R. Apparent Authority

• Library: The Criminal Law of South Carolina (SCBar) (2014 Ed.)

R. Apparent Authority

An interesting case involved the appeal of convictions for kidnapping, armed robbery, grand larceny, and failure to stop for a blue light by a man who claimed he was acting on behalf of the CIA. State v. Blurton, 342 S.C. 500, 537 S.E.2d 291 (Ct. App. 2000). There was no offer of proof that the defendant was actually working for the CIA when he robbed a WalMart store, but the convictions were reversed because of the trial court's refusal to admit evidence which, if credited, would indicate that he believed that he was. The offered evidence suggested that a particular assistant manager at the store had convinced the defendant that the assistant manager was a CIA operative and was recruiting the defendant to infiltrate a local drug ring. The purpose of the robbery, the proceeds of which supposedly were to be returned, was to give the defendant credibility with the drug ring members. The defense theory of the case was that he lacked...