Opinion ID: 1836553
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the State Presented Sufficient Evidence to Support a Guilty Verdict as to Theft by Deception.

Text: A. Scope of review. Sufficiency-of-the-evidence claims are reviewed for errors at law. Iowa R.App. P. 6.4 (2001). A verdict will be upheld if there is substantial evidence in the record to support it. State v. Hopkins, 576 N.W.2d 374, 377 (Iowa 1998). Substantial evidence means evidence that could convince a rational trier of fact that a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State. State v. Bass, 349 N.W.2d 498, 500 (Iowa 1984). At trial, the State must prove every element of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Gibbs, 239 N.W.2d 866, 867 (Iowa 1976). The State's evidence must raise a fair inference of guilt and do more than create speculation, suspicion, or conjecture. State v. Hamilton, 309 N.W.2d 471, 479 (Iowa 1981). B. Evidence of deception. Williams argues that the State presented insufficient evidence to support a finding that he intended to deceive Community Motors at the time of the transaction on Monday, June 6, 2001. He does not contend that the other theories of guilt should not have been submitted to the jury. We have recognized, however, if the instructions allow the jury to consider multiple theories of culpability, only some of which are supported by the evidence, and a general verdict of guilty is returned, a reversal is required because we have no way of determining which theory the jury accepted. State v. Hogrefe, 557 N.W.2d 871, 880-81 (Iowa 1996). Consequently, we must determine whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain guilt under the theory that Williams has elected to challenge. Under Iowa Code section 714.1, theft is committed if a person [o]btains the labor or services of another, or a transfer of possession, control, or ownership of the property of another, or the beneficial use of property of another, by deception. The statutory definition of deception includes knowingly: Creating or confirming another's belief or impression as to the existence or nonexistence of a fact or condition which is false and which the actor does not believe to be true.