State vs. Gordon Scott Katz

The appellant, Gordon Scott Katz, was found guilty by a jury in the Criminal Court of Anderson County of one count of auto burglary, a class E felony, and one count of theft under $500, a class A misdemeanor. Subsequently, the trial judge granted the appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal. The State appealed. This court reversed the trial court's judgment of acquittal and remanded for further proceedings. The appellant then moved for a new trial. The trial court denied the appellant's motion for new trial, stating that the opinion of this court mandated a reinstatement of the jury's verdict. The appellant appeals and presents the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in ruling that the previous order of the Court of Criminal Appeals required denial of the motion for new trial; (2) whether the indictment in this case is fatally defective such as to require dismissal of this charge; (3) whether the evidence of intent to commit a felony is insufficient to support the conviction; and, (4) whether the evidence of intent to deprive the owner is insufficient to support the conviction. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.