Opinion ID: 1690904
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: La Code Crim.P. art. 782 provides similarly.

Text: The habitual offender proceeding is not applicable until after a person has been convicted of a felony within this state. La. R.S. 15:529.1(A) and (D). Thereafter, the filing of an information accusing the convicted felon of a previous conviction(s) is discretionary with the district attorney. La.R.S. 15:529.1(D). Hence, the habitual offender proceeding is a separate proceeding applicable only after conviction and then at the discretion of the district attorney. It forms no part of the punishment of the criminal case involving defendant's guilt or innocence; therefore, it has no bearing on the determination of the number of persons comprising the jury for the trial of the case. In the instant case, defendant was charged with and tried for two separate counts of negligent homicide. La.R.S. 14:32 (negligent homicide) provides for a punishment of imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than five years. Clearly, the punishment for the criminal case involving defendant's guilt or innocence is not necessarily confinement at hard labor requiring a trial before a jury of twelve persons. Rather, it provides for a punishment which may be confinement at hard labor. Accordingly, defendant was properly tried before a jury of six persons. La.Const. art. 1, § 17; La.Code Crim.P. art. 782. The trial judge correctly denied defendant's motion for a trial before a jury of twelve persons. Assignment of Error No. 1 is without merit.