Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Lindy CRADDOCK
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1975-01-20
Citations: 307 So. 2d 342
Docket Number: No. 55313
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Lindy CRADDOCK.
Judges: BARHAM, J., dissents with reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 307
Pages: 342–344

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Lindy CRADDOCK.
No. 55313.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Jan. 20, 1975.
Rehearing Denied Feb. 21, 1975.
Lyall G. Shiell, Jr., John M. Lawrence, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Woodrow W. Erwin, Dist. Atty., Julian J. Rodrique, Asst. Dist. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Opinion:
CALOGERO, Judge.
The defendant was charged by Bill of Information with the violation of R.S. 40:966(A), distribution of marijuana. He was found guilty as charged after a trial by jury and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment. He has appealed his conviction and sentence, relying upon an alleged error discoverable by a mere inspection of the pleadings and proceedings and without inspection of the evidence as no Bills of Exceptions were perfected nor, as is directed by the 1974 amendment to Article 920, any Assignment of Errors designated. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 920.
Defendant submits that a sheet bearing three responsive verdicts, (as well as twelve juror signatures and the handwritten verdict notation "guilty as charged") indicates that four additional responsive verdicts were not charged to the jury and that this failure to charge the additional responsive verdicts is error discoverable under Article 920(2). It has been settled that if the error complained of is discoverable under Article 920(2), the failure to object does not operate as a waiver of that error. State v. Raby, 259 La. 909, 2S3 So.2d 370 (1971), City of Baton Rouge v. Van Valkenburg, 259 La. 23, 249 So.2d 189 (1971), State v. Carter, 226 La. 281, 76 So.2d 6 (1954).
Some illustrative examples of the record for error discoverable purposes are the caption, a statement of time and place of holding the court, the indictment or information with the endorsement, the arraignment, the plea, mention of the impaneling of the jury, verdict and judgment of the court, State v. Sanford, 248 La. 630, 181 So.2d 50 (1965); the bill of particulars filed in connection with a short form indictment or information, State v. Picou, 236 La. 421, 107 So.2d 691 (1959); in capital cases the minutes must reflect that the jury has been sequestered as required by La.C.Cr.P. Art. 791, State v. Luquette, 275 So.2d 396 (La.1973), State v. Hunter, 306 So.2d 710 (La.1975).
The verdict is normally placed, as required by statute, on the reverse of the list of responsive verdicts given the jury. La. C.Cr.P. Arts. 809, 810. However, mere presence in the record transmitted to this Court is not sufficient, by itself, to allow this Court to review for error under Article 920(2). State v. Sanford, supra; State v. Wilson, 247 La. 405, 171 So.2d 664 (1965); State v. Bickham, 236 La. 244, 107 So.2d 458 (1958); and State v. Daleo, 179 La. 516, 154 So. 437 (1934).
Absent an objection, the defendant may not on appeal complain of the judge's charge to the jury, even though the charge may happen to appear in the record. State v. Chaney, 273 So.2d 259 (La.1973); State v. Bueche, 243 La. 160, 142 So.2d 381 (1962); State v. Bickham, supra; State v. Stracner, 190 La. 457, 182 So. 571 (1938); State v. Daleo, supra; State v. Marqueze, 45 La.Ann. 41, 12 So. 128 (1893); and comment e to La.C.Cr.P. Art. 841.
State v. Daleo explained "it is not considered proper that the defendant should be permitted to sit idly by while the judge is making an erroneous charge to the jury, take his chances upon the verdict, and, if against him, then by assignment of error or motion in arrest take advantage of it." 179 La. at 527, 154 So. at 441.
We hold that alleged error concerning the sufficiency of the list of responsive verdicts given the jury, like error in the judge's charge to the jury, is not reviewable under Art. 920(2) and may not be considered unless objection is made in the trial court in time for the trial judge to correct the error.
We have reviewed the record for error discoverable by a mere inspection of the pleadings and proceedings and find none. Therefore it is ordered that defendant's conviction and sentence be affirmed.
BARHAM, J., dissents with reasons.
MARCUS, J., dissents.
. 1) Guilty as charged ; 2) guilty of attempted distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, to wit, marijuana; and 3) not guilty.
. 1) Possession with intent to distribute; 2) attempted possession with intent to distribute ; 3) possession and; 4) attempted possession.