Court Opinion

ID: 9856743
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:56:55.949992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:31.773358
License: Public Domain

Babnhill, J.,
concurring: That tbe appeal by tbe State in this cause is without authority in law would seem too clear to require discussion. Even so, tbe judgment entered in tbe court below and tbe disposition of tbe appeal here may create some doubt in tbe minds of tbe solicitors of 'the State as to their right to prosecute for a willful failure by a defendant to support bis alleged illegitimate child after be has been once ■acquitted. As tbe appeal is dismissed, discussion of, or comment upon, this question has no proper place in tbe majority opinion.
Concededly, what is here said is not germane to tbe question of tbe right of tbe State to appeal, which is tbe sole ground upon which tbe .■appeal is dismissed. Yet some of us are of tbe opinion there should be *554some clarifying comment on tbe question of tbe effect of tbe judgment entered in tbe court below. For tbis reason, I file tbis concurring opinion.
Tbe first bill of indictment charges a violation of tbe statute, G.S. 49-2, on or about 5 February 1951, and tbe second, on or about March 1949. So then, acquittal on tbe first bill unquestionably constitutes a bar to prosecution under tbe latter. Tbe defendant having been acquitted on bis trial under tbe first bill, be could not thereafter be prosecuted under a warrant or bill charging a willful failure to support prior to tbe date named therein. S. v. Johnson, 212 N.C. 566.
But tbe crime created by G.S. ,49-2 is a continuing offense. Therefore, tbe prior acquittal may not be pleaded in bar of a prosecution under a bill which charges a violation of tbe statute at a date subsequent to 5 February 1951, tbe date named in tbe first bill. S. v. Johnson, supra. Tbe only prosecution contemplated under tbe statute is grounded on tbe willful neglect or refusal of a parent to support bis illegitimate child. Tbe mere begetting tbe child is not denominated a crime. Tbe question of paternity is incidental to tbe prosecution for tbe crime of nonsupport— a preliminary requisite to conviction. S. v. Stiles, 228 N.C. 137; S. v. Summerlin, 224 N.C. 178; S. v. Bowser, 230 N.C. 330. Hence a verdict of not guilty on tbe charge of willful nonsupport does no more than find tbe defendant not guilty of tbe crime laid in tbe bill. Tbe verdict could not be construed to be a verdict of not guilty of begetting tbe child.
It follows that tbe solicitor is free to prosecute for a violation of tbe statute subsequent to 5 February 1951, unaffected by tbe judgment entered in tbe court below, if be is so advised.