Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

289 So. 2d 445

Cannon v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Decided February 6, 1974

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 1974-02-06

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1977

1 state decisions

Relies on 55 So. 2d 559 - Hearn v. State · 238 So. 2d 618 - State v. Graham · Finley v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1974-02-06

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

HOBSON, Acting Chief Judge.

¶1Appellant and a companion were charged by information with the crime of receiving and concealing stolen property. Appellant was tried separately, convicted of the charge, and sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison to a term of six months to five years.

¶2Appellant’s first point in this appeal is directed to the sufficiency of the evidence. The record on appeal contains sufficient and competent evidence to support the conviction. The state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the property had been stolen. While the mere unexplained possession of recently stolen property is not sufficient to show guilty knowledge, the circumstances surrounding the possession in this case were sufficient to make a prima facie case of the crime charged. Lawrence v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1970, 230 So.2d 160; McMichael v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1972, 258 So.2d 26; cf. State v. Graham, Fla.1970, 238 So.2d 618.

¶3The general rule is that one who alone commits larceny cannot be adjudged guilty of receiving the thing stolen. Adams v. State, 1910, 60 Fla. 1, 53 So. 451. Appellant was not the only one involved in the crime, and there was no evidence that appellant actually participated in the larceny. Metcalf v. State, 1929, 98 Fla. 457, 124 So. 427; Cf. Adams v. State, supra; Ketelsen v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1968, 211 So.2d 853; Thomas v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1968, 216 So.2d 25.

¶4Appellant also contends that there was a fatal variance between the allegation and the proof as to ownership of the stolen property. The information alleged that the property received or concealed was that of “Bennett Gibson and Mark Gibson, doing-business as Lealman Texaco,” while the proof showed that it was the property of Bennett Gibson. During the trial appellant made no objection to the variance, nor did he raise it in his motion for directed verdict. See Finley v. State, 1943, 153 Fla. 394, 14 So.2d 844.

¶5The purpose of alleging ownership of the stolen property is to show ownership to be in one other than the accused, and as a part of the description of the property. Byrd v. State, 1941, 146 Fla. 686, 1 So.2d 624; Hearn v. State, Fla.1951, 55 So.2d 559; Gaynor v. State, Fla.App.4th, 1967, 196 So.2d 19; Cross v. State, Fla.App.2d, 1970, 237 So.2d 324.

¶6*447It was alleged and established that the property was not that of the accused. Gaynor v. State, supra; Hunt v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1967, 200 So.2d 212; Ross v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1969, 226 So.2d 464. Appellant could not again be tried for receiving or concealing the same property taken at the same time from the same place, and under the same circumstances. Addison v. State, 1928, 95 Fla. 737, 116 So. 629; Hearn v. State, supra; Gagne v. State, Fla.App.2d, 1962, 138 So.2d 90; Wilcox v. State, Fla.App.3rd, 1966, 183 So.2d 555; Cross v. State, supra. We do not think that appellant was misled or embarrassed in the preparation of his defense by reason of such proof. Addison v. State, supra; Finley v. State, supra; Gagne v. State, supra; Hunt v. State, supra.

¶7The judgment appealed is, therefore,

¶8Affirmed.

McNULTY and GRIMES, JJ., concur.
/289/so2d/445 · .json · Public domain