Court Opinion

ID: 9676215
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:17:51.050293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:45.700282
License: Public Domain

WINTERSHEIMER, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion because there was sufficient evidence to support the decision of the jury that Hedges violated the burglary statute.
This case is indistinguishable from the reasoning and result of McCarthy v. Commonwealth, Ky., 867 S.W.2d 469 (1994). In McCarthy, supra, this Court affirmed a first degree burglary conviction because the defendant unlawfully remained in the dwelling of his estranged wife.
*708Here, Hedges violated a Domestic Violence Emergency Protection Order which is itself a crime pursuant to KRS 403.763(2). Hedges had been prohibited from committing any violence against his estranged wife and from damaging the property of the couple.
The evidence supports the inference by the jury that Hedges intentionally violated the DVO, lied to the wife about wanting to make a telephone call and instead searched for a visitor in the apartment or that after he entered the apartment he formed the intent to damage property on the premises or cause her physical injury, all of which was clearly beyond the purview of the consent to enter given by the wife.
As noted in McCarthy, burglary is an invasion of the possessory right of another and extends to a spouse. See also Matthews v. Commonwealth, Ky., 709 S.W.2d 414 (1986).
The crime of second degree burglary was committed when Hedges remained in the apartment with the intent to commit a crime, to wit: the destruction of the property and the assault on her person. Police at the scene testified that they saw red marks on the victim’s neck and throat. She testified that Hedges grabbed her by the neck and shoved her against the wall. All the elements of second degree burglary were met. There was no error in determining that there was sufficient evidence to deny a motion for directed verdict.
I would affirm the conviction in all respects.
GRAVES and KING, JJ., join in this dissenting opinion.