People v. Brown

Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Hancock County, defendant was convicted of attempt theft under $150. He was sentenced to a two-year term of probation, with 30 days in jail, and fined $1,000. On appeal, defendant contends his conviction must be reversed because the State failed to prove he did an act constituting a substantial step toward the commission of the theft. We agree and reverse.

Taken in a light most favorable to the State, the evidence indicated that in the late evening hours of July 7, 1977, defendant, Leland Williamson and Randy Gossage left Williamson’s home in…