People v. Smith

Following a trial without a jury, defendant Henry Smith was found guilty of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The court sentenced defendant to a prison term of five years. On appeal, defendant contends that the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt because it did not prove that defendant was ever actually in the stolen car or that the car defendant was in was owned by the complaining witness.

At trial, Lucille Morgan testified that on November 28, 1987, she owned a 1980 Buick, VIN number 4M47WAH151913. At 8:30 p.m., she gave her son the keys to the car and permission…