A.M., A JUVENILE, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT
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A juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for aiding and abetting burglary, criminal mischief, and grand theft based on circumstantial evidence showing he sat in a getaway car while his companion stole items from a vehicle. The appellate court affirmed the adjudication, finding sufficient evidence of intent to participate and assistance to the perpetrator.
The evidence was sufficient to establish A.M.'s guilt as an aider and abettor. His presence in the getaway vehicle, his observant behavior (looking side to side), and the positioning of stolen property at his feet demonstrated both his intent to participate and his actual assistance to the perpetrator.
[1] Circumstantial evidence, including a juvenile's presence in a getaway vehicle and the proximity of stolen items to the juvenile, can be sufficient to establish intent to…
[2] Evidence that a juvenile acted as a "spotter" while a companion committed theft supports a finding of aiding and abetting.
Previewing 2 of 3 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The above evidence excluded the hypothesis that A.M. was merely a witness to the crime and was sufficient to establish his intent to participate and his assistance to the perpetrator of the offense.”
States the court's holding that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to prove aiding and abetting rather than mere presence as a witness.
Previewing 1 of 2 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePolice officers observed A.M. sitting in the passenger seat of a Toyota, looking side to side while his companion broke into a Honda nearby. Officers …
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PER CURIAM.
A.M., a juvenile, appeals from an adjudication of delinquency based on a finding that he was guilty of aiding and abetting the commission of burglary, criminal mischief, and grand theft. Circumstantial evidence was presented, including the testimony of a City of Miami police officer that he saw A.M. sitting in the passenger seat of a Toyota, looking from side to side as his companion broke into a Honda several feet away. A second officer testified that he observed the companion pulling items out of the Honda and putting them into the driver’s side of the Toyota, in which A.M. sat alone. This officer and a third officer testified that when they reached the Toyota some two minutes later, the purse was on the passenger side of the car between A.M.’s feet. The purse was open and its contents strewn over A.M.’s side of the vehicle. The above evidence excluded the hypothesis that A.M. was merely a witness to the crime and was sufficient to establish his intent to participate and his assistance to the perpetrator of the offense. See C.L.A. v. State, 478 So. 2d 872 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985) (evidence juvenile acted as “spotter,” distracting store clerk and looking over shoulder for persons who might be watching while his companion pried open jewelry case supported finding that juvenile was guilty of aiding and abetting commission of grand theft); see also Jones v. State, 532 So. 2d 1337 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988) (defendant circling neighborhood and giving “thumbs-up” signal to codefendant sufficient evidence to affirm conviction as aider and abettor for burglary and third-degree grand theft).
Accordingly, the adjudication of delinquency is affirmed.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- C.L.A. v. State, 478 So. 2d 872 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985)
- Jones v. State, 532 So. 2d 1337 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988)