State v. Jacobs

Decision Date12 May 1971
Docket NumberNo. 83,83
Citation180 S.E.2d 832,278 N.C. 693
PartiesSTATE of North Carolina v. Vardell JACOBS.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

Robert Morgan, Atty. Gen., Sidney S. Eagles, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Russell G. Walker, Jr., Staff Atty., for the State.

Evander M. Britt, Lumberton, attorney for defendant.

SHARP, Justice:

Defendant makes four assignments of error. His case on appeal, however, shows no objection to any evidence offered by the State and no exception to any ruling by the trial judge or to his charge to the jury. In his first assignment of error defendant's counsel asserts 'that the lower court erred in failing to declare and explain the law arising on the evidence given in the case as required by G.S. 1--180, As set forth in this Exception No. 1.' (Italics ours.)

The Rules of Practice (19 and 21) of both this Court and the Court of Appeals require any error asserted on appeal to be supported by an exception duly taken and shown in the record. Exceptions which appear for the first time in the purported assignments of error present no question for appellate review. State v. Greene, N.C., 180 S.E.2d 789. See State v. Merrick, 172 N.C. 870, 90 S.E. 257. Furthermore, each assignment must specifically state the alleged error so that the question sought to be presented is therein revealed. State v. Staten, 271 N.C. 600, 157 S.E.2d 225. An assignment based on the court's failure to charge should set out the defendant's contention as to what the court should have charged. State v. Wilson, 263 N.C. 533, 139 S.E.2d 736. Appellate rules of practice are applicable to indigent defendants and their court-appointed counsel as they are to all others. State v. Price, 265 N.C. 703, 144 S.E.2d 865.

Defendant's brief discloses that in his first assignment he complains of the charge upon the premise that the court did not properly define either assault or assault with the intent to commit rape. This postulate, the foundation of defendant's appeal, is not supported by the record. After giving the usual definitions of assault and rape, the judge explained to the jury that an assault upon a female under the age of 12 years, made with intent to have sexual intercourse with her, constitutes the crime of assault with the intent to commit rape--the elements of force and lack of consent being conclusively presumed. This was a correct instruction, fully supported by the decisions of this Court. State v. Hartsell, 272 N.C. 710, 158 S.E.2d 785; State v. Lucas, 267 N.C. 304, 148 S.E.2d 130; State v. Carter, 265...

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6 cases
  • State v. Roberts
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 13, 1977
    ...at trial and therefore presents no question for appellate review. State v. Green, 280 N.C. 431, 185 S.E.2d 872 (1972); State v. Jacobs, 278 N.C. 693, 180 S.E.2d 832 (1971); 1 Strong, N.C. Index 2d, Appeal and Error § 24. Nevertheless, upon examination we find the identification of defendant......
  • State v. Hudson, 15
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 12, 1972
    ...defendants and their court-appointed counsel as they are to all others. State v. Price, 265 N.C. 703, 144 S.E.2d 865.' State v. Jacobs, 278 N.C. 693, 180 S.E.2d 832 (1971). The question of defendant's constitutional right to counsel during in-custody interrogation was not raised in the cour......
  • State v. Washington
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 11, 1973
    ...Appeals require any error asserted on appeal to be supported by an exception duly taken and shown in the record.' State v. Jacobs, 278 N.C. 693, 696, 180 S.E.2d 832, 834 (1971). We note that G.S. § 122--91 provides that commitment to a State hospital for a period of not exceeding sixty days......
  • State v. Whitted
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • March 29, 1972
    ...appearing for the first time in the purported assignments of error present no question for appellate review. State v. Jacobs, 278 N.C. 693, 180 S.E.2d 832 (1971). However, we think defendant, by his purported assignment of error No. 3, has set out a portion of the court's charge which const......
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