Watts v. Grimes

Decision Date08 April 1968
Docket NumberNo. 24535,24535
Citation224 Ga. 227,161 S.E.2d 286
PartiesAlice WATTS v. T. Ralph GRIMES, Sheriff.
CourtGeorgia Supreme Court

Walter M. Henritze, Jr., Atlanta, for appellant.

Lewis R. Slaton, Sol. Gen., J. Roger Thompson, J. Walter LeCraw, Atlanta, for appellee.

Syllabus Opinion by the Court.

MOBLEY, Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fulton County denying the writ of habeas corpus to Alice Watts, who had been convicted of a felony (shoplifting) and sentenced to serve five years. Her contention is that she is being illegally detained because the trial judge denied bail to her pending her appeal. Held:

Section 7 of the Appellate Practice Act (Ga.L.1965, pp. 18, 22; Code Ann. § 6-1001) provides: 'In all criminal cases, the notice of appeal filed as heretofore provided shall serve as supersedeas in all cases where a sentence of death has been imposed, or where the defendant is admitted to bail. If the sentence is bailable, the defendant may give bond in an amount prescribed by the presiding judge, with security approved by the clerk, conditioned upon the defendant's personal appearance to abide the final judgment or sentence of the court.' The language, 'If the sentence be bailable,' means where it is bailable in the sound discretion of the trial judge. Vanderford v. Brand, 126 Ga. 67(2), 69, 54 S.E. 822, 9 Ann.Cas. 617; Fountain v. Crum, 148 Ga. 272, 96 S.E. 337; Crumley v. Gibbs, 149 Ga. 119, 99 S.E. 297; Ingram v. Grimes, 213 Ga. 652, 100 S.E.2d 914; Sellers v. State, 112 Ga.App. 607, 145 S.E.2d 827. Only in misdemeanor cases is one convicted entitled to bail as a matter of law. Code § 27-901.

The granting or refusing of bail in felony cases after indictment and conviction is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court, and this court will not control that discretion unless it has been flagrantly abused. Bishop v. Wilbanks, 161 Ga. 305, 130 S.E. 819; Smith v. State, 203 Ga. 636, 47 S.E.2d 866.

We are of the opinion that Judge Etheridge was correct in denying the writ of habeas corpus, as no abuse of discretion in denying the petitioner bail was shown on the part of Judge Long, who tried the petitioner's case. He had ample cause to deny bail. In its verdict finding the petitioner guilty the jury fixed her punishment at five years and recommended that she be punished as for a misdemeanor. On this issue the court heard from the solicitor general, who presented her F.B.I. record, which showed a conviction for shoplifting in December, 1957, on which she was given a probation sentence, which was later revoked, and that she had been...

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20 cases
  • Whiddon v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • January 5, 1982
    ...discretion of the trial court, and this court will not control that discretion unless it has been flagrantly abused.' Watts v. Grimes, 224 Ga. 227, 161 S.E.2d 286 (1968). '(T)he burden of seeking a stay of execution and a release on bond is upon the applicant.' Moore v. State, 151 Ga.App. 4......
  • Fields v. Tankersley, Civ. A. No. 180-74.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of Georgia
    • May 14, 1980
    ...been abused. Birge v. State, 238 Ga. 88, 230 S.E.2d 895 (1976); Corbett v. State, 233 Ga. 756, 213 S.E.2d 652 (1975); Watts v. Grimes, 224 Ga. 227, 161 S.E.2d 286 (1968); Smith v. State, 203 Ga. 636, 47 S.E.2d 866 (1948); Bishop v. Wilbanks, 161 Ga. 305, 309, 130 S.E. 819, 822 (1925); Leste......
  • Branan v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • June 6, 2007
    ...4. After he was indicted, Branan refunded a portion of Lenhart, Miller, and Hopkinson's initial investments. 5. See Watts v. Grimes, 224 Ga. 227, 161 S.E.2d 286 (1968). 6. See Birge v. State, 238 Ga. 88, 89, 230 S.E.2d 895 7. See Williford v. State, 218 Ga.App. 522, 524, 462 S.E.2d 632 (199......
  • Riggins v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • June 4, 1975
    ...Ann. § 6-1001, has always been within the discretion of the trial judge. Vanderford v. Brand, 126 Ga. 67(2), 54 S.E. 822; Watts v. Grimes, 224 Ga. 227, 161 S.E.2d 286; Hardwick v. State, 131 Ga.App. 721, 206 S.E.2d 727; Sellers v. State, 112 Ga.App. 607, 145 S.E.2d 827; Sellers v. State, 37......
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