Sparrow v. State, CR84-160

• Decision Date: 21 January 1985
• Docket Number: No. CR84-160,CR84-160
• Citation: 683 S.W.2d 218,284 Ark. 396
• Parties: Gregory C. SPARROW, Appellant, v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee.
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Page 218

683 S.W.2d 218

284 Ark. 396

Gregory C. SPARROW, Appellant, v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee.

No. CR84-160.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Jan. 21, 1985.

Darrell E. Baker, Jr., Deputy Public Defender, Fayetteville, for appellant.

Steve Clark, Atty. Gen. by Theodore G. Holder, Asst. Atty. Gen., Little Rock, for appellee.

HICKMAN, Justice.

This is another in a series of cases challenging the Omnibus DWI Act. Ark.Stat.Ann. §§ 75-1031.1, 75-1045, 75-2501--75-2514 (Supp.1983). Gregory C. Sparrow, the appellant, was found guilty of speeding and driving with a blood alcohol content exceeding 0.10%. According to the chemical test, he had a blood alcohol content of 0.17%, and he admitted to having at least three drinks prior to driving. He appealed his conviction to the Washington County Circuit Court and waived a jury. He was found guilty, fined $300, plus costs, sentenced to 24 hours continuous incarceration in the city jail and his license was suspended for 90 days.

On appeal he raises questions which, with minor exceptions, have been answered in previous cases. He argues that the DWI law violates the separation of powers provision in the Arkansas and United States Constitutions in that it takes away from the prosecuting attorney and the court the right to reduce a charge and accept plea bargains and places that power within the hands of the policeman, who files the charge. Appellant cites no authority for these propositions. This part of the law is not unconstitutional. It is well settled that it is for the legislative branch of a state or federal government to determine the kind of conduct that constitutes a crime and the nature and extent of the punishment which may be imposed. Carter v. State, 255 Ark. 225, 500 S.W.2d 368 (1973); Thom v. State, 248 Ark. 180, 450 S.W.2d 550 (1970); C.E. Torcia, Wharton's Criminal Law § 10 (1978). See 21 Am.Jur.2d Criminal Law § 589 (1981). In fact, there is no authority for Sparrow's contentions that penalties and their imposition are for the courts to decide.

Sparrow cites no authority for his argument that he is deprived of the right to plea bargain, nor does he even maintain that it is his right. In North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162 (1970), the United States Supreme Court said: "The States in their wisdom ... may prohibit the practice of accepting pleas to lesser included offenses under any circumstances." Plea bargaining is merely a tool to aid in the administration of justice. Furthermore, statutes are valid which provide that an accused may not plead guilty. 22 C.J.S. Criminal Law 422(1).

Sparrow also argues that he should have been taken before a judicial officer for a probable cause determination since he was arrested without a warrant. ARCP Rule 8.1 requires that one arrested shall be taken before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay. Here, Sparrow was detained approximately six and one-half hours. We find no violation of Rule 8.1. See Brown v. State, 276 Ark. 20, 631 S.W.2d 829 (1982).

The other arguments that Sparrow raises on appeal have been answered in other cases. Ark.Stat.Ann. § 75-2503(b) (Supp.1983) is not void for vagueness. Lovell v. State, 283 Ark. 425, 678 S.W.2d 318 (1984); Long v. State, 284 Ark. 21, 680 S.W.2d 686 (1984). Sparrow argues that the statute requires that he be informed that he may take another breath...