Court Opinion

ID: 9715647
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:10:43.896229+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:36.534667
License: Public Domain

Robert W. Hansen, J.
(dissenting). The complaint charged that the defendant did “. . . feloniously have in his possession for sale obscene pictures . . .” contrary to sec. 944.21 (1) (a), Stats. The writer disagrees with the conclusion reached by the majority’s per curiam opinion for two reasons:
1. Adequacy of complaint. The complaint adequately alleges intentional possession. The writer would follow the heavy weight of authority that holds that the word “feloniously,” standing alone, is a sufficient averment of criminal intent.1 As to “feloniously” also relating to commission of a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, as one state court observed, it is true that the word “felonious” designates the grade of the crime as a felony but also “it points to the intent which enters into a felony.” 2 The cases in other states almost uniformly hold that the word “feloniously” means with criminal intent, and the writer agrees that it does.
2. Absence of prejudice. In this state no complaint is to be dismissed or reversed for any error or mistake “where the case and the identity of the defendant may *569be readily understood by the court.” 3 Only where the statutory charge or the identity of the defendant is not stated in the criminal complaint is the error or mistake uncorrectable. This is properly so, because subject-matter jurisdiction depends upon the bringing of a charge within the jurisdiction of the court against a named defendant. Stating the specific statute alleged to have been violated and stating the identity of the person charged with such violation gives the court jurisdiction. All other defects are correctable by amendment, provided the “defect or imperfection in matters of form ... do not prejudice the defendant.” 4 This is properly so, for it is in personam jurisdiction involved. Unless there is established “prejudice to the defendant,” defects or imperfections in matters of form are not contestable by the defense. In the case before us, there is no basis for claim of prejudice. Certainly, “the case and the identity of the defendant may be readily understood by the court,” 5 (emphasis supplied) where the statute involved and identity of defendant are specifically set forth in a complaint. The trial court here could have ordered an amendment curing the claimed defect. It was not necessary so to do once the amended information was filed furnishing the defendant with all elements of the crime charged. Where a full and adequate information is filed in a felony case, the defendant’s right to “ ‘demand the nature and cause of the accusation against *570him’ ” 6 has not been denied. The information enables the defendant to “plead and prepare a defense” and insures that conviction or acquittal would be “a bar to another prosecution for the same offense.” 7 That twofold test met, there is no way here for the defendant to claim or establish the “prejudice to the defendant” required to invalidate a complaint for defect or imperfection in a matter of form.
So the writer would conclude, (1) The complaint here was adequate; and (2) no defect which prejudiced the defendant was here established.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Leo B. Hanley joins in this dissent.

 Footnote 2, dissenting opinion, State v. Green, post, p. 570, 211 N. W. 2d 634, and cases cited therein.

 State v. Bannister (1907), 79 Vt. 524, 527, 65 Atl. 586, quoting and adapting the definition in 1 Bishop’s, Criminal Law (9th ed.), p. 309, sec. 427.

 Sec. 971.31 (8), Stats., providing: “No complaint . . . shall be dismissed or reversed for any error or mistake where the case and the identity of the defendant may be readily understood by the court; and the court may order an amendment curing such defects.”

 Sec. 971.26, Stats., providing: “No . . . complaint . . . shall be invalid, nor shall the trial, judgment or other proceedings be affected by reason of any defect or imperfection in matters of form which do not prejudice the defendant.”

 Sec. 971.31 (8), Stats.

 Holesome v. State (1968), 40 Wis. 2d 95, 102, 161 N. W. 2d 283.

 Id. at page 102, stating: “. . . In order to determine the sufficiency of the charge, two factors are considered. They are, whether the accusation [Note: there as to information, here as to complaint] is such that the defendant determine whether it states an offense to which he is able to plead and prepare a defense and whether conviction or acquittal is a bar to another prosecution for the same offense.” (Citing In re Carlson (1922), 176 Wis. 538, 546, 186 N. W. 722; Fink v. Milwaukee (1863), 17 Wis. 27 (*26); United States v. Aviles (D. C. Cal. 1915), 222 Fed. Rep. 474.)