Case Name: The STATE, Respondent v. Bruce Eugene RIDDLE, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1990-01-02
Citations: 300 S.C. 268
Docket Number: 23127
Parties: The STATE, Respondent v. Bruce Eugene RIDDLE, Appellant.
Judges: Gregory, C. J., and Harwell, Finney and Toal, JJ., concur.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 300
Pages: 268–269

Head Matter:
23127
The STATE, Respondent v. Bruce Eugene RIDDLE, Appellant.
(387 S. E. (2d) 455)
Supreme Court
Asst. Appellate Defenders Stephen P. Williams and Joseph L. Savitz, III of S. C. Office of Appellate Defense, Columbia,, for appellant
Atty. Gen. T. Travis Medlock, Asst. Attys. Gen. Harold M. Coombs, Jr., and Norman Mark Rapoport, Columbia; and Sol. William L. Ferguson, York, for respondent.
Heard Oct. 30, 1989.
Decided Jan. 2, 1990.

Opinion:
Chandler, Justice:
Appellant, Bruce Eugene Riddle (Riddle), contends the Circuit Court erred in permitting an amendment to his indictment during the course of trial. We agree and reverse.
Riddle was indicted for assault with intent to commit third-degree criminal sexual conduct. At the close of evidence, the indictment was amended to charge assault with intent to commit first degree criminal sexual conduct. The sole issue we address is whether the amendment was proper.
S. C. Code Ann. § 17-19-100 (1976) permits amendment of an indictment provided the nature of the offense charged is not changed. Here, the amendment increases the lesser charge of assault with intent to commit third degree criminal sexual conduct to the greater charge of assault with intent to commit first degree criminal sexual conduct. Punishment for third degree may not exceed ten years, while first degree is punishable by up to thirty years.
The amendment clearly exceeded the terms of the statute.
Appellant's second issue is affirmed pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23; State v. Lyle, 125 S. C. 406, 118 S. E. 803 (1923).
Reversed and remanded.
Gregory, C. J., and Harwell, Finney and Toal, JJ., concur.