Insufficient Proof of Ownership of a Burglarized Property

In Covington v. State, 359 So. 2d 563 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978), the defendant was convicted of a burglary at the Middle Six School in Indian River County. At trial, the vice-principal testified that the school was "run" by the Board of Public Instruction of Indian River County. On appeal, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed Covington's conviction, finding the proof of ownership of the burglarized property insufficient because "the state failed to produce any evidence of the actual ownership of the school property." Id. at 563.