Case Title: State of West Virginia v. Leonard  (dissenting)

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: west-virginia

Court: West Virginia Supreme Court

Date: 2002-12-12T00:00:00Z

Document:
FILED December 12, 2000 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA RELEASED December 13, 2000 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA No. 27909 - State of West Virginia v. Garland Leonard Maynard, Chief Justice, dissenting: I dissent because I agree with the circuit court that there had been a continuance of prosecution from the magistrate court to the circuit court so that the revoked license (DUI), first offense charge was not time-barred. The appellant’s prosecution in magistrate court clearly commenced within one year after the misdemeanor offense was committed, in compliance with W.Va. Code § 61-11-9. Therefore, the State fulfilled its obligation to prosecute the appellant in a timely manner. The appellant, on the other hand, delayed his prosecution by moving to transfer the charge against him to circuit court. In finding that the appellant’s prosecution is time-barred, the majority effectively punishes the state for its good faith efforts to bring a timely prosecution and rewards the appellant for conduct which caused the delay of which he now complains. I fear that the majority’s decision puts yet another tool into the hands of criminal defendants with which to manipulate crowded court dockets to their own advantage. Accordingly, I dissent.