Court Opinion

ID: 9572348
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:41:02.977289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:33.398090
License: Public Domain

BRETT, Presiding Judge:
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the part of this decision that affirms the conviction of Jerry Wayne Glenn; however, I dissent to that part of the decision that affirms the convictions of Alfred Eugene Perry and John Lee Phelps.
There is no doubt in my mind but that Perry and Phelps fall within the exception to the provisions of 21 O.S.1981, § 1040.53. That statute excepts from its provisions, “... projectionists or assistant projectionists, ushers or cashiers provided he has no financial interest in the show or in its place of presentation other than regular employ-ment_ Provided further, that such person is not acting as manager or director of such theatre.”
Because appellants Perry and Phelps, as stated in the Attorney General’s brief, “did not personally serve as projectionists or do more than perhaps make change ...” the attempt is made to place them under the provisions of 21 O.S.1981, § 172, which defines “Principals,” as well as aiders and abetters. The Attorney General submits that because Perry and Phelps, as employees, were required to keep the business open, they are criminally liable. If anything, they were serving as cashiers, since they accepted the money and gave a token in exchange for the money, in the same manner that a cashier in an ordinary public theatre accepts the money and hands the purchaser a ticket. In short, the State is stretching to cause these two appellant to be criminally liable as aiders or abettors. On this basis alone, their convictions should be reversed. The evidence clearly showed that Glenn was the owner and operator of the shop and Perry and Phelps were nothing more than employees with no financial interest in the business whatsoever.
Therefore, I would reverse and remand with instructions to dismiss as to Perry and Phelps. With reference to appellant Glenn, defense counsel is admonished to consider the provisions of 22 O.S.1981, § 994, concerning an application for suspension of the jail sentence of one year.