State v. Perry, 788SC560

Decision Date21 November 1978
Docket NumberNo. 788SC560,788SC560
PartiesSTATE of North Carolina v. Ulysses PERRY.
CourtNorth Carolina Court of Appeals

Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Special Deputy Atty. Gen. John R. B. Matthis and

Associate Atty. Rebecca R. Bevacqua, Raleigh, for the State.

Kornegay & Rice, P. A., by Robert T. Rice, Mount Olive, for defendant-appellant.

ARNOLD, Judge.

The sole question on this appeal is whether the court erred in failing to charge the jury, as requested, on misdemeanor larceny as a lesser included offense, and to submit it as a possible verdict.

The defendant was found guilty of common law robbery, which is defined as "the felonious taking of goods or money from the person or presence of another by means of force or intimidation." 77 C.J.S. Robbery § 1, p. 446. He requested an instruction on misdemeanor larceny, apparently on the basis that the property involved was worth less than $200, pursuant to G.S. 14-72(a). "(A) defendant is entitled to have all lesser degrees of offenses supported by the evidence submitted to the jury as possible alternate verdicts." State v. Palmer, 293 N.C. 633, 643-44, 239 S.E.2d 406, 413 (1977).

According to the State's evidence, the defendant took the money from the person of Jerry Crawford, which would bring G.S. 14-72(b)(1) into play and make an instruction on misdemeanor larceny unnecessary. G.S. 14-72(b)(1) provides that "(t)he crime of larceny is a felony, without regard to the value of the property in question, if the larceny is . . . from the person . . . " However, defendant testified that on previous occasions he and Jerry Crawford had discussions about stealing the money that Crawford collected at the service station. According to defendant, about three weeks before the robbery, Crawford had said, "Well, you come by one night and I'll let you have the money and I'll tell the people, the company, that I was robbed." Defendant's testimony presents evidence from which the jury might infer that he and Crawford acted in collusion in taking the money from the Kayo station, in which case the larceny would not be "from the person." Thus, there was evidence of misdemeanor larceny, a lesser offense, and the failure to submit this issue for the jury's consideration entitles defendant to a

New trial.

CLARK and ERWIN, JJ., concur.

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4 cases
  • State v. Hurst, 513PA86
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • September 3, 1987
    ...State v. Chapman, 49 N.C.App. 103, 270 S.E.2d 524 (1980); State v. Allen, 47 N.C.App. 482, 267 S.E.2d 514 (1980); State v. Perry, 38 N.C.App. 735, 248 S.E.2d 755 (1978); State v. Fletcher, 27 N.C.App. 672, 220 S.E.2d 101 (1975); State v. Coxe, 16 N.C.App. 301, 191 S.E.2d 923 (1972). On the ......
  • State v. White, 8626SC879
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • April 7, 1987
    ...with a knife, but the defendant testified that he took the money without the use of a knife or threats. See also State v. Perry, 38 N.C.App. 735, 248 S.E.2d 755 (1978) (error not to submit misdemeanor larceny in prosecution for armed robbery when defendant's evidence showed a taking without......
  • State v. Thompson, 8115SC556
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • May 4, 1982
    ...concludes there is not sufficient proof of lack of consent which is an essential element of armed robbery. See State v. Perry, 38 N.C.App. 735, 248 S.E.2d 755 (1978). Conceding for purposes of argument that the evidence shows Ivory Barbee consented to the taking of the money, we do not thin......
  • Beal v. Dellinger
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • November 21, 1978

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