Court Opinion

ID: 6730562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:11:39.591447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:39.173367
License: Public Domain

BROCK, Judge.
Defendant’s only assignment of error brought forward in his brief relates to the -charge of the Court upon the presumption arising from the possession of recently stolen property. Defendant does not contend that the trial judge should not have instructed the jury on the doctrine. Clearly the conditions set out for the application of the doctrine of possession of recently stolen property in State v. Foster, 268 N.C. 480, 151 S.E. 2d 62, are met in the present case, where there was sufficient evidence to meet the conditions and to show that the tractor had been recently stolen from the Wilson construction site. In this case, the presumption arising from the possession of recently stolen property was properly applied, because there was evidence of an unlawful taking coupled with the unequivocal identification of the stolen property as being the tractor in defendant’s possession.
Defendant argues that it was prejudicial error for the trial judge to fail to instruct the jury that before any presumption arises by reason of defendant’s possession of the tractor they must find from the evidence and beyond a reasonable doubt it was the same tractor stolen from North Hills, Inc. In support of this argument, defendant cites and relies on State v. Frazier, 9 N.C. App. 44, 175 S.E. 2d 377, and State v. Jackson, 274 N.C. 594, 164 S.E. 2d 369, which he contends require such a charge in every case involving possession of recently stolen property. We agree with the general principle of defendant’s argument, *607but do not agree that the particular words advanced by defendant need be used. In this case we think the trial judge has adequately instructed the jury upon the principle.
The doctrine of possession of recently stolen goods as recognized by our Courts affords evidence that the possessor is guilty of larceny. It is only an evidentiary circumstance to be considered by the jury along with all other circumstances. State v. Foster, supra; State v. Allison, 265 N.C. 512, 144 S.E. 2d 578. Here there is ample, cogent evidence identifying the tractor found in defendant’s possession as the identical property stolen and the tractor is a type of property which was readily identifiable by make, model, and serial number. The trial judge clearly instructed the jury that in order to find defendant guilty of larceny they must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant “took and carried away a Ford Tractor Model 2000, being the property of North Hills Construction Company. . . .”
The presumption arising from the possession of recently stolen property did not shift the burden of proof to the defendant, or deprive him of the benefit of the presumption of his innocence or of the rule requiring proof of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant’s assignment of error is overruled.
No error.
Chief Judge Mallard and Judge Campbell concur.