United States v. Wilson

636 F.2d 225 (8th Cir. 1980).

Facts

Wilson (D) was an employee in a department of the United States Department of Health Education and Welfare, which was abolished. D had no work to do for several months but still remained on the payroll during the reorganization. D asked his secretary to type some reports for his private business enterprise. She agreed and did the work without avoiding any work she should have done for the government. D was convicted of converting government property in using secretarial services for personal use. The district court held that D had no specific intent to convert government property and granted his motion for acquittal. The United States appealed.