McNair v. State, A89A0013

• Decision Date: 21 February 1989
• Docket Number: No. A89A0013,A89A0013
• Citation: 190 Ga.App. 412,379 S.E.2d 424
• Parties: McNAIR v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 424

379 S.E.2d 424

190 Ga.App. 412

McNAIR v. The STATE.

No. A89A0013.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Feb. 21, 1989.

William T. Hankins III, Statesboro, for appellant.

Robert E. Wilson, Dist. Atty., Eleni Ann Pryles, Thomas S. Clegg, Asst. Dist. Attys., for appellee.

McMURRAY, Presiding Judge.

Defendant appeals his conviction of the offense of burglary. Held:

1. In his first enumeration of error defendant contends the trial court should have granted his motion for directed verdict of acquittal since the State failed to prove that defendant entered the building with intent to commit a theft. The State's evidence shows that the building in which two businesses were operated was a former gas station. Defendant had gained entrance to the building via a door opening into a rest room by kicking or prying open a door. Inside the rest room defendant had attempted to break through a concrete block or brick wall which would permit access to the remainder of the building. Located on the opposite side of the interior wall defendant unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate was sporting goods equipment belonging to one of the businesses operated in the building. " '(T)he presence of valuables inside the premises can support an inference of intent to steal (Cit.), particularly when no other motive is apparent. (Cit.) The evidence supported the verdict.' Parrish v. State, 141 Ga.App. 631(1), (234 SE2d 174) (1977)." Green v. State, 158 Ga.App. 321(1), 279 S.E.2d 763. See also Fennell v. State, 159 Ga.App. 194, 195, 283 S.E.2d 72; Loury v. State, 147 Ga.App. 152(1), 248 S.E.2d 291; and Ealey v. State, 139 Ga.App. 604, 605(2), 607, 229 S.E.2d 86.

2. After a Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 hearing was held outside the presence of the jury, the trial court allowed into evidence an in-custody statement made by defendant to police. Defendant contends that, despite the lack of objection at trial, the statement is inadmissible because the trial court failed to make a clear finding that the statement was made voluntarily before the jury heard the statement. See Fain v. State, 165 Ga.App. 188, 189(6), 300 S.E.2d 197. This issue has been decided adversely to defendant. " ' "Where the voluntariness of a confession is questioned on the trial of a criminal case it is necessary under the decision in Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368 (84 SC 1774, 12 LE2d 908, 1 ALR3d 1205), to have a separate hearing as to the voluntariness before it is finally presented to the jury for consideration as to its voluntariness." (Cit.) In the absence of a proper objection, however, there is no requirement for such a hearing. (Cits.)' Watson v. State, 227 Ga. 698, 699 (182 SE2d 446) (1971). Accord Royals v. State, 155 Ga.App. 378(1) (270 SE2d 906) (1980). Due process 'does not require a voluntariness hearing absent some contemporaneous challenge to the use of the confession.' (Emphasis supplied.) Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 86 (97 SC 2497, 53 LE2d 594) (1977). See Dent v. State, 243 Ga. 854(2) (257...