr. Hambrick. As explained above, the State simply provided no evidence tending to show that defendant had any intent to take anything of value from the grocery store or its owner. Accordingly, we find the State's evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant attempted to rob Mr. Hambrick or his grocery store. Therefore, we reverse the defendant's conviction of attempted simple robbery.