Case ID: sw_195/html/0865-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MORROW, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ex parte MEDRANO.
    (No. 4484.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    May 30, 1917.)
    Infants <@=>16 — Juvenile Delinquent — Complaint and Information — Statute.
    Under Code Cr. Proe. 1911, art. 1195, directing that the trial of a juvenile delinquent shall be begun by complaint and information, where the indictment for burglary against a Í7 year old youth was dismissed, and no complaint and information was filed against him charging him with being a delinquent child, judgment so declaring him was void.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Infants, Cent. Dig. § 16.]
    Application on behalf of Siverio Medrano for writ of habeas corpus.
    Writ granted, and relator discharged from custody.
    W. F. Hendrix, of El Paso, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   MORROW, J.

This is an application to this court for a writ of habeas corpus.. Cta a previous day the court ordered the application filed and the cause set down for hearing to determine whether the court would issue the writ and what disposition it would make thereof. It was duly submitted on the day set for its hearing.

Appellant was indicted for burglary. He was shown to be under 17 years of age upon an investigation of an affidavit filed to that effect and the indictment dismissed. No information or complaint was filed against him thereafter, but by virtue of the same indictment he was in the juvenile court adjudged a delinquent child and his punishment assessed at confinement for not less than 2 years in the State School for the Training of Juveniles, at Gatesville, Tex. The matter is discussed in more detail in Ex parte Ramseur, 195 S. W. 864, this day decided. Article 1195, C. C. P., expressly directs that the trial of a juvenile delinquent shall be begun by complaint and information. The indictment having been dismissed, and there having been tiled no complaint and information, the judgment declaring the party a delinquent child would be void because of the statute mentioned and because of the fundamental law. Article 1, § 10, of the Constitution.

It is therefore ordered that the writ be granted, and that relator be discharged from custody and be no longer restrained by reason of this proceeding. This order does not preclude holding him on any proper complaint that may be filed.