Opinion ID: 728101
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Information versus Indictment

Text: 17 Teran argues that the convicting court's failure to obtain an explicit waiver of indictment deprived the court of jurisdiction to accept his guilty plea. In the absence of a valid waiver, the lack of an indictment in a felony prosecution is a defect affecting the jurisdiction of the convicting court. United States v. Moore, 37 F.3d 169, 173 (5th Cir.1994). Because it implicates jurisdiction, whether an indictment was required is a question that this Court reviews de novo. See United States v. Gaudet, 81 F.3d 585, 589 n. 4 (5th Cir.1996). 18 Appellant's argument fails. If the offense for which Teran was convicted was a felony, then an indictment or a waiver of an indictment would have indeed been required. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 7(b). However, since the offense was a misdemeanor, the conviction could proceed by information as it did. 19