State v. Brown

—Stanley Eric Christiansen appeals his conviction for criminal conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree. Because we find that the jury was improperly instructed, we reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.

On September 26, 1983, a 10-count information was filed against 12 defendants, alleging the crimes of theft, assault, and conspiracy to commit theft. An affidavit filed in support of the information alleged that the 12 defendants were involved in "rip and tease" operations in which the objec tive was to obtain victims' money by giving deliberately false impressions that the…