Decker v. Mississippi
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A grand jury indicted Vanessa Decker under the state Vulnerable Adults Act of 1986 for using her elderly mother's money "without her consent." But at trial, the evidence established that Ms. Decker did obtain her mother's consent to use the money. The State requested a jury instruction that allowed the jury to find Ms. Decker guilty, even if her mother had given consent. The judge granted the State's request. Subsequently, Ms. Decker was convicted by the court and sentenced to four months' imprisonment. Additionally, Ms. Decker was sentenced to pay restitution, fines and court costs. Ms. Decker appealed her conviction. Upon review of the trial record, the Supreme Court found that the trial judge gave a jury instruction that materially changed the charge made by the grand jury in the indictment. Accordingly, the Court reversed the trial court's conviction and sentence. The Court remanded the case for further proceedings.
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