Opinion ID: 2637645
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Relevant Statutory and Constitutional Provisions

Text: (10) As relevant here, our statute of limitations provides that prosecution for an offense punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for eight years or more shall be commenced within six years after commission of the offense (§ 800), and a felony prosecution is commenced when an arrest warrant is issued, provided the warrant names or describes the defendant with the same degree of particularity required for an indictment, information, or complaint. (§ 804, subd. (d).) Section 813, subdivision (a), provides, in pertinent part, that the magistrate shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant only when a complaint is filed with a magistrate charging a felony originally triable in the superior court ... if, and only if, the magistrate is satisfied from the complaint that the offense complained of has been committed and that there is reasonable ground to believe that the defendant has committed it. Section 815 provides: A warrant of arrest shall specify the name of the defendant or, if it is unknown to the ... issuing authority, the defendant may be designated therein by any name. As relevant here, section 959, paragraph 4 similarly provides that [t]he accusatory pleading is sufficient if it can be understood therefrom that the defendant is named, or if his name is unknown, that he is described by a fictitious name, with a statement that his true name is ... unknown. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing ... the persons ... to be seized. (Italics added.) According to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 4(b)(1) (18 U.S.C.), a warrant shall contain the defendant's name or, if it is unknown, name or description by which the defendant can be identified with reasonable certainty.  (Italics added.) The California Constitution, article I, section 13 provides that a warrant may not issue, except on probable cause ... particularly describing the ... persons ... to be seized.