Opinion ID: 1841541
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: was the indictment vague and indefinite?

Text: The indictment (omitting formalities) charged Cumbest and Coleman, as a county official and county employee, respectively, between April 1, 1976, and October 31, 1979, with knowingly and feloniously defrauding Jackson County of approximately $50,753.40 in that they submitted, or caused to be submitted, false and fraudulent claims monthly from H & O for equipment rental of a bush hog with intent to cheat and defraud Jackson County of this sum of money, in violation of Section 97-11-31. The indictment further recited that attached thereto as Exhibit 1 was one of a series of false and fraudulent claims submitted by H & O. The indictment gave the statute under which the defendants were charged, and followed its language, which generally is sufficient. Anthony v. State, 349 So.2d 1066 (Miss. 1977); State v. Labella, 232 So.2d 354 (Miss. 1970); Love v. State, 211 Miss. 606, 52 So.2d 470 (1951). We believe in this case, however, more was required in an indictment under the statute than the language of the statute itself. In Jackson v. State, 420 So.2d 1045 (Miss. 1982), p. 1947, we held that where the prohibited act would not clearly appear simply by using the language of the statute, then the indictment would have to be more specific. An indictment which simply charged the defendants with fraud in public office would not have met this requirement. The state fully met this requirement. The indictment is plain and the defendants were fully informed of the nature of the offense.