State v. Hong

This is an appeal by the defendant who was convicted of the offense of theft in the third degree. He was charged specifically with obtaining or exercising unauthorized control over property of another, to wit, automobile license plates, with intent to deprive the owner of the property, HRS § 708-830(1).

At trial, the owner testified that on April 12, 1976, he noticed that his license plates, numbered 2B-6011, were missing from his car, although he had not given anyone permission to take or use them. The arresting officer testified that on May 13, 1976, he observed the defendant driving a…