Court Opinion

ID: 9739386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:13:53.604002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:11.961565
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
concurring.
I agree that this conviction for robbery must be reversed. However, I am convinced that the double jeopardy clause of the fifth amendment, governing here through the Fourteenth Amendment, as interpreted in Grady v. Corbin, 495 U.S. 508, 110 S.Ct. 2084, 109 L.Ed.2d 548 (1990), prohibits the retrial of appellant Wills for robbing Sutton and commands his discharge and release from this robbery charge.
On February 18, 1987, with theft in mind, Wills and Braswell proceeded to rob and kill the victim Sutton. They crawled into Sutton's bedroom. Both struck him. Wills smothered and held him down. Within five seconds Braswell got a gun and shot and killed Sutton as he was being held by Wills. Both stole his goods and chattels and then left.
Appellant Wills was convicted upon his plea of guilty for killing Sutton. After this conviction the State charged him with the robbery of Sutton. The conduct which had been proved as the factual basis for his plea for killing, and taken into account for his enhanced sentence for killing, is the same conduct proved by the State in the trial on this later robbery charge, i.e., striking, smothering, shooting and stealing.
Robbery is the taking from another's person or presence by use of force on a person. Under the circumstances here that force on Sutton resulted in his death. Appellant's guilt for robbery of Sutton could not be established without proving the same conduct charged in the first prosecution. Appellant's retrial on this charge, like his first trial on this charge, is barred.