Court Opinion

ID: 9446277
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:50:52.444064+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:35.608476
License: Public Domain

WASHINGTON, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I am constrained to dissent from af-firmance of this conviction. I do not consider that there was sufficient evidence introduced by the Government to allow a jury to find appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of aiding and abetting the principal’s (Butler’s) unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
As to the appellant Allen, the testimony most favorable to the Government shows:
Sometime during the early evening of December 20, 1956, Allen was with his co-defendants Dorman and Butler. Butler had spent that afternoon painting Allen’s mother’s house. According to Allen’s and Dorman’s separate statements to Officer Kunmann at the time of arrest — to which the officer testified at trial — Allen and Dorman had separated earlier from each other and from Butler, and had not met each other again until shortly before the arrest. At 4:00 A.M. on December 21, 1956, just before the arrest, Allen was seen by police officers standing near 1 a Buick car. Defendant Butler was found by the police in the driver’s seat of the Buick. Defendant Dorman was some 40 feet away. When the police officers came upon the scene Allen “turned from the car and started walking north * * *. Just walking, very casually walking.” Dorman did likewise. Officer Shelton testified that there was no sudden flight from the scene by Allen: “He was walking. Made no attempt to run.” No weapons were found when the three defendants were “patted down” at the time of arrest, and no fingerprints were taken from the car. Officer Kunmann testified that Dorman stated to him at the time of the arrest that he was lagging behind Allen because *190of a sore foot. Kunmann also testified that both Allen and Dorman stated to him after the arrest that neither knew Butler was in the car. There was testimony that none of the defendants had been authorized by the owner to use the car, which was later reported as missing. This was the Government’s case against appellant Allen — with whom we are solely concerned on this appeal.2
To convict an accused of aiding and abetting the commission of a criminal offense, under District of Columbia Code § 22-105 (1951), mere presence at the scene of the crime is not sufficient.3 Something more is required. This “something more” must be such that from it — and the defendant’s presence, actual or constructive — -a jury might be able to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.4 The “something more” must be probative of knowledge by the defendant that a crime was being committed and of some conscious effort to assist or protect the criminal conduct of the principal offender. The principle was well stated in Johnson v. United States, supra note 3, 195 F.2d at pages 675-676:
“The question for determination is whether there was substantial evidence from which the jury might have found beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant aided and abetted in the commission of the crime charged. To be an aider and abetter it must appear that one so far participates in the commission of the crime charged as to be present, actually or constructively, for the purpose of assisting therein. Thus, one who gives aid and comfort, or who commands, advises, instigates or encourages another to commit a crime may be said to be an aider and abetter. Generally speaking, to find one guilty as a principal on the ground that he was an aider and abetter, it must be proven that he shared in the criminal intent of the principal and there must be a community of unlawful purpose at the time the act is committed. As the term ‘aiding and abetting’ implies, it assumes some participation in the criminal act in furtherance of the common design, either before or at the time the criminal act is committed. It implies some conduct of an affirmative nature and mere negative acquiescence is not sufficient. Morei v. United States, 6 Cir., 127 F.2d 827; United States v. Dellaro, 2 Cir., 99 F.2d 781. In fact, it has been held that the mere fact that one is present at the scene of a crime, even though he may be in sympathy with the person committing it, will not render him an aider and abetter.” (Emphasis added.)
State and Federal cases are in agreement.5
In my view the prior acquaintance of Allen with his co-defendants, plus his *191presence at the scene of the arrest and his abortive attempt to leave it, do not supply the missing probanda. I would reverse and direct the entry of a judgment of acquittal.

. “[Alongside of the centerpost of,” or “near the right rear fender of” the car.

. The co-defendants did not appeal. We need not discuss or attempt to evaluate the evidence against them.

. See Hicks v. United States, 1893, 150 U.S. 442, 449-450, 14 S.Ct. 144, 37 L.Ed. 1137; United States v. Williams, 1951, 341 U.S. 58, 64 note 4, 71 S.Ct. 595, 95 L.Ed. 747; Johnson v. United States, 8 Cir., 1952, 195 E.2d 673, 675-676.

. Compare the additional evidence introduced against the defendants.in Williams v. United States, 1954, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 219, 215 F.2d 85; Gilbert v. United States, 1954, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 321, 215 F.2d 334; Epps v. United States, 1946, 81 U.S.App.D.C. 244, 157 F.2d. 11, with that in Johnson v. United States, 8 Cir., 1952, 195 F.2d 673. See also Barfield v. United States, 5 Cir., 1956, 229 F.2d 936.

. See, e. g., United States v. Di Vito, 7 Cir., 1952, 198 F.2d 3; United States v. Peoni, 2 Cir., 1938, 100 F.2d 401; cases cited supra note 2; People v. Hill, 1946, 77 Cal.App.2d 287, 175 P.2d 45; Jones v. State, 1941, 64 Ga.App. 308, 13 S.E.2d 91; People v. Barnes, 1924, 311 Ill. 559, 143 N.E. 445; Sumpter v. Commonwealth, Ky.1952, 251 S.W.2d 852; Cochran v. State, 1941, 191 Miss. 273, 2 So.2d 822; Smith v. State, 1939, 66 Okl.Cr. 408, 92 P.2d 582; Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 1941, 177 Va. 896, 15 S.E.2d 94.