Opinion ID: 2046772
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: The motion to correct errors and the defendants' brief relative to this claim of error is limited to the conspiracy count of the indictment. In essence, it is charged that the count was so vague as to prevent the defendants from distinguishing the charge from other violations and not with sufficient particularity as would enable the defendants to prepare their defense and determine the admissibility of anticipated evidence. Defendants' motion to correct errors, in this regard, was procedurally defective in that it cites the Court to no error or other grounds known to us but merely alleges that the conspiracy count of the indictment was not stated with sufficient certainty. With some difficulty, we regard this as a charge that the court erred in overruling their motion to dismiss the indictment based upon the same allegation. When so viewed, we, nevertheless, find no error. The defendants appeared in person and by counsel on May 30, 1975, were arraigned and entered pleas of not guilty upon all counts. A motion to quash the indictment was filed on June 3rd and on July 28th the motion to quash was withdrawn, presumably because of the enactment of Rules of Criminal Procedure enforced July 26, 1973, abolishing such motions. At the same time, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, charging the same deficiencies as did the motion to quash. In this instance, the distinction between the two motions being one in name only, we could properly regard the June 3rd motion as one to dismiss and the July 28th motion as an amended motion. Nevertheless, such motion, under the statute, was required to be filed prior to arraignment and plea. Ind. Code § 35-3.1-1-4(b). This is in keeping with our case law relative to motions to quash. Joy v. State (1860), 14 Ind. 139; West v. State (1874), 48 Ind. 483; Epps v. State (1885), 102 Ind. 539, 1 N.E. 491. There is nothing in the record to indicate that the trial court considered the motion upon its merits. It was not required to do so. We conclude that the motion was denied summarily, as not timely filed, which is specifically authorized by the statute.