protectingthe femaleof the speciesfrom extermination; while we have held above that Article887, P. C., is a regulatoryAct. 'We, therefore, hold,In answerto question2, that Art. 9783, P. C. (Acts 1933, 43rd Leg., Spec. L., p. 36, ch. a) is not anoffense of like natureas eitherArt. 877, P. C., or Art. 887, P. C., and a convictionunder any of these three offensesmay not be used to enhancethe penaltyunder Article61, P. C., upon a subsequenttrial for:* violationof any of the other three cited Articles.
Articles60a, 6Oa-l and &a-2.of the Code of CriminalProce- dure (H. B. 342, Acts 48th Leg., pp. 424 - 425);'attempts to place a restrictionon which JusticeCourt may take jurisdictionof a misde- meanor case by reason of where the allegedoffensewas'committedor where the defendantlives. In AttorneyGeneral'sOpinionsNo. O-6940 ,(1945)and No. v-496 (1948),it has been held that these statutesare unconstitutional, and that a misdemeanorcomplaintmay be filed in any precinctwithin the countywhere the offensewas committed,without regardto the precinctin which such offensewas committed:.Inanswer to question3, we hold that these two opinions,and the authorities citedtherein,are applicableto all misdemeanors(includinggame law misdemeanors) over which the JusticeCourt, by reason of,themaximum punishmentallowedby law, baa originaljurisdiction.
1. Article877, P.C., prohibitingthe . huntingof turkey hens, and Article887, P. C., prohibitinghundingatnight, are . .
HonorableE&6 Cisneros,Page 5, (W-537)
not offensesof like character.60that a convictionof eitherof them may be tised. upon a subsequenttrial fog &violation of the other Articleto enhancethe peualtyuntlerArticle61,,~. C..
2. The provisionsof Articleg78j of the P.C., a speciallaw prohibitingthe use or possessionof nets and seines in the tidal waters 0f'WillacyCountywest of Padre Is- laud, is not au offenseof like nature as eitherArticle877, P.C., or Article887, P.C., and a convictionunder &ny of these three offensesmaynot be used to e&axe the penaltyunder Article 61, P.C.; upon 6 .:I, ,' subsequenttrial for a violationof any of the other three cited &rticles.
3. A complaintCharginga misdemeahor. over which a.Ju6ticeCourt has jUriSdiCt- ion, may be filed in 6ny JusticeCourt within the County in which the tillegefi of- fen66 OCCUrred.
Yours very truly,
wILLwIJJ3oN AttoraeJr,Oeueral~of Texas
-RI&y Bug6&Flet&er Aaaistant.. REF:aw
APPROVED:
0PIIp1GNc!cWUlTEx:~'
GeorgeP. Blackburrr, Chdrm6n
HoughtonBrownlee,Jr. J.ArthurSan~in , Fred Werkenthlu
RRVIEUED BY: W. V: Geppert '. .' :