Opinion ID: 1895115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: the trial court erred in revoking green's status as an indigent.

Text: Green filed an affidavit of financial eligibility prior to his trial below. The trial judge adjudged Green to be financially eligible and appointed him an attorney. Following his trial and conviction, Green filed a motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis, accompanied by an affidavit. The State responded that Green had posted an appeal bond in the sum of $30,000.00, therefore, he could not be an indigent person. The trial judge subsequently entered an order finding Green not an indigent. Apparently, the trial judge relied on the stipulation at trial regarding Green's workers' compensation benefits in determining that Green was not indigent and could pay restitution to Camp's family and reimbursement to the county for attorney fees and expenses. The amount Green was ordered to reimburse the county is $4,034.04. The record does not reveal how Green was able to post the $30,000.00 appeal bond. It does, however, show that Green's only income is $160.00 a week in workers' compensation benefits and the only valuable property he owns, a motorcycle, is encumbered by a lien in an amount $2,000.00 greater than its market value. There is insufficient evidence in the record to uphold the trial judge's revocation of the indigency status of Green and to deny his appeal in forma pauperis. Therefore, this issue is remanded to the Circuit Court of Yalobusha County for a hearing to determine whether or not Green is indigent. Included in this remand is the trial judge's order of reimbursement of attorney fees and expenses to the county as that question will rise or fall depending upon the outcome of the indigency hearing on remand. CONVICTION OF MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY (20) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. THE TRIAL JUDGE'S ORDER OF CLAIM AGAINST APPELLANT'S WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS IS REVERSED AND THIS CAUSE IS REMANDED TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF YALOBUSHA COUNTY FOR A HEARING TO DETERMINE APPELLANT'S INDIGENT STATUS AND FOR A PROPER DETERMINATION OF RESTITUTION. HAWKINS, C.J., DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, P.JJ., and PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., and SMITH, JJ., concur.