Opinion ID: 1651955
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the judgment of criminal contempt is contrary to law and represents a violation of the defendant's fifth amendment rights.

Text: ¶ 41. Walls' arguments concerning this issue appear to go toward whether the evidence was sufficient to convict him of criminal contempt. The authority cited by Walls in his brief also concerns the sufficiency of the evidence. Sufficiency of the evidence was the subject of the above issue. This Court does not have to consider this issue. Thibodeaux v. State, 652 So.2d 153, 155 (Miss.1995). Since this case must be reversed and remanded because of the failure to grant Walls' motion for a jury trial, we will briefly consider this issue. ¶ 42. The chancellor has the power to punish any person for breach of an injunction by fine or imprisonment or both. Miss.Code Ann. § 9-5-87 (1991). The burden of proof in a criminal contempt case is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-51-11(4) (Supp.1997). This Court's review proceeds ab initio to determine whether on the record the contemnor is guilty of contempt beyond a reasonable doubt. Premeaux, 569 So.2d at 683-84. The above statutory requirements were complied with and the evidence adduced at trial proved that Walls was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. ¶ 43. Finally, Walls argues that the judgment of criminal contempt was a violation of his Fifth Amendment rights. However, Walls does not cite any authority for this proposition, nor does he explain how his Fifth Amendment rights were violated. As outlined in issue four, Walls was afforded due process in the proceedings. Walls did not testify at the hearing, nor was any attempt made to force him to testify. In fact, the chancellor specifically pointed out that Walls would not be forced to testify. This assignment of error is without merit.