On November 11, 2011, the window of Jamie Williams’s house was allegedly broken by someone who then entered through the broken window and removed several items, including a laptop computer. One day after the incident, Williams filed a report, naming Sammie Smith as the perpetrator.
At the trial, Williams testified that he saw Smith running away from his house on the night of the burglary. Williams’ neighbor, Dacorious Clark, also testified, stating that on November 11, Smith showed up at his house with a laptop computer tucked into his pants. Smith allegedly tried to sell the computer to Clark. Clark declined the offer but was asked to keep the device anyway. After opening the computer and looking at the login screen, Clark realized that the laptop belonged to Williams, and returned it to him one week after the night of the incident.
Smith was the only witness for the defense and testified that he was at a football game on the night of the burglary. According to Smith, he met his cousin and exchanged a bag of marijuana for the computer and then traded the computer with Clark for $60 worth of cocaine.
Required:
1. Based on the testimony presented at the trial, what crime do you believe Smith was convicted of?
2. On appeal, do you believe the appellate court found that there was sufficient evidence to convict Smith?
[Sammie Smith v. State of Mississippi, 150 So. 3d 122 (2014).]