SALVADORE ARROYO, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 4th DCA | 1990-07-05
No. 89-0729
DOWNEY and WALDEN, JJ., concur.
564 So. 2d 1153 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1990) Caution
Cited by 27 cases

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

Salvadore Arroyo was convicted of attempted armed burglary based on his possession of a pocket knife during an unauthorized entry into an apartment. The Fourth District reversed the conviction because the state failed to prove the pocket knife was a dangerous weapon, but affirmed the conviction on the intent element after finding substantial evidence of specific intent to commit a crime.


Holding

A pocket knife may be a dangerous weapon only if used in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm. Here, no such evidence was presented, so the conviction for armed burglary must be reversed and the defendant resentenced for attempted burglary without the dangerous weapon enhancement. However, there was sufficient circumstantial evidence of stealthy entry and specific intent to support the burglary conviction itself.


Headnotes

[1] A pocket knife may be considered a dangerous weapon under Florida Statutes section 810.02(2)(b) if used in a manner likely to produce death or great bodily harm.

[2] The definition of "weapon" in Florida Statutes section 790.001(13) is applicable to statutes outside of chapter 790, including the burglary statute.

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Key Quotes

“We conclude that a pocket knife may be a dangerous weapon within the meaning of the statute, but that it was not on the facts of this case.”

Establishes the standard that a pocket knife can be a dangerous weapon only in certain circumstances, not categorically.

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Facts & Procedural History

Arroyo was discovered in an apartment early in the morning holding a T-shirt, flashlight, and open pocket knife. He made no threatening gestures and w…

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Opinion of the Court
HERSEY, Chief Judge.

HERSEY, Chief Judge.

Salvadore Arroyo appeals his conviction of attempted armed burglary. We reverse the conviction and sentence for the reasons that follow.

Arroyo was discovered in an apartment in the early morning hours by the two female occupants of the apartment. In his hands he held a T-shirt, a flashlight and an open pocket knife. He made no threatening gestures; he asked and was given permission to leave. There was testimony that he did not appear intoxicated. His excuse for being in the apartment was that he mistook it for the home of a friend. He left and was found asleep in a laundry room less than an hour later. The first issue is whether a pocket knife is a “dangerous weapon” within the meaning of section 810.02(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1989). That section provides that a burglary is a first-degree felony where the offender “is armed, or arms himself within such structure ... with ... a dangerous weapon.” We conclude that a pocket knife may be a dangerous weapon within the meaning of the statute, but that it was not on the facts of this case.

The term “dangerous weapon” is not defined in chapter 810. The term “weapon” is defined in section 790.001(13), Florida Statutes (1989) as: “any dirk, metallic knuckles, slingshoot, billy, teargas gun, chemical weapon, or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife.”

Although the first paragraph of section 790.001, which provides that the definitions contained therein are to apply throughout chapter 790, might appear as an implied limitation on their applicability elsewhere, we discern no rational basis for such a limitation. In fact, “[a]s a general rule, Florida courts have utilized the statutory definition of ‘weapon’ provided in section 790.001(13) to determine whether a particular object constitutes a ‘weapon’ for purposes of section 812.13(2)(b) [the armed robbery statute].” Streetman v. State, 455 So. 2d 1080, 1082 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984). See also Hartman v. State, 403 So. 2d 1030 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981).

In Hartman we explained that “we do not consider [the language in the first paragraph of section 790.001] to limit use of the definitions exclusively to chapter 790, particularly where common sense dictates that a definition set forth there may have perfectly reasonable application elsewhere.” Id. at 1031.

Similarly in this case we see no reason not to look to the definition in section 790.-001(13) in applying section 810.02(2)(b). See Depasquale v. State, 438 So. 2d 159 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983); McCray v. State, 358 So. 2d 615 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978).

If, then, a “pocketknife” is expressly excluded from the term “weapon,” does that mean that a pocketknife can never be a “weapon” or a “dangerous weapon” for purposes of applying statutes employing those terms. We think not and follow the lead of our sister court in holding that it depends upon the use made of the pocketknife and other facts involved in a particular case. The third district, in State v. Nixon, 295 So. 2d 121 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974), addressed the question whether a common pocket knife could be a “deadly weapon” since it was expressly excluded from the enumerated weapons in section 790.001(13). In answering that question affirmatively, the third district noted that the legislature exempted common pocketknives from the definition of weapons in chapter 790 so that citizens would not be charged with a crime when carrying such knives for their own convenience and for useful purposes unrelated to criminal activity. The third district further noted, however, that common pocketknives could be deadly weapons when used in a manner likely to produce death or great bodily harm.

Thus, the pocketknife in this case could also be a dangerous weapon if it was used in a manner likely to produce death or great bodily injury. A review of the record indicates that such was not the case here.

The state inappropriately relies on Hardee v. State, 534 So. 2d 706 (Fla.1988), and State v. Dopson, 323 So. 2d 644 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975), as dispositive of this issue on other grounds, but those cases are clearly distinguishable. Neither involved the issues we have dealt with here. It was the state’s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Arroyo was carrying a “dangerous weapon.” To do so in the context of a pocketknife required proof that it was used in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm. No such evidence was presented to the jury. Accordingly, we reverse on this issue. Upon remand Arroyo should be resentenced for the lesser offense of attempted burglary (without enhancement for having a “dangerous weapon”).

Arroyo contends, as his second point on appeal, that his motion for judgment of acquittal should have been granted based upon lack of evidence on the element of intent to commit an offense. The motion suggested a reduction from burglary to the lesser-included crime of trespass.

In order to obtain a conviction for burglary, the state must prove two elements: (1) unauthorized entry or remaining in a structure or conveyance, and (2) a specific intent to commit an offense therein. § 810.02(1), Fla.Stat. (1989); Toole v. State, 472 So. 2d 1174 (Fla.1985); Ellis v. State, 425 So. 2d 201 (Fla. 5th DCA), approved, 442 So. 2d 213 (Fla.1983).

The state’s proof regarding the accused’s specific intent will almost always be circumstantial since the state will rarely have direct proof as to the defendant’s exact objectives, motives and intentions. Further, section 810.07, Florida Statutes (1989), provides that proof of stealthy entry is prima facie evidence of intent.

In order to resolve this issue this court must determine whether there was enough circumstantial evidence of stealthy entry to send the question to the jury. “A motion for judgment of acquittal should be granted in a circumstantial evidence case if the state fails to present evidence from which the jury can exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.” State v. Law, 559 So. 2d 187, 188 (Fla.1989). However, “[t]he state is not required to ‘rebut conclusively every possible variation’ of events which could be inferred from the evidence, but only to introduce competent evidence which is inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of events.” (Footnote omitted.) Id. at 189. The state points to the following evidence: that appellant entered the apartment in the middle of the night, that he was observed crawling around on the living room floor, that appellant stood over the couch looking at one of the women sleeping, and that moments after the unlawful entry appellant was observed to be in possession of a flashlight and a pocketknife.

The evidence introduced by the state is inconsistent with appellant’s theory that he mistakenly entered the apartment. Therefore, it was a question for the trier of fact and the jury’s decision should not be disturbed in light of the substantial evidence supporting it.

Appellant alternatively contends that he could not have formed the specific intent necessary to commit the crime of burglary because he was intoxicated at the time.

Voluntary intoxication is a valid defense to specific intent crimes. Gardner v. State, 480 So. 2d 91 (Fla.1985). In order to successfully assert the defense of voluntary intoxication, the defendant must show that he was too intoxicated to entertain or be able to form a specific intent. Shaw v. State, 228 So. 2d 619 (Fla. 2d DCA 1969).

Appellant contends that the evidence in this case of his intoxication was overwhelming. He points to the testimony of Officer Eischen who testified that he had stopped the appellant in the area one half hour before the incident. The officer testified that appellant appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and told him that he was coming from a bar. Additionally, appellant points to his tripping over the telephone cord while in the apartment and his mistaking the women’s apartment for his friend’s apartment as mistakes an intoxicated person might make. Finally, appellant points to the fact that the officers found him passed out in the laundry room of another building twenty minutes after being chased out of the women’s apartment.

However, as the state correctly points out, the appellant has failed to include the following facts: that Officer Eischen described him as under the influence but in good shape, that the two occupants, who had a conversation with him, testified that he was not intoxicated at the time.

Thus, there was substantial competent evidence to support the jury’s finding that appellant was not too intoxicated to form a specific intent. Based on the foregoing, we affirm on this point.

AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; REMANDED.

DOWNEY and WALDEN, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By (12 total)

  • Durden v. State, 743 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)
    …ther it is ‘likely to produce death or great bodily harm’ — is a factual question to be answered by the jury in each case.” Dale v. State, 703 So. 2d 1045, 1047 (Fla.1997); see also Mims v. State, 662 So. 2d 962 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995); Arroyo v. State, 564 So. 2d 1153, 1154 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990); State v. Nixon, 295 So. 2d 121 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974). Accordingly, L.B. is distinguishable. See also Walls v. State, 730 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999). We have recently rejected the arguments raised by appellant relating t…
  • Bunkley v. State, 882 So. 2d 890 (Fla. 2004)
    …veral cases to support his argument. See, e.g., Gust v. State, 558 So. 2d 450, 452-53 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990) (stating that a key-chain knife would fall within the “common pocketknife” exception to the statutory definition of “weapon”); Arroyo v. State, 564 So. 2d 1153, 1154 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990) (reversing a defendant’s conviction for attempted armed burglary and holding that a pocketknife is not a “dangerous weapon” with regard to attempted armed burglary unless it was used in a manner likely to cause death or gre…
    1 / 2
  • Martin v. State, 747 So. 2d 474 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999)
    …re. A pocketknife can qualify as a deadly weapon. The case is not controlled by L.B. See Durden v. State, 743 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999); Mims v. State, 662 So. 2d 962 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995), review denied, 673 So. 2d 29 (Fla.1996); Arroyo v. State, 564 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990). AFFIRMED. W. SHARP, and THOMPSON, JJ., concur. . Also, it is not adequately established in the record that the knife used by appellant was a ‘'common pocketknife.” See Walls v. State, 730 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999).…

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