Court Opinion

ID: 9533694
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:33:59.640051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:08.254846
License: Public Domain

Miller, J.,
dissenting:
The majority in this case, in my opinion, has failed to draw proper and reasonable inferences from the evidence, has ignored some of the evidence favorable to the State, and has taken as true that evidence adverse to the State. It has therefore reached an erroneous conclusion.
McDaniels, Thuro and Green, at midnight, drove from Wells-*150ville to Lawrence for the purpose of “just driving around.” They drove by Turner Chevrolet once, then they went back and stopped for the purpose of taking some wheels and tires for Thuro’s car. McDaniels and Thuro got out of the car for the purpose of removing the tires and wheels from a vehicle on the car lot. Green drove off, knowing what the other two were up to, and knowing that he was to come back to pick up the other men and the stolen tires. In my judgment, Green actively assisted in the theft in two ways: First, he drove the car away from the crime scene, thus keeping that vehicle from being parked where law enforcement officers and the public could see it while his confederates were removing the wheels and tires from a new truck on the dealer s lot. And, second, he returned at an appropriate time to pick up McDaniels and Thuro — and the stolen goods. Had Green not driven the car back, McDaniels and Thuro would have had no way to take the tires and wheels away.
I do not believe that we are required to accept as the truth the testimony of McDaniels, Thuro and Green that Green wanted nothing to do or had nothing to do with the theft, particularly when the facts show his active help, aid and cooperation. Had Green walked away when the car first stopped at the Chevrolet dealership, or had he not returned when he was driving around in the car, his actions might have shown that he wanted nothing to do with the theft. What he actually did, however, demonstrates his intention more clearly than his words. This court is accepting the testimony as gospel, and is ignoring the facts.
In my judgment, Green should have been bound over for trial. His guilt or innocence should be left to a jury and not determined by a magistrate or this court.
McFarland and Herd, JJ., join the foregoing dissent.