Becker v. State The Great Easter Robbery About 2:30 in the afternoon on Easter S

Question

Becker v. State

The Great Easter Robbery

About 2:30 in the afternoon on Easter Sunday 2016, Betty Jones was in the parking lot of a Kroger store, loading groceries into the rear of her car, when she was accosted by a woman later identified as Jamie Garrett. Garrett grabbed Jones's arm, took her purse, shoved her against the car, and ran off. Jones called out for help, and several people ran after Garrett; as they got close, a late model SUV drove up, and the man driving (later determined to be driven by Johnny Becker) opened the door. As Garrett got in, Paul Castillo (a bystander who responded to Jones call for help) grabbed onto the back of the SUV, and hung on for several seconds in a futile attempt to stop the SUV. He let go as the vehicle sped off. Two of the bystanders went after the SUV in their own car, and retrieved Ms. Jones' purse after the occupants of the SUV threw it out the window; those two people also took down the SUV's license plate number, but left without giving their names, saying that they "did not want to become involved." A later check showed the plate number they gave to have last been assigned to a 2014 GMC SUV.

An hour or two later, Garrett returned to the Kroger store, accompanied by Becker, in a different vehicle. One of those who had chased Garrett earlier, Willie Johnson, the store security guard, recognized Becker and Garrett, and called the police. Johnson also alerted the store manager, who then followed Garrett and Becker while they were inside. The pair was detained as they were emerging from the store, and both Jones and Castillo were called to come back; they both identified Garrett as the person who had shoved Jones and stolen her purse. Castillo further identified Becker as the driver of the SUV. Garrett was arrested; Becker was released, but arrested later.

Question: Assume that this offense occurred in the State of Texas:

1) What offense can Becker be charged with?

2) How successful would the State be in their prosecution?

3) Identify the portions of the Texas Penal Code pertinent to this issue.

Explain your answers fully.

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

1. Becker can be charged with the offence of Culpability Generally for doing an act of helping a criminal knowingly, intentionaly, recklessly and with criminal negligence.

2. State can be very mush successful in their prosecution as Castilo has very well identified Becker as the driver of teh SUV in which Garret Flew after the crime.

3. The relevant protion of theTexas Penal Code pertinent to this issue is PENAL CODE;TITLE 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY;CHAPTER 6. CULPABILITY GENERALLY.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse B
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.