Task: songer_indict

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. The issue is: "Did the court rule that the indictment was defective?" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed". If the court answered the question in the affirmative, but the error articulated by the court was judged to be harmless, answer "Yes, but error was harmless". 

PER CURIAM.
This appeal is considered pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 3(e).
Carl Ray Burrows appeals from the dismissal of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. He was indicted for the crimes of aggravated burglary and theft in violation of §§ 2911.11 and 2913.02, Ohio Revised Code. While represented by counsel, he withdrew his initial plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to the charge of theft, whereupon the aggravated burglary charge was dismissed. The petition of Burrows for a writ of habeas corpus was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Ohio on February 20, 1976.
The claimed constitutional deprivation was that the indictment against Burrows did not comply with Ohio Const. art. IV, § 20, in that it failed to conclude with the words “[A]gainst the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio."
In dismissing the petition, District Judge Joseph P. Kinneary correctly held that allegations of technical defects in the indictment fail to state a claim for federal habeas corpus relief. Knewel v. Egan, 268 U.S. 442, 446, 45 S.Ct. 522, 69 L.Ed. 1036 (1925); Kimbro v. Bomar, 333 F.2d 755, 757 (6th Cir. 1964).
Judge Kinneary further held that a guilty plea represents a break in the chain of events which preceded it in the criminal process. This precludes Burrows from raising independent claims relating to the deprivation of constitutional rights which occurred prior to the entry of the guilty plea. Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 93 S.Ct. 1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973); Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 90 S.Ct. 1463, 25 L.Ed.2d 747 (1970); McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 90 S.Ct. 1441, 25 L.Ed.2d 763 (1970); Parker v. North Carolina, 397 U.S. 790, 90 S.Ct. 1458, 25 L.Ed.2d 785 (1970).
Finally, Burrows asserts that he has been deprived of effective assistance of counsel. This contention has never been litigated in the State courts and Burrows has not exhausted his State remedies as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). A post conviction remedy is available to him in the State courts under § 2953.21, Ohio Rev. Code, despite the fact that his conviction was upon a guilty plea. Steed v. Salisbury, 459 F.2d 475 (6th Cir. 1972); State v. Hester, 45 Ohio St.2d 71, 341 N.E.2d 304 (1976); State v. Mishelek, 42 Ohio St.2d 140, 326 N.E.2d 659 (1975); State v. Milanovich, 42 Ohio St.2d 46, 325 N.E.2d 540 (1975).
It is manifest that the questions on which the decision of this cause depends are so unsubstantial as not to need further argument. Sixth Circuit Rule 8.
Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court dismissing the petition is affirmed.
. (e) Docket Control. In the interest of docket control, the chief judge may from time to time, in his discretion, appoint a panel or panels to review pending cases for appropriate assignment or disposition under Rule 7(e), 8 or 9 or any other rule of this court.

Question: Did the court rule that the indictment was defective?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Yes, but error was harmless
D. Mixed answer
E. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: A