Opinion ID: 2399899
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Requirement of an Occupied Structure

Text: The defendant was convicted under RSA 635:1, which requires proof that he entered a building or occupied structure with the intention of committing a crime therein. `Occupied structure' shall mean any structure, vehicle, boat or place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons ... whether or not a person is actually present. RSA 635:1 III. The owner testified that he had stayed at the house the weekend prior to the burglary and that it was furnished and livable. The authorities are uniform in holding that this is sufficient to constitute a building or occupied structure within the terms of the burglary statute. State v. Timbury, 114 N.H. 763, 329 A.2d 143 (1974); ALI, Model Penal Code, Comment to § 221.1 (Tent. Draft No. 11, 1960); Annot., 85 A.L.R. 428 (1933); R. Perkins, Criminal Law ch. 3, § 1, at 200 et seq. (2d ed. 1969).