Ford v. State
Court of Appeals of Maryland
625 A.2d 984 (1993)
- Written by Craig Conway, LLM
Facts
Maurice Edward Ford (defendant) and three other youths stood on a highway overpass and threw large rocks at traveling vehicles, causing significant property damage and a number of serious injuries to the drivers and passengers of the vehicles. In a 90-count indictment, Ford was charged with eight counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of assault with intent to maim, 28 counts of assault with intent to disable, 29 counts of assault and battery, and 24 counts of malicious destruction of property. At trial, the judge instructed the jury, among other things, that if the jury found that Ford had assaulted the drivers with the intent to disable, this intent could be transferred to the vehicles' passengers. Ford did not object to this instruction. A jury convicted Ford on 52 counts and sentenced him to 39 years in prison. Ford appealed. The court of special appeals reversed Ford’s conviction on two of the property-destruction counts and affirmed the remainder. In its decision, the appellate court concluded that the doctrine of transferred intent was inapplicable to the crimes with which Ford was charged. The Maryland Court of Appeals granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Chasanow, J.)
Concurrence (McAuliffe, J.)
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