Brown v. State

Ruffin, Judge.

Terry Lee Brown appeals from his conviction for shoplifting. For reasons which follow, we reverse.

The record shows that Brown and his co-defendant Alphonso Johnson entered an auto parts store in Garden City, Georgia. A store employee who observed the two men from behind a shop display testified that she saw Johnson place several tools inside his clothing. She also saw Brown standing around Johnson, shielding him and his movements from other customers. According to the employee, Brown “was kind of watching the customers as they were coming in and he would block Mr. Johnson’s view…