Opinion
No. 33964.
November 22, 1961.
Appeal from the County Court, Jim Wells County, Wash Storm, Jr., J.
No attorney for appellant of record on appeal.
Leon B. Douglas, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.
The offense is operating an automobile without the owner's consent; the punishment, thirty days in jail and a fine of $25.
In examining the complaint and information we find the statutory requisite of Art. 1341, Vernon's Ann.P.C., is not properly alleged as to the value of the automobile operated without the consent of the owner, Manuel Valdez.
The above article, as amended by act of the 56th Legislature, 1959, makes it necessary to allege the value of a motor vehicle in cases of this kind, and fixes punishment, misdemeanor, under Sec. 'a' when the vehicle is valued at less than $200; and under Sec. 'b' when the vehicle is valued at more than $200 a possible punishment may be assessed for any term not exceeding three years in the penitentiary.
Even though no objection has been urged, we regard the above error as fundamental; accordingly, the cause is reversed and the prosecution ordered dismissed.