Opinion ID: 2629713
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Late Amendment of Information

Text: [¶ 9] The trial court permitted the amendment of the information with respect to the count involving SD. The original information set forth a time frame ranging from December 1, 1997 until December 31, 1997. SD's testimony put the salient date as between January and March of 1998. Other corroborating testimony also placed the date of that occurrence in early 1998. The motion to amend was filed on November 29, 1999, and the district court granted the motion on that date. The trial began on November 29, 1999. The State contended that Beaugureau was given ample notice because the motion was delivered to the office of her attorney four or five days before the commencement of trial. [6] The State neglected to also relate that the date of manual service was on Thanksgiving Day, when the defense attorney was not in his office. Although the conduct of the State is in many ways inexcusable and demonstrates a disregard for the time-honored processes of the criminal justice system, we will not let the criminal go free, merely because the prosecutor blundered. See Meek v. State, 2002 WY 1, ¶¶ 15-19, 37 P.3d 1279, ¶¶ 15-19 (Wyo.2002). [¶ 10] As was the case in Meek, there is no demonstrable prejudice to Beaugureau here. Beaugureau was not charged with an additional or different crime. Beaugureau did not deny the incident at issue, she only contended that she did not beat SD, but rather only gently slapped her in order to bring her out of the fit of hysteria she was suffering. No substantial right belonging to Beaugureau was prejudiced, but the system bears a black mark due to the manner in which this issue was handled.