Martin v. State

Banke, Judge.

The defendant was convicted of motor vehicle theft. He appeals the denial of his motion for new trial on the general grounds.

The defendant was arrested for speeding by a state trooper. The charge of vehicle theft arose when he commandeered the trooper’s patrol car while on route to the sheriffs station. Defendant, who was seated in the back seat of the patrol car, reached over the front seat and grabbed a 45-automatic pistol which was lying in the middle of the front seat. The trooper had taken possession of the pistol after finding it in the glove compartment of defendant’s…