Opinion ID: 1624390
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Valid Indictment

Text: Parrish argues that the trial judge erred by conducting a trial and imposing sentences upon him on the counts of the indictment for which he was not charged. Specifically, he contends that there is no endorsement of the clerk showing that the indictment was returned in open court. Further, that the statement on the indictment, True Bills Counts 1-5, makes it unclear whether the grand jury indicted him on counts one through five or one and five. He raises this issue pursuant to RCr 8.18. We find this argument to be without merit. No motion was made before trial alleging any defects in the indictment. Now, on appeal, Parrish solicits this Court for a partial waiver of RCr 8.18 which requires raising defects in the indictment before trial. He has waived any defects in the indictment by failing to bring them to the attention of the trial judge. It should be remembered that at arraignment, Parrish waived a reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty. It has long been held by this Court that an indictment is sufficient if it informs the accused of the specific offense which is charged and does not mislead the accused. Wylie v. Commonwealth, Ky., 556 S.W.2d 1 (1977). In Thomas v. Commonwealth, Ky., 931 S.W.2d 446 (1996), it was observed that it is unnecessary pursuant to RCr 6.10 to restate all the technical requisites of the crime of which a defendant is accused, if the language of the indictment, coupled with the applicable statute, unmistakably accomplishes this end result. Here, the indictment is sufficient on its face. It informs Parrish that he is charged with murder in violation of KRS 507.020 (two counts); criminal attempt to commit murder in violation of KRS 506.010 and KRS 507.020; first-degree robbery, KRS 515.020, and as a first-degree persistent felony offender, KRS 532.080. The indictment sets out the charges in narrative form and is signed at the end by the foreperson of the grand jury. There can be no doubt as to what charges the grand jury returned. Cf. United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 122 S.Ct. 1781, 152 L.Ed.2d 860 (2002). There was no error.