Court Opinion

ID: 9682767
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:16:34.425302+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:41.326499
License: Public Domain

DOUGLAS, Judge,
dissenting.
The evidence in this case is sufficient to support the conviction for attempted burglary. At approximately 9:45 in the morning an Officer Sibley received a message that an automobile was being burglarized on a parking lot near a doctor’s office. In a very short time, Officer Sibley arrived at the scene and saw the appellant standing next to a Ford automobile. The officer approached appellant from behind. Appellant ducked between the cars in an apparent attempt to conceal himself when he saw the officer. Within two or three feet from the appellant the officer found a clothes hanger and a screwdriver. The car had a tape player and police scanner inside that could be seen from the outside. As the officer approached it appeared to him that appellant might have been unlocking the door; he then whirled and ducked down, kneeling to the ground between two cars.
Appellant testified that he was tying his shoe but the officer testified that he was not. Appellant told the officer that he was coming from the doctor’s office but when he testified he said that he was coming from a store. He testified that the previous year he had been convicted for misdemean- or theft and that he had been convicted of burglary of a motor vehicle and had been placed on probation. Appellant also testified that he had one foot on the car.
The majority opinion says that there was no flight in the present case. Apparently appellant thought attempted flight would be useless in view of the proximity of the officer who walked upon appellant from his back side. The facts in this case are somewhat like those in Hines v. State, 458 S.W.2d 666 (Tex.Cr.App.1970), where the conviction was for attempted burglary. In that case, Hines was seen at the back door of a house with his hand on the door handle and one hand on the wall of the house looking through the screen door into the house. When the owner came up the appellant jumped off and ran. On the night in question, one passing the house could have seen a ladies’ purse on the couch in the room. The door from which Hines fled opened to the room where the purse was located. In that case we found the evidence sufficient to support the conviction. There were no tools found on or near the defendant in that case. In the present case there were tools found within two or three feet. Appellant gave an explanation to the officer that he had been to the doctor’s office but when he testified he testified that he was coming from a store. His testimony also showed that he knew how to use a hanger to enter a motor vehicle. The evidence is sufficient to support the conviction for attempted burglary. It shows more than mere preparation. He had gone to the automobile, he had the tools there. By his own testimony he had one foot on the car and it appeared to the officer that he was trying to unlock the car.
The judgment should be affirmed.