State v. Benales, 2989

Decision Date30 October 1961
Docket NumberNo. 2989,2989
Citation365 P.2d 811
PartiesSTATE of Wyoming, Appellant (Plaintiff below), v. John H. BENALES, Appellee (Defendant below).
CourtWyoming Supreme Court

Norman B. Gray, Atty. Gen., W. M. Haight, Deputy Atty. Gen., and Lowell O. Stephens, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellant.

Thomas, J. Fagan, of Fagan & Fagan, Casper, for appellee.

Before BLUME, C. J., and PARKER, HARNSBERGER and McINTYRE, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

On June 6, 1958 an information was filed in district court against the defendant charging him with the crime of grand larceny. Proceedings were commenced against him before a justice of the peace on November 29, 1958 charging him with the same crime of grand larceny and in addition with being an habitual criminal. Upon the motion of the county and prosecuting attorney, the original information was dismissed on December 1, 1958 in order that the state might proceed with its elections to prosecute for the crime of grand larceny and in addition to declare under the habitual criminal act.

A new information was not actually filed until March 30, 1960. However, defendant was at all times prior to that either incarcerated or under bond. On April 4, 1960, he moved for dismissal of the charge against him claiming that the crime charged was the same as had been charged in the original information, and that since the filing of the first information, three terms of court had elapsed without the state bringing him to trial. The defendant's motion for dismissal was based upon the constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial under Wyoming Constitution, art. 1, § 10, and § 7-235, W.S.1957.

The motion was granted and an order was entered dismissing the information. Whereupon, the state undertook to appeal to this court, proceeding as in a civil case under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure.

The procedure for appeal by the state to the supreme court in criminal cases is set out in §§ 7-288 to 7-291, inclusive, W.S.1957. In § 7-288, provisions are made for the prosecuting attorney to take exceptions to any opinion or decision of the court during the prosecution of a cause and to make a bill containing the exceptions. Section 7-291 specifies:

'The judgment of the court in the case in which the bill was taken shall not be reversed nor in any manner affected, but the decision of the supreme court shall determine the law to govern in any similar case which may be pending at the time the decision is rendered, or which may afterwards arise in the state.'

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8 cases
  • State v. Heiner, 83-83
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • May 15, 1984
    ...concern certiorari. They concern an attempted appeal. References to these cases in the dissenting opinion are misleading. State v. Benales, Wyo., 365 P.2d 811 (1961), relied upon in the dissenting opinion, was not before the supreme court on certiorari. The issue involved a dismissal of an ......
  • Farbotnik v. State
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • April 2, 1993
    ...denied sub nom., Wind River Indian Educ. Ass'n, Inc. v. Ward, 423 U.S. 904, 96 S.Ct. 205, 46 L.Ed.2d 134 (1975); State v. Benales, 365 P.2d 811 (Wyo.1961) (per curiam). The only constitutional component found in Richardson relates to the authority of the Supreme Court to conduct appellate r......
  • State v. Sodergren, 83-110
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • June 26, 1984
    ...the prosecution to seek review of an adverse ruling made during the trial. State v. Heberling, Wyo., 553 P.2d 1043 (1976); State v. Benales, Wyo., 365 P.2d 811 (1961); State v. Ginther, 53 Wyo. 17, 77 P.2d 803 (1938); State ex rel. Gibson v. Cornwell, 14 Wyo. 526, 85 P. 977 (1906). It is no......
  • State v. Selig
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • October 29, 1981
    ...the prosecution to seek review of an adverse ruling made during the trial. State v. Heberling, Wyo., 553 P.2d 1043 (1976); State v. Benales, Wyo., 365 P.2d 811 (1961); State v. Ginther, 53 Wyo. 17, 77 P.2d 803 (1938); State ex rel. Gibson v. Cornwell, 14 Wyo. 526, 85 P. 977 (1906). It is no......
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