Opinion ID: 1692959
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: territorial subject matter jurisdiction

Text: Soukharith asserts that the State lacked jurisdiction over the robbery and kidnapping charges. More specifically, Soukharith argues that the State of Nebraska lacked territorial subject matter jurisdiction because there was insufficient evidence concerning whether those crimes occurred in this state. Soukharith properly raised this issue via a plea in abatement prior to trial. Because the jury convicted Soukharith of robbery and kidnapping, the State argues that any defect in the trial judge's ruling on the plea in abatement is cured. Any error in ruling on a plea in abatement is cured by a subsequent finding at trial of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt which is supported by sufficient evidence. State v. Boppre, 234 Neb. 922, 453 N.W.2d 406 (1990). In the instant case, the jury was instructed on the elements of robbery and kidnapping. Specifically, the jury was instructed that it must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the offenses occurred in Sarpy County, Nebraska. As discussed later, there is sufficient evidence, if viewed most favorably to the State, that a reasonable jury could find that a robbery and kidnapping occurred in Sarpy County. Thus, if any error occurred at the preliminary hearing, it was cured by the jury verdict.