Opinion ID: 1594360
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did Prosecution Cease?

Text: Lohnes argues that the prosecution against him ceased after the State dismissed the amended information of first-degree manslaughter. He reasons that the original information charging first-degree murder was invalid because of his earlier acquittal on the charge, so he stood uncharged after the State's dismissal of the amended information. As a result, Lohnes claims that the State's filing of the second amended information was an entirely new prosecution. He claims that the failure to file a new complaint or indictment and hold a new preliminary hearing denied the trial court subject matter jurisdiction. SDCL 23A-44-2 provides that the prosecution of a case ceases after the prosecutor files a dismissal of an indictment, information or complaint. The State made a motion to dismiss the amended information at a hearing, but did not file a dismissal of the information as provided by SDCL 23A-44-2. The statute contemplates that the prosecutor file a written dismissal of the information in order for the prosecution to cease. The State's failure to file a written dismissal prevented the cessation of the prosecution against Lohnes. Thus, the State's second amended information, charging first-degree manslaughter, was a continuation of the same prosecution.