Opinion ID: 1834585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: We next address whether the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient to sustain a conviction for burglary, or whether McDowell's motion to dismiss at the close of the State's case should have been sustained. The substance of McDowell's motion to dismiss was that the State failed to prove an element of burglary, a breaking. It is fundamental that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each and every element of the crime charged. State v. Jasper, 237 Neb. 754, 467 N.W.2d 855 (1991). See, also, In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 90 S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970). The elements of burglary are contained in § 28-507: A person commits burglary if such person willfully, maliciously, and forcibly breaks and enters any real estate or any improvements erected thereon with intent to commit any felony or with intent to steal property of any value. See, also, State v. Thomas, 238 Neb. 4, 468 N.W.2d 607 (1991); State v. Tyrrell, 234 Neb. 901, 453 N.W.2d 104 (1990). It is well settled that a breaking is an essential element of burglary. State v. Crispell, 201 Neb. 759, 272 N.W.2d 51 (1978); McGrath v. State, 25 Neb. 780, 41 N.W. 780 (1889). On appeal, as in his motion, McDowell contends that the uncontroverted evidence of record is that he climbed a fence to gain entry to the Columbus Transmission storage yard and that climbing a fence is not a breaking. Our review of the record confirms that the only evidence presented was that McDowell gained entry to Columbus Transmissions' storage yard by climbing a fence. Thus, we must address the question of whether or not climbing or jumping a fence constitutes a breaking within the definition of the burglary statute. We have repeatedly held that evidence of any act of physical force, however slight, by which the obstruction to entering is removed is sufficient to prove a breaking. State v. Tyrrell, supra ; State v. Zemunski, 230 Neb. 613, 433 N.W.2d 170 (1988); State v. Sutton, 220 Neb. 128, 368 N.W.2d 492 (1985); State v. Classen, 216 Neb. 323, 343 N.W.2d 749 (1984); State v. Campbell, 190 Neb. 394, 208 N.W.2d 670 (1973); Ferguson v. State, 52 Neb. 432, 72 N.W. 590 (1897); Metz v. State, 46 Neb. 547, 65 N.W. 190 (1895). For instance, the opening of a closed door is a breaking. See, State v. Tyrrell, supra ; State v. Jones, 230 Neb. 968, 434 N.W.2d 333 (1989); State v. Sutton, supra ; State v. Classen, supra ; State v. Campbell, supra ; State v. Sedlacek, 178 Neb. 322, 133 N.W.2d 380 (1965); Ferguson v. State, supra . However, walking through an open door is not. Hayward v. State, 97 Neb. 9, 149 N.W. 105 (1914). Opening a skylight is also a breaking, State v. Zemunski, supra , yet crawling over a closed door and through an open transom is not, McGrath v. State, supra . An analysis of our case law clearly demonstrates that force alone is not enough to constitute a breaking. It takes physical force to walk through an open door or to crawl through an open window, but no obstruction is removed; thus, there is no breaking. Although it undoubtedly took McDowell some measure of force to climb or jump the fence in the instant case, no obstruction was removed. McDowell merely entered through the open space above the fence. Thus, as a matter of law there was no breaking, and therefore no burglary. McDowell's motion to dismiss should have been sustained with respect to the charge of burglary. McDowell's conviction for burglary is therefore, reversed.