Opinion ID: 1655478
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to sever the counts of the indictment.

Text: ¶ 18. Jones contends that the trial court erred in refusing to sever the counts of the indictment. Jones goes on to argue that by not severing the counts he was somehow prejudiced, without elaborating on the subject. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-7-2 (2000) provides in pertinent part: (1) Two (2) or more offenses which are triable in the same court may be charged in the same indictment with a separate count for each offense if: (a) the offenses are based on the same act or transaction; or (b) the offenses are based on two (2) or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. (2) Where two (2) or more offenses are properly charged in separate counts of a single indictment, all such charges may be tried in a single proceeding. (emphasis added). ¶ 19. These charges were properly brought as separate counts of a single indictment; there is nothing requiring them to be severed. Furthermore, severance of counts is within the sound discretion of the trial judge. Minor v. State, 482 So.2d 1107, 1109 (Miss.1986). Vague accusations of unfair prejudice do not amount to abuse of discretion. Therefore, we find no error.