Court Opinion

ID: 9706860
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:53:29.023643+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:25.463310
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I would dismiss this criminal appeal because the relief requested by the state cannot be granted by this court. The state seeks a reversal and a new trial for the defendant. However, the defendant was found not guilty and it is elementary that a new trial would subject the defendant to double jeopardy.
The factual basis for my dissent is as follows: At trial the witnesses were sworn and the prosecutor presented his first witness, Deputy Daniel Maher. The officer described the circumstances surrounding the stop of the defendant, at which time, defendant's counsel moved to suppress any further testimony from the officer regarding what he found after the stop and any evidence of a breathalyzer test. The court granted the motion. Then the following occurred:
*322"THE COURT: Okay, do you want to proceed?
THE PROSECUTOR: We have no other evidence.
THE COURT: Okay, the Court finds Defendant not guilty." TR. p. 41.
In its appellant's brief the state, in its "Statement of Jurisdiction" claims this court has jurisdiction of this cause "pursuant to the Indiana Rules of Procedure, Appellate Rule 4(B) and 1.C. 85-38-4-2(5)." Appeals by the state are strictly limited to those appeals authorized by statute. State v. Harris (1982), Ind.App., 433 N.E.2d 399. Ind.Code 85-38-4-2 provides in pertinent part:
Appeals to the supreme court or to the court of appeals, if the court rules so provide, may be taken by the state in the following cases:
* * * * * *
4) Upon a question reserved by the state, if the defendant is acquitted.
5) From an order granting a motion to suppress evidence, if the ultimate effect of the order is to preclude further prosecution.
It is apparent that the state could have appealed under subdivision 4-a question reserved by the state-since the defendant here was acquitted. Subsection 5 applies when an order suppressing evidence occurs before trial and, in the absence of such evidence, the state cannot pursue prosecution. State v. Williams (1983), Ind., 445 N.E.2d 582; State v. Johnson (1987), Ind. App., 508 N.E.2d 431.
Here, as noted above, the state is seeking to appeal this case as an interlocutory type of appeal so that it might again proceed to try the defendant. The state seeks the following relief:
"For the foregoing reasons, the Appellant, State of Indiana, respectfully requests this court to reverse the judgment of the trial court and to remand this cause to the trial court for trial and for all other just and proper relief." App. Br., p. 8
It is stated in ILE Criminal Law, Section 95:
"No matter how irregular the proceedings have been, one who has been tried in a competent court and acquitted on the merits cannot be placed on trial again for the same offense, either by granting the state a new trial or otherwise. Thus, although the court may have prevented the state from entering a nolle prosequi or may have misdirected the jury or may have admitted illegal or rejected legal evidence, and though the verdict may be against the weight of the evidence, a verdict and judgment of acquittal on indictment are conclusive, and the defendant cannot be again put in jeopardy for the same offense."
We do not have the authority to grant the state the relief it requests-a new trial -or, in fact, any other relief. The state has not asked us to rule on this case as a reserved question of law, and we have no idea whether the state would even desire such an opinion.
Based on the above, this appeal should be dismissed.