State v. Hayden

Decision Date02 August 1983
Docket NumberNo. 83,83
Citation437 So.2d 294
PartiesSTATE of Louisiana v. Clifford A. HAYDEN. KA 0637.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Louisiana — District of US

Frank L. Koles, III, Asst. Dist. Atty., Livingston, for appellee.

Haydn S. Berey, Livingston, for appellant.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant, Clifford A. Hayden, was charged with first offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated on January 8, 1983, in violation of La.R.S. 14:98. Defendant pled not guilty. After a bench trial, defendant was found guilty as charged and sentenced to pay a fine of $300.00, plus costs, or to serve 30 days in jail. The jail sentence was suspended, conditioned upon defendant's performance of 14 days of public service work, participation in the Substance and Abuse Clinic, and attendance of the Defensive Driving School. Defendant has appealed this conviction and sentence.

A defendant may appeal to the court of appeal from a judgment in a criminal case when it is triable by jury. La. Const. Art. V, § 10(A); and L.S.A.-C.Cr.P. art. 912.1(B). A criminal case is triable by jury when the punishment which may be imposed is a fine in excess of Five hundred dollars or imprisonment for more than six months. L.S.A.-C.Cr.P. art. 779.

In the instant case, the maximum penalty which could have been imposed was a fine of not more than Five hundred dollars and imprisonment for not more than six months. L.S.A.-R.S. 14:98(B). Therefore, the defendant did not have a right to trial by jury. Consequently, he does not have a right of appeal herein. Defendant's proper remedy is by application for a writ of review. L.S.A.-C.Cr.P. art. 912.1(C); Rule 4, Uniform Rules-Courts of Appeal; State v. Ritter, 428 So.2d 964 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983).

We note that appellant filed a late brief asking that his appeal be considered as a writ. We refuse to do so.

APPEAL DISMISSED. WRIT REFUSED.

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1 cases
  • Landry v. Hoepfner
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • March 17, 1988
    ...that there is no entitlement to trial by jury for such offense. See e.g., State v. Thigpen, 275 So.2d 760 (La.1973); State v. Hayden, 437 So.2d 294 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983); State v. Henderson, 491 So.2d 647 Following his conviction and sentence, Landry retained counsel and sought appellate r......

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