State v. Goodrum

The factual setting of this case presents us with the legal question of when a bump, shove, or push becomes force sufficient to constitute robbery, as opposed to the lesser-included offense of theft. We affirm the defendant’s conviction of robbery.

Thirteen-year-old Mark Crueger was on his paper route in Nashua. In order to check his customer list, Mark placed his money bag on top of his bag of papers. At this time, he saw two men walking along the sidewalk. One of the men was the defendant, Horace *78M. Goodrum, III. Mark then looked down “and suddenly realized I was being knocked off” the curb…