Court Opinion

ID: 3929224
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 09:54:52.964909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:01.332626
License: Public Domain

Appellant was indicted charged with rape on his thirteen-year-old daughter, Nevada Lynchard. He was tried prior to the suing out of this writ of habeas corpus (as shown by the record), resulting in a "hung jury" or mistrial. The evidence adduced on that trial is incorporated in the record as a statement of the facts. Without a discussion of the facts, we would call attention to the fact that appellant *Page 302 
could have been prosecuted for either one of two offenses, — incest or rape. Had the State elected to prosecute for incest, the highest penalty authorized by law to be inflicted would have been ten years in the penitentiary. However, the State, as it had a right to do, the girl being under fifteen years of age, elected to prosecute for statutory rape, and it is provided that this offense may be punished by the infliction of the death penalty. The record in this case does not disclose any force was used, and under the circumstances and the evidence before us, we think the court erred in refusing appellant bail. It is not proper for us to discuss the testimony, but the judgment is reversed and bail granted in the sum of $5000.
Reversed and bail granted.                      Bail granted.