Tarpley v. Commonwealth

The sole issue in this appeal of a grand larceny conviction is whether the Commonwealth proved beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant’s criminal intent.

Troy Dyon Tarpley was indicted for grand larceny in violation of Code § 18.2-95. He was accused of stealing an automobile, which was the property of William J. Bruce, III. Tarpley was convicted of the offense in a bench trial in the Circuit Court of the City of Martinsville and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with one year suspended.

Tarpley appealed from his conviction to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the trial court’s…