Opinion ID: 1779869
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Count II (forcible rape)

Text: ¶ 40. Culp argues that the State did not present sufficient evidence to prove that he forcibly raped Doe, and that although the indictment charged Culp under Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-65(3)(a), the statutory rape sentencing provision, the State did not prove that Doe was sixteen years or younger. The State acknowledges that a typographical error was made in Count II of the indictment, which was properly entitled Forcible Rape, but should have cited subsection (4)(a), which addresses forcible rape instead of subsection 3(a), which addresses statutory rape. The purpose of the indictment is to serve notice of the charges against the defendant and the facts underlying such charges. Westmoreland v. State, 246 So.2d 487, 490 (Miss.1971). This does not require a citation to the specific statute, but merely enough facts so that the defendant is put on notice as to the statute that is alleged to have been violated. Id. at 492. We have held that where the objection to the citation of the statute is first made on appeal such incorrect citation will be treated as surplusage unless it is found prejudicial to the defendant. Id. ¶ 41. Culp's conviction should not be reversed due to the incorrect citation of the statute in the indictment, especially since the language of Count II spoke in terms of forcible rape. [6] Culp was adequately apprised of the charges levied against him by the State. As a result there was no prejudice to Culp because he sought to confront the charges of forcible rape and not those of statutory rape. The motion for a directed verdict by defense counsel even spoke in terms of forcible rape and not in terms of statutory rape. ¶ 42. Any error was one of form and not substance, and thus the argument regarding Count II fails on its merits. In addition, the motion at trial was substantively different than the issue as raised on appeal. At trial, Culp asked for a directed verdict due to a lack of sufficient evidence to prove Culp's participation in the forcible rape of Doe. He now asks this Court to reverse his conviction because the indictment contained the terms of forcible rape although the statute cited to was Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-65(3)(a), statutory rape. Since Culp did not raise the issue at trial, it is procedurally barred, as well.