Harris v. State

Timothy Harris (defendant) had been drinking and using marijuana with friends. When his ride, Jack Tipton, refused to drive him to Washington, D.C., Harris forcibly pulled Tipton from the car and drove off; Tipton reported the car stolen. Harris was charged with carjacking, unlawful taking, and assault. At trial he requested a voluntary-intoxication jury instruction, arguing he was too impaired to form the specific intent required for carjacking. The trial court refused, instructing the jury that only unlawful taking required specific intent. The jury convicted Harris of carjacking and assault but acquitted him of unlawful taking.