G.H. v. State

G.H. appeals from an adjudication of delinquency for criminal mischief. For the following reasons, we reverse.

Witnesses observed G.H. running around a parked van and then running from the parking lot. The van had been deeply scratched; no witness had seen G.H. inflict the damage. There was testimony that G.H. and the family who owned the van had “bad blood” between them.

“Where the only proof of guilt is circumstantial, no matter how strongly the evidence may suggest guilt a conviction may not be sustained unless the evidence is inconsistent with any hypothesis of innocence.” McArthur v.…