Opinion ID: 1599358
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the circuit court erred in overruling the defedant's motion for j.n.o.v. or, alternatively, for a new trial on the grand larceny count of the indictment.

Text: ¶ 24. Henley argues that, since the State failed to put on any proof as to the value of the truck, this Court should reverse and render his conviction for grand larceny. The State, while admitting that no proof was offered as to the value of the truck, argues that Henley waived this issue when he failed to make a motion for a directed verdict. ¶ 25. Count I of the indictment charged Henley with stealing a 1985 red Dodge pick-up truck with a total value of over $250 belonging to Roger Dawkins. Every person who shall be convicted of taking and carrying away, feloniously, the personal property of another, of the value of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) or more, shall be guilty of grand larceny. Miss.Code Ann. § 97-17-41(1)(1994). [5] At trial, there was no proof as to the value of the truck, or whether Henley had stolen a motor vehicle on a previous occasion. Without any evidence as to the value of the truck, the State has failed to meet its burden of proof as to one of the elements of grand larceny and conviction of same cannot be upheld. ¶ 26. The State's argument that Henley waived this assignment of error when he failed to move for a directed verdict at the close of the State's case is without merit. The record reveals that, after the State rested, the court asked Prather to advise Henley of any motions. After consulting with Prather, Henley, himself, moved the court to bring Fields back to the stand for more cross-examination and to subpoena several witnesses. Despite the insufficiency of the evidence, Henley failed to move for a directed verdict as to the count of grand larceny. ¶ 27. Henley did request a peremptory instruction and he raised the specific issue of lack of evidence on the value of the truck in his motion for J.N.O.V. or, alternatively, a new trial. The general rule is that a defendant who moves for a directed verdict at the close of the State's case-in-chief and then proceeds to present evidence in his own behalf, but fails to renew his motion for a directed verdict at the close of all the evidence, waives any assignment of error in the trial court's refusal to grant his directed verdict motion. Warren v. State, 709 So.2d 415, 418 (Miss.1998). A defendant who offers evidence of his own does not waive the right to challenge the sufficiency or weight of the evidence in the event of an adverse jury verdict. Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d 803, 808 n. 3 (Miss.1987). Henley could raise the issue either at the close of the State's case-in-chief, at the close of the evidence, through a peremptory instruction, or in a motion for J.N.O.V. or new trial. See Holland v. State, 656 So.2d 1192, 1197 (Miss.1995). Thus, this issue is properly before this Court. ¶ 28. Because there is simply no evidence in the record as to the value of the truck, Henley's conviction for grand larceny cannot stand. However, petit larceny is a lesser included offense of grand larceny. See Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-43 (1994). This Court has a long line of cases employing the direct remand rule, which does not require a new trial but merely remands to the lower court for sentencing of the lesser included offense. See generally Yates v. State, 685 So.2d 715, 720-21 (Miss.1996); Alford v. State, 656 So.2d 1186 (Miss.1995); Clemons v. State, 473 So.2d 943 (Miss.1985); Biles v. State, 338 So.2d 1004 (Miss.1976). ¶ 29. In the case sub judice, Henley admitted to taking the truck and driving it to Bartlett, Tennessee. Guided by our previous cases and finding the evidence sufficient to support a conviction of petit larceny, Henley's conviction of grand larceny is reversed and this case is remanded to the lower court for sentencing on the charge of petit larceny.