Cohran v. State

Citation141 Ga.App. 4,232 S.E.2d 355
Decision Date10 January 1977
Docket NumberNo. 2,No. 53026,53026,2
PartiesD. R. COHRAN v. The STATE
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

James C. Carr, Jr., Atlanta, for appellant.

Lewis R. Slaton, Dist. Atty., Joseph J. Drolet, Asst. Dist. Atty., Atlanta, for appellee.

MARSHALL, Judge.

Appellant Cohran brings this appeal from his conviction for forgery in the first degree and sentence to 10 years imprisonment. He enumerates four errors, three concerning the failure of the trial court to give requested instructions and the fourth contending that the evidence fails to support the verdict. Held:

1. The evidence shows that appellant prepared a check naming as payee a person whose identification papers had been stolen earlier and which papers were in the possession of appellant or a female companion at the time he attempted to cash the check. Appellant also signed the check as maker in a fictitious name though the firm upon whose account the check was drawn had never heard of the fictitious maker or of the appellant and had given no permission for the appellant nor any other person to prepare and make the check. Appellant and a female companion representing herself as the payee and using the stolen identification, presented the check for payment. While an inquiry was being made of the firm upon whose account the check was drawn, the female companion disappeared but appellant was apprehended. A handwriting comparison expert testified that appellant affixed both the written name of the payee on the check as well as the signature of the maker.

' On appeals from findings of guilt, the presumption of innocence no longer prevails, the fact finders have determined the credibility of witnesses, the fact finders have been convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, and the appellate courts review the evidence only to determine if there is any evidence sufficient to authorize the fact finders to return the verdict of guilty.' Ridley v. State, 236 Ga. 147, 149, 223 S.E.2d 131, 132; Blackwell v. State, 139 Ga.App. 477, 478, 228 S.E.2d 612. Construing the evidence to uphold the verdict, and resolving conflicts against appellant, as we must, we find there is evidence to support the verdict and we will affirm. Johnson v. State, 231 Ga. 138(1), 200 S.E.2d 734; Talley v. State, 137 Ga.App. 548, 549, 224 S.E.2d 455; Hess v. State, 132 Ga.App. 26, 28, 207 S.E.2d 580; Taylor v. State, 128 Ga.App. 13, 14, 195 S.E.2d 294.

2. Appellant requested three specific charges by the trial court. The first contained an incomplete and therefore misleading principle of law. In its charge the trial court...

To continue reading

Request your trial
22 cases
  • Prater v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • April 3, 1979
    ...in the exact language requested, where the charge given substantially covered the same principles is not error." Cohran v. State, 141 Ga.App. 4, 5, 232 S.E.2d 355, 356 (1977). The enumeration directed toward the charge on conspiracy is without 5. Former testimony. During the trial the state......
  • Ramsey v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • February 14, 1978
    ...the exact language requested, where the charge given substantially covered the same principles is not error. (Cits.)" Cohren v. State, 141 Ga.App. 4, 5, 232 S.E.2d 355, 356. Similarly, the trial court's charge concerning credibility of witnesses also covered substantially the principles req......
  • Serrano v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • July 14, 1978
    ...language requested when the principles are covered by the charge given. Sullens v. State, 239 Ga. 766, 238 S.E.2d 864; Cohran v. State,141 Ga.App. 4, 232 S.E.2d 355. We conclude that the trial court did not err in refusing to give the requested Judgment affirmed. BELL, C. J., and SHULMAN, J......
  • Murphy v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • July 14, 1978
    ...from verdicts of guilty, construe the evidence to uphold the verdict and resolve conflicts against the defendant. Cohran v. State, 141 Ga.App. 4(1), 232 S.E.2d 355; Franklin v. State, 136 Ga.App. 47, 48(1), 220 S.E.2d 60. The evidence presented by the state was sufficient under the "any evi......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT