Case Name: Herbert Clifton SHEELEY, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1975-10-08
Citations: 530 S.W.2d 108
Docket Number: No. 50682
Parties: Herbert Clifton SHEELEY, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
Judges: DOUGLAS, J., not participating.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 530
Pages: 108–109

Head Matter:
Herbert Clifton SHEELEY, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 50682.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 8, 1975.
On Rehearing Nov. 26, 1975.
Rehearing Denied Dec. 17, 1975.
Robert G. Dohoney, Hillsboro, for appellant.
Frank B. McGregor, Dist. Atty., Hills-boro, Jim D. Vollers, State’s Atty., and David S. McAngus, Asst. State’s Atty., Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
OPINION
ROBERTS, Judge.
Appellant was convicted by a jury of the offense of aggravated robbery. The punishment, which was enhanced pursuant to Sec. 12.42(c), Y.T.C.A. Penal Code, was assessed by the jury at ninety-nine (99) years. This appeal followed.
Appellant contends that the indictment is fatally defective because it does not conclude with the phrase "Against the peace and dignity of the State." An examination of the indictment reveals that appellant is correct, the concluding phrase being absent.
Art. 5, See. 12, Vernon's Ann.Texas Constitution, provides in part:
"All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by authority of the State of Texas, and shall conclude: 'Against the peace and dignity of the State.' "
Art. 21.02, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P., provides that an indictment must conclude with the phrase "Against the peace and dignity of the State." Under an unbroken line of authorities it has long been held that the omission of this concluding phrase in an indictment renders the same fatally defective. See Reese v. State, 139 Tex.Cr.R. 593, 141 S.W.2d 949 (1940); Herring v. State, 160 Tex.Cr.R. 597, 273 S.W.2d 421 (1954); American Plant Food Corporation v. State, 508 S.W.2d 598 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). See also the other authorities listed under Art. 5, Sec. 12, Note 4, Vernon's Ann. Texas Constitution, and Art. 21.02, Note 59, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P.
The indictment being fundamentally defective, the judgment is reversed and the prosecution ordered dismissed.