State v. Bland

Toal, Justice:

We granted certiorari to review the opinion of the Court of Appeals in State v. Bland, Op. No. 93-UP-347 (Ct. App. filed December 29,1993). We affirm.

FACTS

Calvin Arno Bland approached a woman walking to her car in a grocery store parking lot." He grabbed her purse and pulled it twice. As she turned toward him the purse fell from her shoulder and came over her arm and hand. Bland then flung the woman to the ground and fled with the purse.

Thereafter, Bland was tried for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and robbery. At trial, the trial judge denied Bland’s…