Court Opinion

ID: 9570262
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:21:47.534339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:21.177682
License: Public Domain

Judge Hill
dissenting.
I dissent. On review the State is entitled to all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from the evidence. See State v. McKinney, 288 N.C. 113, 215 S.E. 2d 578 (1975). On a charge of burglary the intent to commit a felony must exist at the time of entry, and it is no defense that the defendant abandoned the intent after entering. State v. Wilson, 293 N.C. 47, 235 S.E. 2d 219 (1977).
I believe there is sufficient evidence from which the jury could draw an inference that the defendant intended to gratify his passions when he entered the house, or to commit larceny, albeit he failed to complete either act under the circumstances.
At 11:45 p.m. the defendant tapped on the door to a house occupied at the time by only two ladies. When one opened the door, the defendant forcibly pushed the screen door open and entered the house, saying to the lady who opened the door, “This is no joke. I’ve got a knife. Get up against the wall.” The lady rushed into an adjoining bedroom. The remaining lady likewise followed the first into the bedroom. She was followed by the defendant who beat on the closed bedroom door. A third lady came down the steps while the defendant was trying to force his way into the bedroom, and the defendant said to her: “I’ve got a knife. This is no joke. Get up against the wall or I will kill you.” The lone man in the house then appeared and began struggling with the defendant, who then fled the house.
I am of the opinion there is sufficient evidence from which the jury could infer the defendant broke and entered this dwelling with the intent to commit a felony therein. The room he entered was occupied by two ladies, on whom he could have gratified his passion. The house was a dwelling occupied by them, and with occupancy the inference can be drawn that there were things of value therein, which the defendant could have taken.
*328The defendant actually pursued both these ladies until stopped by the bedroom door which they were holding, and continued to force himself upon them. Only when he was attacked by the man of the house did he flee.
In my opinion the trial judge correctly submitted first degree burglary to the jury on the theory that at the time he entered the house he had the intention to commit rape or larceny, and abandoned his intention only when attacked by the male occupant. See State v. Simpson, 303 N.C. 439, 279 S.E. 2d 542 (1981); State v. Redmond, 14 N.C. App. 585, 188 S.E. 2d 725 (1972).
I would distinguish State v. Rushing, supra, where the intended felony charged was rape alone, and the prosecution admitted she had invited men other than her boyfriend to come to her home. Here there is sufficient evidence from which the jury could infer rape or larceny, or both.