Opinion ID: 488807
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defective Felony Information.

Text: 15 Hulstine asserts that the original and amended felony informations filed against him were defective, in violation of his sixth amendment right to be informed of the accusations against him. 16 The sixth amendment right of the accused to reasonable notice of the charges against him is incorporated in the fourteenth amendment and cannot be abridged by the states. Franklin v. White, 803 F.2d 416, 417 (8th Cir.1986) (per curiam). Due process requirements may be satisfied if a defendant receives actual notice of the charges against him, even if the indictment or information is deficient. Id. 17 The Missouri Court of Appeals found that Hulstine was advised of and understood the nature of the charges against him and that the punishment upon conviction could be life imprisonment. In an opinion adopted by the district court, the United States magistrate found that the transcript of the plea proceedings supported the state court's finding that Hulstine was fully aware of the charges against him and the range of punishment. 18 The transcript clearly indicates that Hulstine understood that he faced a possible life sentence for first-degree murder. We therefore hold that Hulstine's claim is without merit. 19 The district court order is affirmed.