Council v. State

BASKIN, Judge.

Defendant Joseph Council was convicted of grand theft second degree based upon his presentation of a $175 check to a package store employee for cashing. The trial court withheld adjudication and placed him on probation for one year. We reverse.

Section 812.014, Florida Statutes (1981) requires proof of intent to deprive another person of a right to or benefit from the property involved. The state presented no evidence of Council’s intent to commit theft, State v. Allen, 362 So.2d 10 (Fla. 1978), and failed to establish that Council knew the cheek he had received in payment for…