Opinion ID: 1809345
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the trial court erred in overruling mr. hoops's motion to quash the venire or in the alternative to continue the case.

Text: Hoops claims that he made a motion to quash the venire due to a series of newspaper articles that appeared in the Mississippi Press, a local newspaper, during the week preceding the trial. [2] The articles dealt with violent crimes committed in the community by youths, as well as, the escalation of gang activity in the area and its relation to increased drug trafficking. Hoops claims that the articles had the potential to inflame the venire against any youth charged with a violent crime, and especially against him, due to his alleged gang involvement. Since the trial judge refused to quash the venire on this basis, Hoops believes that he was denied a fair trial. Hoops cites no legal authority to support this argument. This Court has held that it is the duty of an appellant to provide authority and support of an assignment. Kelly v. State, 553 So.2d 517, 521 (Miss. 1989); Brown v. State, 534 So.2d 1019, 1023 (Miss. 1988); Harris v. State, 386 So.2d 393 (Miss. 1980). If a party does not provide this support this Court is under no duty to consider assignments of error when no authority is cited. Hewlett v. State, 607 So.2d 1097, 1106 (Miss. 1992); Kelly, 553 So.2d at 521; Brown, 534 So.2d at 1023. Despite his procedural bar Hoops's argument is without merit. The usual procedure employed when the accused believes he cannot get an impartial jury in a particular county is a motion for a change of venue. Sessum v. State, 221 So.2d 368, 371 (Miss. 1969). The decision to grant the venue change is in the sound discretion of the trial judge. Porter v. State, 616 So.2d 899, 905 (Miss. 1993) (citing Harris v. State, 537 So.2d 1325, 1328 (Miss. 1989)). The motion must be in writing and supported by affidavits of two or more credible persons showing that the defendant cannot receive an impartial and fair trial in that particular county because of prejudgment of the case or grudge or ill will to the defendant in the mind of the public. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-15-35; Porter, 616 So.2d at 905-06 (citation omitted). Turning to the case at bar, this Court finds that the only change of venue motion made on behalf of Hoops was made ore tenus on the Friday before trial. At that time Hoops's attorney joined in a change of venue motion that had been filed by counsel for his codefendant. Although Hoops's co-defendant apparently supported the motion with affidavits as required by statute, Hoops did not provide the trial court with any statement and affidavits swearing that he could not receive a fair and impartial trial. Since Hoops failed to comply with the requirements of Miss. Code Ann. § 99-15-35 and to cite to any legal authority to show why his argument merits relief, the argument must fail.