George Lee Mims, Sr. was convicted of attempting to rob a bank along with accomplices. They procured weapons and disguises and made two trips to the bank when it was closed. On the second trip, one accomplice placed a gun to a bank employee's head but they left without entering. The Supreme Court reversed Mims' conviction, finding not enough evidence that their conduct went beyond mere preparation to the actual attempted commission of the robbery. The jury was not properly instructed on what constitutes an attempted robbery.

1. HaroldSowardsII
CJ 322, Tu/Th 9:30
10/5/15
George Lee Mims, Sr. v. US
375 F.2d 135 (5th
Cir. 1967)
1. Facts
 George Lee Mims,Sr. beginsworkingatMadeiraBeach Bank priorto June
 June implicatesWillie Joe Henderson,George Lee Mims,Jr.,DennisO’Connorand
StephenO’Connor
 Procuresgunsand ammo,attemptto use coveralls,sailorhatsandface masksas
disguises
 Trip 1: July7th
, bankclosed
 July10, rentedacar fromKingCar RentalsService,putsstolenout-of-statesplatesonit,
rentsapt withprivate garage where theycanleave the rental car afterthe heist
 Willie bringshiscousinThomasNapperinonthe plan
 Trip 2: July11th
, getto the bankand itis closed
 Place gunon Mrs. Barkiewiczheadandthreatenherbefore theyleave
 There wasno intentiontoforce entry
 Prosecutedforanattemptto enterMadeiraBeach Bankwithintenttorob by force and
intimidation
 US DistrictCourt for Middle Districtof Floridaenterjudgment of conviction
 Mims appeals
 Supreme Courtreversedandsentdownfora retrial
2. Issue
Didthe conductof the participantsgobeyondthe intentandpreparationstage andreachedthe
pointwhere anovertact hadbeencommitteddirectlytendingtoeffectthe commissionof the
substantive offense?
3. Holdings
Notenoughevidence onthistopic,reversed
4. Reasoning
The jury wasn’tinstructedonwhetherthere wasanattempttorob the bank and the appellant’s
counsel failstoobjecttothisissue.The appellantwasentitledtothe question(See ISSUE) Court
requiredmore informationinordertofinda standardfor where preparationsendandattempt
begins.Theyquote the Buffum/Gregg/Coploncase.The alsouse “all proximitymustbe
determinedbyowncircumstancesandanalogytoimperfecttogive help”fromthe Kennedy
case.