State v. Deedon

• Decision Date: 16 January 1963
• Citation: 189 A.2d 660,56 Del. 49
• Parties: , 56 Del. 49 STATE of Delaware v. James M. DEEDON.
• Court: Supreme Court of Delaware

Page 660

189 A.2d 660

6 Storey 49, 56 Del. 49

STATE of Delaware v. James M. DEEDON.

Supreme Court of Delaware.

Jan. 16, 1963.

Certification from the Superior Court of New Castle County.

Thomas Herlihy, III, Deputy Atty. Gen., for the State of Delaware.

Harvey Porter, of Errigo, Biondi & Porter, Wilmington, for defendant.

SOUTHERLAND, C. J., and WOLCOTT and TERRY, JJ., sitting.

TERRY, Justice.

The defendant, James M. Deedon, was indicted by the Grand Jury of New Castle County in absentia at the December Term, 1958. He was charged with the commission of a felony in violation of Title 11, Section 395 of the Delaware Code of 1953. He moved to quash the indictment, briefs were filed, and oral argument held. Following oral argument, counsel for the State and the defendant, with approval of the Court below, filed petitions with this court for certification of certain questions presented at argument. This court, on September 11, 1962, approved the certification of questions 1 through 4.

The initial question certified to this court is as follows:

'Do the provisions of Title 11, Del.C., Sec. 395, making it a felony to break and enter a building, or a room, or any part of the building, with intent to commit a crime therein, sufficiently and unambiguously state and define a crime?'

Interpreting this question to mean whether or not 11 Del.C., Sec. 395, is sufficiently precise to escape condemnation under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment of the Federal Constitution, we are of the opinion that the answer is, yes.

As stated in State v. Chase, 11 Terry 383, 131 A.2d 178 (Superior Court, 1957): 'If the terms of a penal statute are so vague and indefinite as to render uncertain its meaning, it must be condemned as repugnant to the due process clause of the 14th Amendment of the Federal Constitution.' Since the only possible area of controversy centers upon the use of the generic term, 'crime,' we are of the opinion that this term is sufficiently precise to provide adequate warning and guidance for future conduct. It is a well-settled rule of law that one will not be heard to plead ignorance of the law, and, therefore, all are expected to understand the meaning and usage of the term, 'crime.' We are reinforced in this belief by the admission of the defendant that he does not seriously contest the constitutionality of the cited statute.

Question 2 reads as follows:

'Is an indictment for the crime of burglary in the fourth degree (11 Del.C. Sec. 395) subject to dismissal under Superior Court Rule 12(b)(2) if it is alleged that the defendant did feloniously break and enter the premises involved 'with intent to commit a crime therein,' if it fails to allege with specificity the said crime defendant intended to commit?'

Interpreting this question to mean whether or not the indictment in question is subject to dismissal because of failure to allege all essential elements of a criminal offense, we are of the opinion that the answer is, yes.

The defendant was indicted as follows:

'The Grand Jury charges JAMES M. DEEDON with the following offense: a felony, in violation of Title 11, Section 395 of the Delaware Code of 1953.

'JAMES M. DEEDON, on the 21st day of January, 1957, in the County of New Castle, did then and there feloniously break and enter the property of Richard Donald Furs, Inc., located at 10 West 10th Street, Wilmington, Delaware, with the intent to commit a crime therein.'

The State initially contends that since the words of the indictment are drawn from the statutory language, the indictment must be considered valid if the constitutionality of the statute is upheld. It is, of course, the general rule that an indictment drawn in the language of the statute is generally sufficient. See State v. Martin, 2 Storey 561, 163 A.2d 256 (1960). However, it is equally well-settled that if the statute fails to delineate with specificity all the essential elements of the crime, the drafter of the indictment may not safely rely on the statutory language alone. As was stated in State v. Lassotovitch, 162 Md. 147, 159 A. 362, 81 A.L.R. 69 (1932): '* * * it is clear that an indictment which charges the accused with the act prohibited by the statutory language, and does nothing more, would be fatally defective in failing to allege such other facts as would enable the accused to prepare his defense.' (At Page 363) Accord: State v. Gibbs, 134 N.J.L. 366, 48 A.2d 300 (1946); and State v. Minnick, 3 Storey 261, 168 A.2d 93 (Superior Court, 1960).

The question therefore is whether or not the specific crime which the defendant allegedly intended to commit is an essential element of the offense of burglary in the fourth degree. It is not sufficient for the State to contend, as it does, that the new principles of pleading have rendered obsolete much of the common law tradition. While this contention is no doubt correct, an indictment must still meet the requirements set forth in Rule 7(c) of the Rules of Criminal Procedure of the Superior Court, Del.C.Ann., wherein it is stated: 'The indictment or the information shall be a plain, concise, and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged.'

Examining the decisional law in other jurisdictions which have considered this question, it is clear that the particular crime which was the subject of the alleged intent must be set out in the indictment: 'It is not enough to allege generally an intent to commit 'a felony' or 'an offense,' but it is necessary, in order that the charge may be certain, to state the particular felony or other offense intended.' 12 C.J.S. Burglary § 32, at Page 691.

'The rule is well-established, however, that even though in burglary and statutory housebreaking the intent, as defined by the law, is simply to commit a felony, it is not sufficient in the indictment to follow these general words, but the particular felony intended must be specified.' 9 Am.Jur., Burglary, Sec. 46 (at page 262). Accord: State v. Buchanan, 75 Miss. 349, 22 So. 875 (1898); State v. Allen, 186 N.C. 302, 119 S.E. 504 (1923); People v. Schiaffino, 73 Cal.App. 357, 238 P. 725 (1925). It is to be noted that this rule is not confined to those cases reported a substantial period of time ago, but continue down to the present time. See e. g. Brumfield v. State, 206 Miss. 506, 40 So.2d 268 (1949); Lowe v. State, 163 Tex.Cr.R. 578, 294 S.W.2d 394 (1956): Bays v. State, 240 Ind. 37, 159 N.E.2d 393 (1959).

The State has shown no authority to the contrary but contends that all of the above-cited authority is distinguishable on the ground that the predominant element of burglary in the fourth degree is the breaking and entering. It is to be noted that the statutory definition of burglary in the second degree and burglary in the third degree also contain the phrase, 'any crime.' The fact remains that with respect to the nature of the crime intended to be committed, 11 Del.C., Sec. 395, differs from common law burglary only in that the crime intended to be committed need not be a felony. Therefore, we are of the opinion that the well-settled rule of law which has been applied to both common law and statutory burglary is equally applicable here.

We note that the State has contended that the intent may be pleaded in general terms, citing Evans v. United States, 153 U.S. 584, 14 S.Ct. 934, 38 L.Ed. 830 (1894), wherein the court gave the example of 'assault with intent to kill.' It is surprising that the State should cite this language, since it is precisely this type of language which is absent from the instant indictment, e. g., 'with the intent to commit the crime of larceny.'

The State then contends that the decision in State v. Minnick, supra, which held a similar indictment invalid, places an intolerable burden upon law enforcement authority. It is clear, however, that although...