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Hampton v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 7, 1977
234 S.E.2d 698 (Ga. Ct. App. 1977)

Opinion

53373.

SUBMITTED JANUARY 31, 1977.

DECIDED APRIL 7, 1977.

Obstruction of officer. Murray Superior Court. Before Judge Temples.

Mitchell, Mitchell, Coppedge, Boyett Wester, Terry L. Miller, James H. Bisson, III, for appellant.

Samuel J. Brantley, District Attorney, Steve K. Fain, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


The defendant, appellant, was indicted, tried and convicted of knowingly and wilfully obstructing and hindering a named law enforcement officer, who was in the lawful discharge of his official duties, by pointing a rifle at him. He was sentenced to twelve months in jail, the last six months to be served on probation, and assessed a fine of $500. He appealed to this court.

1. The enumeration of error as to the overruling of a plea in abatement and demurrer to the indictment cannot be considered as there is no demurrer or plea in abatement in the record sent to this court by the clerk of the court below, and upon inquiry we are informed there is none on file in the court below. See in this connection Harris v. State, 118 Ga. App. 848 (6) ( 166 S.E.2d 94); Kitchens v. State, 228 Ga. 624 (1) ( 187 S.E.2d 268). However, inasmuch as it appears such a plea and demurrer were ruled upon by the trial judge, we have examined the arguments presented, based upon what facts are in the record upon which such alleged plea and demurrer would operate, and find them without merit. Lennard v. State, 104 Ga. 546 (1) ( 30 S.E. 780); Meriwether v. State, 63 Ga. App. 667 ( 11 S.E.2d 816); Price v. Cobb, 63 Ga. App. 694 (5, 6) ( 11 S.E.2d 822); Code § 27-701; Ramer v. State, 76 Ga. App. 678 (1) ( 47 S.E.2d 174); Code § 27-1501; Curtis v. State, 102 Ga. App. 790 (1) ( 118 S.E.2d 264).

2. Error is enumerated on the alleged failure of the trial judge to grant a continuance based upon an alleged failure to supply a list of witnesses after demand was made. No motion for continuance appears in the record, nor does any demand except one made after the jury was selected and sworn, and that orally. Further, it appears, and the trial judge so found, that a list of witnesses was furnished prior to the trial. All of these facts came out after the defendant complained of the alleged failure to furnish a list of witnesses after an alleged demand; but he made no motion for continuance. No error appears here.

3. Appellant further complains that his arrest without a warrant was illegal and contends that because of this his conviction was illegal. (a) The arrest was legal, the crime being committed upon the officers who immediately thereafter, and after persuading defendant to put the rifle down, arrested him. (b) And even if the arrest was illegal, this does not vitiate his trial and conviction if authorized by legal evidence.

4. The evidence was sufficient to authorize a verdict of guilty and there was no error in refusing to direct a verdict of acquittal.

Judgment affirmed. Bell, C. J., and McMurray, J., concur.

SUBMITTED JANUARY 31, 1977 — DECIDED APRIL 7, 1977.


Summaries of

Hampton v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 7, 1977
234 S.E.2d 698 (Ga. Ct. App. 1977)
Case details for

Hampton v. State

Case Details

Full title:HAMPTON v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Apr 7, 1977

Citations

234 S.E.2d 698 (Ga. Ct. App. 1977)
234 S.E.2d 698

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