Opinion ID: 1765297
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in overruling brown's motion to quash the multiple count indictment?

Text: Appellant, Brown, was charged in a multi-count indictment on May 9, 1986. At that time there was no statute in effect allowing this type of indictment. Appellant filed a demurrer to the indictment, citing Stinson v. State, 443 So.2d 869 (Miss. 1983); Bennett v. State, 451 So.2d 727 (Miss. 1984); Johnson v. State, 452 So.2d 850 (Miss. 1984); Friday v. State, 462 So.2d 336 (Miss. 1985); Thomas v. State, 474 So.2d 604 (Miss. 1985). This demurrer was overruled. On July 1, 1986, § 99-7-2 Miss. Code Ann. (Supp. 1986) went into effect. This statute states: 1. Two 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 or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. 2. Where two or more offenses are properly charged in separate counts of a single indictment, all such charges may be tried in a single proceeding. 3. When a defendant is convicted of two or more offenses charged in separated counts of an indictment, the court shall impose separate sentences for such conviction. 4. The jury, or the Court in cases in which a jury is waived, shall return a separate verdict for each count of an indictment drawn under subsection (1) of this section.