People v. Anderson

Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

We hold here that the intent element of robbery does not include an intent to apply force against the victim or to cause the victim to feel fear. It is robbery if the defendant committed a forcible act against the *992victim motivated by the intent to steal, even if the defendant did not also intend for the victim to experience force or fear. We also hold a trial court has no obligation to provide a sua sponte instruction on accident where, as here, the defendant’s theory of accident is an attempt to negate the intent element of the charged crime.

BACKGROUND

Defendant Paul D.…