Opinion ID: 293842
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Duplicitous Counts and Indictments

Text: 9 Kent also asserts that he was illegally convicted and sentenced on duplicitous indictments and duplicitous counts of indictment. Kent was indicted on October 19, 1961 by a grand jury of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Philadelphia on indictment No. 1259 alleging that Kent (Count 1) being armed with an offensive weapon feloniously assaulted Lucy Walls with intent to rob her, and (Count 2) with an offensive weapon did rob Walls of $11, and (Count 3) did rob Walls of $11 and immediately after such robbery, beat and did violence to Walls. On this indictment Kent was sentenced to prison for a term of not less than three years nor more than six years, to begin with the expiration of the sentence imposed on indictment No. 1261, referred to hereinafter. But it does not appear from the record as to the count or counts on which these sentences were imposed. 10 A second indictment, No. 1260, was handed down also on October 19, 1961, charging Kent (Count 1) with assaulting Walls and committing battery upon her and (Count 2) with making an indecent assault upon Walls. Kent was found guilty upon this indictment also. But it does not appear from the record upon what counts of this indictment the jury returned a verdict or verdicts of guilty. Sentence was suspended and though the appellee correctly states that it is now the law of Pennsylvania that sentence cannot be imposed on this indictment, 4 this does not aid the Commonwealth's position for there was at least one conviction on indictment No. 1260. This is a burden which stands upon Kent's record and must not be permitted to stand if it was unjustly imposed. 11 Also on October 19, 1961 indictment No. 1261 was handed down charging Kent (Count 1) with unlawfully assaulting Walls and committing a battery upon her and (Count 2) making an unlawful assault upon Walls and committing a battery upon her, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and (Count 3) making an assault and battery upon Walls with the intent to rape her, and (Count 4) making an assault and committing battery upon Walls and raping her. On this indictment Kent was sentenced to a term of not less than three and one-half years nor more than seven years. Again it does not appear upon what count or counts of the indictment sentence was or were imposed. But it seems to appear that possibly there were duplications. In this connection we refer to the opinion of Judge Freedman, heading IV., Moore v. United States, supra. This should also be considered by the court upon remand. 12 A close examination of the record indicates no further issue which requires discussion. 13 The judgment of the court will be vacated and the case remanded with the direction to proceed as indicated in this opinion.