Court Opinion

ID: 9653107
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 17:38:52.214432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:56.401641
License: Public Domain

MAUS, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. In State v. Kesterson, supra, at p. 607, the information charged that the defendant did steal “by means of deceit” $2,564, the property of Jennie L. Walker. There was no reference to any specific representation made by the defendant to Walker. In fact, the information did not allege the deceit was accomplished by any misrepresentation. When used in this context, the term “deceit” was found to be a generic term.
However, I do not believe State v. Kesterson, supra, controls this case. It is significant that in State v. Kesterson, supra, the statement that a recital of reliance by the victim was essential, was not required for the disposition of the case. It is likewise significant the information was not presented in the light of a statutory definition of deceit. See § 570.010, Comment to 1973 Proposed Code (7). It is of decisive significance that the information contained no reference to a misrepresentation. State v. Eckard, 655 S.W.2d 596 (Mo.App.1988) may be distinguished upon the same basis.
It must be conceded the information does not fully follow MACH-CR 24.02.2 and the Notes on Use thereto. An applicable pattern charge should be given careful attention. However, error is not established nor presumed because the information did not follow MACH-CR 24.02.2. State v. Mitchell, 611 S.W.2d 223 (Mo. banc 1981).
“[T]he purpose of an information or indictment is twofold: to inform the accused of charges against him so that he may prepare an adequate defense; and to preclude retrial on the same charges should a jury acquit him.” State v. Lewis, 642 S.W.2d 627, 630 (Mo. banc 1982). “The test of sufficiency of an indictment is whether it contains all essential elements of the offense as set out in the statute and clearly apprises defendant of facts constituting the offense.” State v. Brown, 660 S.W.2d 694, 698 (Mo. banc 1983). As a corollary of that test, generally an information is sufficient if it follows or tracks the statute declaring the offense. State v. Eckard, supra. This is true even though the statutory definition of the offense uses terms which are, in turn, defined by statute. Compare State v. Copeland, 456 So.2d 1150 (Ala.Cr.App.1984) and Lewis v. State, 659 S.W.2d 429 (Tex.Cr.App.1983). An information in statutory terms may sufficiently allege an element by intendment. State v. Puckett, 607 S.W.2d 774 (Mo.App.1980); Emmons v. State, 621 S.W.2d 329 (Mo.App.1981). However, as observed in the majority opinion, an information tracking the statute is not sufficient when the statutory definition of the offense employs a generic term. Or stated another way, “[w]hen the statute defines the elements of the offense in generic terms, more is required.” State v. Mondaine, 646 S.W.2d 372, 374 (Mo.App.1982). In this connection, a term is generally said to be generic when it does not proscribe specific conduct by which the offense is perpetrated. State v. Ladner, 613 S.W.2d 951 (Mo.App.1981).
In essence, the information in question alleges the defendant appropriated money of the state “by deceit, by misrepresenting that the defendant did not receive SSI benefits when, in fact, defendant had been and was presently receiving SSI benefits.” The information clearly tracks the statute. By statute, the term “deceit” has only one meaning. “ ‘Deceit’ means purposely making a representation which is false and which the actor does not believe to be true and upon which the victim relies, as to a matter of fact, law, value, intention or other state of mind.” § 570.010(7) (emphasis *457added). When amplified by specification of the misrepresentation relied upon by the state, the term “deceit” is not generic. By the use of that term, the information sets forth the elements of the offense as set out in the statute. By a fair reading of the information, the defendant had notice of the elements of the offense with which she was charged. State v. Goddard, 649 S.W.2d 882 (Mo. banc 1983). I would hold the information sufficient.