Court Opinion

ID: 9570487
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:23:42.850213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:08.713676
License: Public Domain

Chief Judge VAUGHN
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I find no error in defendant’s conviction for first degree burglary. The majority opinion fairly summarizes the evidence. The result reached, however, appears to spring from an unconscious weighing of the evidence, a process that should be left to the jury.
Defendant’s own evidence tends to show that he entered the bedroom with the intent to have intercourse. For purposes of this appeal, that part of his evidence that tends to show he only intended to have consensual intercourse must be disregarded. His threat to use a gun would certainly permit the jury to find that he entered the bedroom of his sleeping victim with the intent to use that gun to carry out his intent to rape. It was for the jury to weigh the effect of the victim’s statement that she did not see the gun, as well as her admission with respect to entertaining other men. The jury had the opportunity to see and hear the witnesses. We do not. I believe the jury could reasonably infer that defend*69ant made the forcible entry through the victim’s bedroom window with the intent to commit rape. State v. Dawkins and State v. Freeman, relied upon by the majority, are distinguishable. In Dawkins, the evidence tended to show the entry was made with the intent to commit larceny. Freeman is also distinguishable, among other ways, in that there was no direct evidence that defendant intended to have intercourse, either consensual or by force. There the defendant entered the prosecutrix’s living room, made no threats, and did not touch her. In the case before us, however, defendant came through the bedroom window of his sleeping victim. I see a difference.
I agree with the majority that the evidence was insufficient to take the case to the jury on the charge of attempted rape. Although the evidence permits a finding that defendant broke and entered through the bedroom window with the intent to commit rape, it also shows that, because of the screams of his intended victim and her infant child, he abandoned his scheme and fled before attempting to commit the rape.
I vote to find no error in the conviction for first degree burglary.
I agree that the charge of attempted rape should be dismissed, and defendant should be sentenced for assault on a female.