Opinion ID: 1800634
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: indictment failed to properly charge offense.

Text: ¶ 44. Hodges next argues that his indictment was defective for stating that Hodges's burglary of the Johnson house was committed with intent to commit assault within the house, but failed to specify the intended victim of the assault. Hodges cites State v. Berryhill, 703 So.2d 250, 256 (Miss.1997), where this Court stated: [A] defendant . . . who has been indicted without specifying the burglary may find out on the eve of trial that the State might try to prove the burglary on different theories. Needless to say, different theories would plainly invite different defenses. Hodges alleges that the State's proof at trial as to assault was inconsistent, included numerous theories, and made preparation of a defense impossible. As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter: The indictment in the case sub judice complies with the rule set forth in Berryhill. The indictment charged Hodges with capital murder with the underlying felony of burglary. Since the underlying felony was burglary, the State was required to specify the underlying offense, which they did. It charged Hodges with burglary with the intent to commit an assault therein. This Court has stated that [t]he allegation of the ulterior felony intended need not, however, be set out as fully and specifically as would be required in an indictment for the actual commission of that felony. It is ordinarily sufficient to state the intended offense generally, as by alleging an intent to steal, or commit the crime of larceny, rape or arson. Booker v. State, 716 So.2d 1064, 1068 (Miss.1998) (citing Am.Jur.2d Burglary § 36 (1964)). Therefore, all the State was required to do was state the intended offense generally by alleging the intent to assault. The State did exactly what was required. Hodges was able to prepare a defense and was well aware, from the indictment, that the State intended to prove burglary with the intent to commit an assault therein. The State did not try to prove different theories of burglary as Hodges claims. The State set out to prove that Hodges went to Cora's house that night armed with a gun and intended to shoot Cora and/or Bessie Tatum. Hodges himself told Cora on the night of the shooting that he went to her house to shoot her and/or Bessie Tatum (if she had been home). Hodges also told his friend, Anthony Betts, that he was going to buy a gun and kill somebody. Hodges then went to Cora's house that night armed with a gun. Hodges has not shown that he was prejudiced in the preparation of his defense. This issue is without merit. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 774-75. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.