1. HaroldSowards
CJ 322, Tu/Th 9:30
9/14/15
Harris v. State
728 A.2d 180 (Md. App. 1999)
1. Facts
TimothyHarrisand some friendsgetdrunkat Jack Tiplon’shouse
Jack Tiplongetsremovedforciblyfromhiscarby Harris and reportsitstolen
TimothyHarris is indictedbyGrandJury forPrince George’sCountywithcrimesof
carjackingviolatingArticle27,Statute 348A, unlawful takingof MTV violatingArticle27,
Statute 342A, anda 2nd
degree assaultviolatingArticle 27,Statute 12A
ConvictedinCircuitCourt,Prince George’sCo.of carjacking
Defendantappealsusingthe defense thathe hadvoluntaryintoxicationwithhisuse of
alcohol andmarijuanathat dayhe blackedout
Court of Appealsheldthatthe carjackingisn’taspecificintentcrime andaffirms the trial
court’sconviction
Defendanthaspay
2. Issue
Is the intentelementof carjackingsatisfiedbyproof thatthe defendantpossessedthe general
criminal intenttocommitthe act?
Didthe legislature intendtorequire aspecificintenttoachieve some additionalconsequence
beyondthe immediateactof takingthe vehicle?
3. Holding
Yes,affirmed
No
4. Reasoning
The court said that there wasn’ttoomuchof a distinctionbetweengeneral/specificintent
crimesdefinitionsinregardtothe lawsof Maryland.Theyalso usedcommonsense tosaythat a
burglardidn’tneedtohave a specificintentinordertocommittheircrimes,sothe defendant
doesn’tneedtohave a specificintenteither.