Court Opinion

ID: 5053248
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 08:18:17.030974+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:05.645456
License: Public Domain

CRIST, Judge.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of burglary in the second degree. Punishment was assessed under the Second Offender Act at ten years imprisonment. We affirm.
Defendant contends the trial court imposed a greater sentence after trial than would have been imposed after a guilty plea. He was thereby punished for exercising his right to a jury trial. We disagree.
During trial, defendant’s lawyer noted for the record that the state had previously offered to recommend five years if defendant would plead guilty. Defendant rejected that offer and went to trial. After the guilty verdict was returned, the prosecutor advised the court that a pre-trial offer of five years had been made. The court assessed punishment at ten years and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. After receiving the pre-sentence report, the court sentenced defendant to ten years—the maximum time allowed under the statute.
There is no indication in the record that the trial judge would have accepted the recommendation of the prosecutor if the defendant had pled guilty. The record does not show the court participated in the plea negotiations. There is nothing in the record to indicate the sentence imposed was given to punish defendant for not pleading guilty. State v. Volner, 569 S.W.2d 781, 782 (Mo.App.1978).
Defendant contends it was error for the trial court to deny a pre-trial motion limiting the state’s cross-examination of defendant if he chose to take the witness stand on his own behalf. The motion would have prevented inquiry into defendant’s pri- or conviction. Defendant alleges that he had to give up his right to testify on his own behalf in order to preserve his right against self-incrimination. This contention was laid to rest in State v. Toliver, 544 S.W.2d 565, 568 & 569 (Mo.banc 1976) and State v. Warden, 591 S.W.2d 170, 171 & 172 (Mo.App.1979).
Defendant’s final contention is that the trial court gave an improper verdict directing instruction. This instruction followed the approved form of MAI-CR 7.32 except the word “that” was omitted and two extra words were added in the conjunctive. The instruction should have read:
“Third, that at that time goods were kept therein, . . .” (Emphasis added.)
or
“Third, that at that time wares were kept therein, . . .” (Emphasis added.)
or
“Third, that at that time merchandise was kept therein, . .” (Emphasis added.)
The instruction actually read:
“Third,_at that time goods, wares and merchandise were kept therein, . ” (Emphasis added.)
The deletion of the word “that” could not have misled or confused the jury. The meaning of the sentence was unchanged. This deviation was erroneous but minor. Minor deviations which do not confuse or mislead the jury are non-prejudicial error. State v. Netzer, 579 S.W.2d 170, 175 (Mo.App. 1979).
*88The conjunctive addition of “wares and merchandise” placed a greater burden on the state. Instead of proving that either goods or wares or merchandise were taken, the instruction as given required the state to prove that goods and wares and merchandise were taken. The defendant was not prejudiced by this deviation from MAI-CR 7.32 but rather was benefited. Also, the instruction was “[neither] an improper statement of the law [nor] a positive misdirection.” State v. Lowery, 565 S.W.2d 680, 683-684 (Mo.App. 1978).
Judgment affirmed.
DOWD, P. J., and REINHARD, J., concur.