Amanda was at home and turned on the TV to watch the eleven o'clock news. She heard someone on her porch. Thinking it was her fiancé, she opened the front door. On her porch was a strange man who demanded she let him in the house. When she refused, he pulled out a gun. Amanda, fearful of her life, let him in. Once inside, he searched the house for valuables, took her engagement ring and cash from a drawer. He then left the house
1. Has this man committed common law burglary?
2. What result if the incident took place at 3:00 p.m. not 11:00 p.m.?
Curtis was drunk when he decided to drive from the bar to his home outside of town. On his way out of town, Curtis flung his lit cigarette butt out the window of his vehicle. The cigarette caused a huge forest fire that destroyed many homes. The fire was finally put out by a heavy storm three days later.
3. Can Curtis be convicted of arson?
Nicolena hated her next-door neighbor. Plotting to burn down the neighbor's house (so that he would move away), Nicolena planted an explosive device on the wall of the neighbor's home. The plan was that device would explode, and the house would then catch fire and burn down. The device was set off and it did explode. It caused extensive damage, but it did not actually cause anything to catch fire.
4. Can Nicolena be found guilty of arson?
5. Is there any other crime for which she could be prosecuted?