Case ID: sw_236/html/0725-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MORROW, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ROBERTS v. STATE.
    (No. 6468.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Jan. 11, 1922.)
    Criminal law <@=>982— Suspended sentence statute applicable to liquor prosecution.
    The suspended sentence statute is applicable to prosecutions for unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors.
    Appeal from District Court, Sabine County; Y. H. Stark, Judge.
    Willie Roberts, Jr., was convicted of unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors, and lie appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    Minton & Lewis, of Hemphill, for appellant.
    R. G. Storey, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   MORROW, P. J.

The conviction is for the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors; punishment fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a period of one year.

The offense was charged to have been committed in September, 1920. The appellant, following the procedure prescribed by statute, sought to have the jury determine, in the event of conviction, whether his sentence should be suspended. Evidence was introduced in support of the plea, and it was shown without controversy that appellant had not previously been convicted of a felony in this or any other state. The court, entertaining the view that the suspended sentence statute did not operate upon this character of eases, refused to submit that issue. This is complained of in due time and orderly way, and is properly brought here for review.

The application of the suspended sentence law to this class of eases was considered in the case of Carr v. State, 89 Tex. Cr. R. 245, 230 S. W. 405, and some subsequent eases, and the conclusion reached is that the issue should be submitted. The state, through the Assistant Attorney General, concedes in the instant case that the trial court fell into error, which requires a reversal of the judgment. In this view we concur.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.