United States v. William

Daniel William (defendant) admitted taking a letter shortly after its sender mailed it, claiming he planned to return it to the mailbox before pickup. He was charged with mail theft, and the trial judge instructed the jury it could infer William stole the letter if it found the letter was properly addressed, recently mailed, never received, and found in his possession, over William's objection that this instruction ignored the intent element. The jury convicted, and William appealed.