Opinion ID: 1224549
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Warrant for Disorderly Conduct

Text: This warrant charges that defendant did wilfully, maliciously and unlawfully engage in the act of disorderly conduct by cursing and swearing in a loud and boisterous manner in a public place in the city and did also then and there use vulgar and indecent language in the presence of divers persons on 400 Blk. S. Bloodworth, etc. The State, just before resting its case, offered Section 15-17 of the Raleigh City Code, which the court admitted in evidence over defendant's objection. At the conclusion of the State's evidence, and again at the conclusion of all the evidence, defendant moved for judgment as in case of nonsuit on the ground he was not charged with a violation of any city ordinance. The motions were overruled and defendant excepted. The trial proceeded and the judge instructed the jury as if defendant had been charged with a violation of Section 15-17 of the Raleigh City Code. Criminal prosecution for violation of a municipal ordinance cannot be maintained if the warrant or indictment on which it is based does not set out the ordinance or plead it in a manner permitted by the 1917 statute now codified as G.S. § 160-272. State v. Burton, 243 N.C. 277, 90 S.E.2d 390. Decisions prior to said 1917 statute include the following: Greensboro v. Shields, 78 N.C. 417; Hendersonville v. McMinn, 82 N.C. 532; State v. Edens, 85 N.C. 522; State v. Lunsford, 150 N.C. 862, 64 S.E. 765. Here, the Disorderly Conduct warrant on which defendant was tried contains no allegation, specific or general, to the effect the prosecution was for violation of an ordinance of the City of Raleigh. Conceding, without deciding, that defendant's conduct was such as to warrant his arrest and prosecution for violation of a Raleigh ordinance, the motion for judgment as in case of nonsuit should have been allowed on the ground defendant had not been charged with the violation of such ordinance. Hence, in respect of the prosecution on this warrant, the verdict and judgment are vacated; and the court's ruling in respect of nonsuit is reversed.