Opinion ID: 1166113
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: At the conclusion of the state's case in chief appellant moved for judgment of acquittal. A motion for judgment of acquittal puts into issue sufficiency of the evidence. Crim.R. 29(a). The motion was denied. On appeal from denial of a motion for acquittal, this court must view the evidence and the inferences to be drawn therefrom in a light most favorable to the state. DeSacia v. State, 469 P.2d 369, 371 (Alaska 1970) (footnote omitted). The trial judge, when ruling upon this motion, must view the evidence in the same manner. Bush v. State, 397 P.2d 616 (Alaska 1964). Then: If he determines that fair minded men in the exercise of reasonable judgment could differ on the question of whether guilt has been established beyond a reasonable doubt ... he must submit the case to the jury. Id. at 618. Viewing the evidence adduced at trial in a light most favorable to the state, we cannot find that the trial court erred in denying the motion for judgment of acquittal and allowing the case to go to the jury. The state established that appellant lived at the address where the stolen carpets were found, that he knew that the carpets were there and that he knew they were stolen. The evidence indicated that appellant's truck was used in the theft of the carpets. Other testimony, if believed and taken in a light most favorable to the state, indicated that appellant had attempted to sell the carpets and that he had speculated on his chances of being convicted for his part in the theft of the carpets. Under these circumstances we find that it was proper for the trial court to submit it to the jury. Fair minded men in the exercise of reasonable judgment could differ on whether guilt had been established beyond a reasonable doubt under the evidence just summarized. In such circumstances, the denial of the motion for acquittal was proper. Affirmed.