Opinion ID: 1752946
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The magistrate

Text: As noted above, Mr. Higgins was arrested for rape while he was incarcerated on a DWI II charge. Despite the fact that he had already been arrested on the basis of the statements of his children, he was taken before a municipal court magistrate who, purporting to act for the Circuit Court, issued a document entitled Bench Warrant for Arrest. Mr. Higgins argues that the magistrate was not properly appointed to his position and thus the allegations against him should have been dismissed. Even if the arrest had been based on the warrant in question, and even if the arrest had been illegal, that would not have constituted a basis for dismissal. United States v. Crews, 445 U.S. 463, 100 S.Ct. 1244, 63 L.Ed.2d 537 (1980); Wallace v. State, 314 Ark. 247, 862 S.W.2d 235 (1993). Affirmed.