Brief Fact Summary. In two separate prosecutions, Smith and Clark were charged with forgery. In each case, the charges were based on allegations that the defendants attempted to cash a stolen check and, after the bank didn’t comply, each left the bank. In each case, the magistrate found cause and bound the defendants for trial. The district court quashed the bindovers stating that the state failed to meet its evidentiary burden, and the state brought appeal.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. If a prosecutor can show a reasonable belief that a defendant committed a crime, that is sufficient for cause to bind a defendant for trial.
We will uphold the trial court's decision if, upon reviewing the evidence and all inferences that can be reasonably drawn from it, we conclude that some evidence exists from which a reasonable jury could find that the elements of the crime had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
View Full Point of LawIn State v. Clark, almost the same fact pattern occurred. The victim realized her checks were missing, she informed the bank and had a hold placed on her account. Clark attempted to cash one of the checks, and left the bank when he realized that the bank suspected him. Clark was then arrested, bound by a magistrate, and raised the same issue to quash the bindover and dismiss the charges against him.
Issue. Whether the district court judges erred in quashing the magistrates’ findings that probable cause to bind Smith and Clark existed.
Held. Reversed. In its holding, the Court found that holding a magistrate to a higher probable cause standard, such as that needed for directed verdict, was too much. Instead, in the standard for probable cause at both the arrest warrant and preliminary hearing stages should imbue the prosecution with the burden of presenting sufficient evidence to support a reasonable belief that an offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it.
Discussion. This case stands for the notion that a magistrate should not be held to a “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard in determination of bindover decisions, but rather a “reasonable belief” standard is sufficient to hold a defendant for trial.