Court Opinion

ID: 7502814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-29 04:26:41.717173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:23:17.374934
License: Public Domain

COFER, Justice, for the Court.
Appellant Roy Carley was indicted on a state of facts by Mississippi Code Annotated, section 97-5-23 (1972), made a crime and was convicted on a trial of that indictment.
The sole assignment of error is that the prosecution and conviction were under a statute which is unconstitutional and violates the equal protection clause in that it applies only to male persons.
Unfortunately, the assignment of error is well taken, and in Ta.tro v. State, 372 So.2d 283 (Miss.1979), we held the statute unconstitutional. We have no alternative but to reverse the conviction and discharge the appellant thereon.
We, however, hold the appellant for further action of the grand jury on any other charge or charges to which the facts in the present record may point. Catchot v. State, 374 So.2d 807 (Miss.1979).
Appellant’s separate petition to reverse and discharge is by this decision rendered moot and is denied.
REVERSED AND DISCHARGED ON CONVICTION OF FONDLING; HELD TO GRAND JURY FOR ITS FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND ACTION.
PATTERSON, C. J., SMITH and ROBERTSON, P. JJ., and WALKER and BROOM, JJ., concur.
BOWLING, SUGG and LEE, JJ., dissent.