State v. Dobson, 8029SC986

• Decision Date: 07 April 1981
• Docket Number: No. 8029SC986,8029SC986
• Citation: 276 S.E.2d 480,51 N.C.App. 445
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. Mickey Wayne DOBSON.

Page 480

276 S.E.2d 480

51 N.C.App. 445

STATE of North Carolina v. Mickey Wayne DOBSON.

No. 8029SC986.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

April 7, 1981.

Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Associate Atty. Gen. Evelyn M. Coman, Raleigh, for the State-appellant.

V. Scott Peterson, Brevard, for defendant-appellee.

ROBERT M. MARTIN, Judge.

We reluctantly must dismiss this appeal on the grounds that this Court lacks jurisdiction. As a general rule, the State cannot appeal proceedings from a judgment in favor of the defendant in a criminal case in the absence of a statute clearly conferring that right. State v. Harrell, 279 N.C. 464, 183 S.E.2d 638 (1971); State v. Horton, 7 N.C.App. 497, 172 S.E.2d 887 (1970). N.C.Gen.Stat. § 15A-1445 provides when the State may appeal in a criminal case as follows:

(a) Unless the rule against double jeopardy prohibits further prosecution, the State may appeal from the superior court to the appellate division:

(1) When there has been a decision or judgment dismissing criminal charges as to one or more counts.

(2) Upon the granting of a motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered or newly available evidence but only on questions of law.

(b) The State may appeal an order by the superior court granting a motion to suppress as provided in G.S. 15A-979.

In subsection (c) of N.C.Gen.Stat. § 15A-979 (Supp.1979), the General Assembly made orders of the superior court granting motions to suppress evidence appealable to the appellate division prior to trial "upon certificate by the prosecutor to the judge who granted the motion that the appeal is not taken for the purpose of delay and that the evidence is essential to the case." (Emphasis added.) In our opinion, the above-quoted language constitutes a statutory prerequisite which must be met in order for the State to have the right to appeal, prior to trial, an order granting a motion to suppress. Statutes authorizing an appeal by the prosecution must be strictly construed. State v. Harrell, supra; State v. Horton, supra.

In the present case, the portion of the order allowing defendant's motion to suppress stating that the State objected and excepted in apt time to the findings of fact, conclusions of law and ruling and gave notice of appeal to this Court does not meet the conditions set forth in § 15A-979(c). The statutory right of the State to appeal may not be enlarged by the superior court. State v. Cox, 216 N.C. 424, 5 S.E.2d 125 (1939). There is no indication in the record of the present case as to whether the prosecutor certified to Judge Gaines that the appeal was not being taken for the purpose of delay and that the suppressed evidence was essential to the...