State v. Smith

• Decision Date: 25 March 1981
• Docket Number: No. 52595,52595
• Citation: State v. Smith, 625 P.2d 1139, 229 Kan. 533 (Kan. 1981)
• Parties: STATE of Kansas, Appellee, v. Charles M. SMITH, Appellant.
• Court: Kansas Supreme Court

Page 1139

625 P.2d 1139

229 Kan. 533

STATE of Kansas, Appellee, v. Charles M. SMITH, Appellant.

No. 52595.

Supreme Court of Kansas.

March 25, 1981.

Syllabus by the Court

The evidence required to support an entrapment defense under K.S.A. 21-3210 must tend to establish that the intent to engage in the criminal conduct was instigated by the law enforcement officers rather than originating in the mind of the defendant.

Robert S. Fuqua, Whichita, argued the cause and was on the brief for appellant.

Jack Peggs, Asst. Dist. Atty., argued the cause, and Robert T. Stephan, Atty. Gen., Vern Miller, Dist. Atty., and Roger C. Skinner, Asst. Dist. Atty., were on the brief for appellee.

PRAGER, Justice:

This is a direct appeal by the defendant, Charles M. Smith, from convictions of aggravated robbery (K.S.A. 21-3427) and unlawful possession of a firearm (K.S.A. 21-4204). On the appeal, the defendant does not raise any issues challenging his conviction of aggravated robbery. The defendant attacks only his conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The evidence showed that on March 27, 1980, two black males robbed the Galloup Liquor Store in Wichita at gunpoint. Defendant Smith was identified by the victim as the robber holding the gun. The robbers were observed leaving the scene in a blue and red Pontiac. The defendant was arrested later in an automobile matching that description. He consented to a search of the vehicle. A revolver was found in the trunk. The defendant was arrested and, after Miranda warnings, gave a statement to the police, admitting that he and another man committed the robbery.

It was undisputed that defendant had been convicted of a felony within five years preceding the discovery of the firearm in his possession. The only defense asserted to the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm was the defense of entrapment. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to submit to the jury entrapment as a defense to the second count is the basic issue presented on this appeal. Defendant contends, in substance, that he was entrapped as the result of a conversation he had with certain police officers on March 26, 1980, the day before the robbery was committed and the firearm was found in his possession. The defendant testified at trial that he was a suspect in a theft investigation and was told by the police officers that the theft charges would be dropped if the defendant would help them investigate various fencing operations of people suspected of buying and selling stolen merchandise. He was told to fence television sets, radios, and stereo equipment. The defendant advised the officers that he needed some form of transportation so that he could carry out the fencing operations. Arrangements were made with the district attorney's office, and, around 3:00 p. m. on March 27, 1980, defendant was provided with a 1964 blue and red Pontiac which was later identified as the getaway car used in the robbery. Although denied by the police officers, the defendant testified that he told them that he would mark and fence a firearm. According to defendant, their only response to that statement was that defendant should be careful. Defendant's position is that, since the detectives knew he intended to have possession of a firearm as a part of his undercover fencing operations, and since they did not tell him not to possess a firearm, he made out a prima facie case of entrapment which required the giving of an instruction on that defense. The basic issue presented is essentially this: On the basis of the defendant's testimony just mentioned, did the trial court err in refusing to give an instruction on entrapment as a possible defense to the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm?

The defense of entrapment is provided for in K.S.A. 21-3210 which provides as follows:

"21-3210. Entrapment. A person is not guilty of a crime if his criminal conduct was induced or solicited by a public officer or his...