Court Opinion

ID: 8907808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-27 02:07:43.988096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:08:20.017612
License: Public Domain

ARNOLD, Judge.
The sole issue presented for review is whether the trial court erred by submitting as a possible verdict guilty of unauthorized use of a motor conveyance. Defendant argues that unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is not a lesser included offense of common law robbery; and, therefore, that he was convicted of a crime for which he had not been indicted. We agree, and reverse defendant’s conviction.
The test for determining whether one crime is a lesser included offense of another was set forth by our Supreme Court in State v. Weaver, 306 N.C. 629, 295 S.E. 2d 375 (1982). In Weaver the Court stated:
We do not agree with the proposition that the facts of a particular case should determine whether one crime is a lesser included offense of another. Rather, the definitions accorded the crimes determine whether one offense is a lesser included offense of another crime. State v. Banks, 295 N.C. 399, 415-416, 245 S.E. 2d 743, 754 (1978). In other words, all of the essential elements of the lesser crime must also be essential elements included in the greater crime. If the lesser crime has an essential element which is not completely covered by the greater crime, it is not a lesser included offense. The determination is made on a definitional, not a factual basis. (Emphasis in original.)
306 N.C. at 635, 295 S.E. 2d at 378-379. The definition of common law robbery is the felonious taking of money or goods of any value from the person of another or in his presence against his will by violence or by putting him in fear. State v. Black, 286 N.C. 191, 209 S.E. 2d 458 (1974). A person is guilty of the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle if he takes or operates a motor-propelled conveyance of another without the express or implied consent of the owner or the person in lawful possession of the conveyance. See G.S. 14-72.2(a).
*518Under the strict definitional approach established in Weaver unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is not a lesser included offense of common law robbery. One of the essential elements of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is the taking or operating of a motor vehicle without having formed an intent to permanently deprive the owner thereof. Conversely to be guilty of common law robbery one must have an intent to permanently deprive one of whatever goods which they take from said person. All the elements of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle are not present in common law robbery. Therefore, under the Weaver test unauthorized use is not a lesser included offense of common law robbery.
For the above stated reasons we hold that defendant’s conviction must be, and hereby is,
Reversed.
Chief Judge Hedrick and Judge Parker concur.