Williams v. State (1972)

In Williams v. State (Ark. 1972) 251 Ark. 878, 475 S.W.2d 530, the question was whether there was sufficient evidence to support the defendant's larceny conviction. There, the defendant engaged in a "scuffle" with a police officer and gained possession of the officer's gun, then drove away with the gun. (Id. at p. 530.) The court explained that "the crux of this case is the intent of appellant when he took the gun, placed it in his truck, and drove away with it in his possession. If he intended to take it to the police station then he would not be guilty of larceny. On the other hand, if he intended to keep the weapon or dispose of it by sale or otherwise, he would be guilty of larceny." (Id. at p. 531.) At trial, the defendant had claimed that he intended to turn the gun in to the police, but the trial court had "rejected the self-serving declaration" and concluded that the defendant "thought he could disappear from sight and keep the pistol . . . ." (Ibid.) On appeal, the court found substantial evidence to support the trial court's findings.