Opinion
No. 79SA105
Decided June 25, 1979. Rehearing denied July 2, 1979.
Extradition proceeding. Petitioner, who was arrested in Colorado, filed a petition for habeas corpus claiming that the extradition request by the state of Texas was defective because it did not include an authenticated copy of his prior conviction. The district court discharged the writ and petitioner appealed.
Affirmed
1. EXTRADITION AND DETAINERS — Requisition — Charge — Aggravated Robbery — Accompanying Indictment — Previous Burglary Conviction — Statute — Compliance — Probable Cause. Where requisition of Governor of Texas states that fugitive is charged with crime of "aggravated robbery by deadly weapon — enhanced bond forfeiture," and accompanying indictment charges fugitive with "aggravated robbery — enhanced" and also states that he was previously convicted of burglary, held, under section 16-19-104, C.R.S. 1973, the statutory requirements have been met; the requisition documents indicate that an alleged crime is the basis for extradition rather than the also-mentioned burglary conviction, thus, the documents need not include an authenticated copy of his prior conviction.
2. Indictment — Texas — Probable Cause — Citation — Immaterial. Indictment accompanying Texas Governor's extradition requisition sufficed to establish probable cause to believe that fugitive committed crime in Texas even though it did not include a statutory citation for the crime of aggravated robbery; lack of citation was an immaterial technicality.
Appeal from the District Court of the City and County of Denver Honorable Henry E. Santo, Judge
J. Gregory Walta, Colorado State Public Defender, Craig L. Truman, Chief Deputy, Ilene P. Buchalter, Deputy, for petitioner-appellant.
J. D. MacFarlane, Attorney General, Richard F. Hennessey, Deputy, Edward G. Donovan, Solicitor General, Lynne Ford, Assistant, for respondents-appellees.
The petitioner was arrested in Colorado and held for extradition to Texas. He filed a petition for habeas corpus claiming that the extradition request was defective because it did not include an authenticated copy of his prior conviction. The district court found his argument to be without merit, as do we.
[1] The requisition of the Governor of Texas states that the petitioner is charged with the crime of "aggravated robbery by deadly weapon — enhanced bond forfeiture." The accompanying indictment charges the petitioner with "aggravated robbery-enhanced" and also states that he was previously convicted of burglary. It is the latter charge which petitioner claims must be authenticated by a copy of his former conviction.
The governing statute reads:
"No demand for the extradition of a person charged with crime in another state shall be recognized by the governor unless in writing alleging, except in cases arising under section 16-19-107, that the accused was present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged crime, and that thereafter he fled from the state, and accompanied by a copy of an indictment found or by information supported by affidavit in the state having jurisdiction of the crime, or by a copy of an affidavit made before a magistrate there, together with a copy of a judgment of conviction or of a sentence imposed in execution thereof, together with a statement by the executive authority of the demanding state that the person claimed has escaped from confinement or has broken the terms of his bail, probation, or parole." Section 16-19-104, C.R.S. 1973.
Here the indictment states two possible grounds for extradition, viz., the charge of aggravated robbery and the burglary conviction. The Governor's requisition indicates, however, that the charge of aggravated robbery is the actual basis for extradition here. Consequently, the statute requires only an accompanying indictment together with any warrants issued pursuant thereto and the allegation that petitioner was in Texas when the crime occurred and afterwards fled. These requirements have been met.
If the burglary conviction were the only basis of extradition the judgment of conviction would be necessary together with other essential statements. Morgan v. Miller, 197 Colo. 341, 593 P.2d 357 (1979).
[2] Petitioner also contends that the indictment is defective because it does not include a statutory citation for the crime of aggravated robbery. This claim is an attempt to thwart the extradition by an insistence upon immaterial technicalities. Martello v. Baker, 189 Colo. 195, 539 P.2d 1280 (1975). The indictment suffices to establish probable cause to believe that petitioner committed a crime in Texas. Eathorne v. Nelson, 180 Colo. 288, 505 P.2d 1 (1973).
We affirm the district court's order dismissing the writ.