State v. Cooper

166 S.E.2d 509 (1969)

4 N.C. App. 210

STATE of North Carolina v. F. R. COOPER.

No. 6916SC79.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

April 2, 1969.

*511 Atty. Gen. Robert Morgan, Asst. Atty. Gen. William W. Melvin, and Staff Atty. T. Buie Costen, Raleigh, for the State.

Chambers, Stein, Ferguson & Lanning by James E. Ferguson, II, Charlotte, for defendant appellant.

MALLARD, Chief Judge.

It is not clear from the above what judge was assigned to hold the session of Superior Court of Robeson County on 15 July 1968. We have accordingly directed the Clerk of the Superior Court of Robeson County to certify what judge was assigned to hold the session of Superior Court of Robeson County on 15 July 1968. From the Certificate of the Clerk of Superior Court of Robeson County, it is ascertained that Judge W. H. S. Burgwyn held the first week of the two-week session of Superior Court beginning on 8 July 1968. Judge James H. Pou Bailey held the second week which began on 15 July 1968.

*512 Notice of appeal was given on 16 July 1968 from the judgment imposed on 15 July 1968. The record on appeal was not docketed until 9 December 1968. There is no order extending the time for docketing the record on appeal. Rule 5 of the Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals requires, in the absence of an order extending the time for docketing, that the record on appeal be docketed within ninety days after the date of the judgment appealed from. Rule 48 of the Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals permits an appeal to be dismissed if the Rules are not complied with. Counsel practicing in the appellate courts, in order to protect the rights of their clients and to avoid embarrassment to themselves, should familiarize themselves with and comply with the Rules. State v. Farrell, 3 N.C.App. 196, 164 S.E.2d 388. In this case there appears to be error in the trial of one of the cases. We have, therefore, in the interest of justice to the defendant, treated the record and defendant's brief as a petition for writ of certiorari, allowed it, and considered the case on its merits. Separate consideration of each case is necessary for decision in this case.

The warrant, the plea and the judgment in this case charging simple assault are all in the record. There is no assignment of error or exception with respect to this case charging simple assault other than the exception provided by law to the judgment upon the giving of notice of appeal. The appeal itself is an exception to the judgment. State v. Ayscue, 240 N.C. 196, 81 S.E.2d 403; London v. London, 271 N.C. 568, 157 S.E.2d 90. In fact, defendant's counsel, upon the oral argument, admits that the defendant has abandoned the appeal as to the simple assault case. The record reveals that the warrant properly charges the offense of simple assault. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of simple assault. The sentence of thirty days imprisonment is permitted by statute. G.S. § 1433. We find no error in the trial of the defendant on the charge of simple assault.

The defendant argues that the trial court committed error in the trial of the resisting arrest case as follows:

1. By imposing a greater sentence in the Superior Court than was imposed in the District Court.

2. By admitting into evidence, over defendant's objections, evidence which defendant contends was "conclusionary, prejudicial and inflammatory."

3. By denying defendant's motion for nonsuit.

4. By stating an opinion in the charge to the jury and by failing to define the law as required by G.S. § 1-180.

It is not necessary for decision in this case to rule on the first contention of the defendant that upon an appeal it is error to impose a greater sentence in Superior Court than was imposed in District Court. Defendant admits that the Supreme Court of North Carolina and this Court have consistently held against this contention. See State v. Stafford, 274 N.C. 519, 164 S.E.2d 371, and the cases cited therein.

Since the questions relating to the admissibility of the evidence may not recur on a new trial, we do not rule on the second contention of the defendant with respect to the admission of evidence.

The evidence of the State taken in the light most favorable to it tends to show that R. W. Fisher was Chief of Police of the Town of Maxton on 15 June 1968. Defendant lived in Maxton and had a place of business there. The police officer, accompanied by a deputy sheriff, had a warrant for the arrest of the defendant and went to the defendant's place of business on this occasion. In the warrant the defendant was charged with an assault on a *513 Mr. Altman. The defendant was given a copy of the warrant. After reading the warrant to him, the defendant was told by the officer that he was under arrest and that it would be necessary for the defendant to go with him to the magistrate to post bond. The defendant said, "I am not going any damn place." The defendant repeatedly refused to go with the officers. After the officers had placed their hands on the defendant in order to take the defendant with them, he said to the deputy sheriff, "You big black son of a bitch, take your hand off me." The defendant hit the officers with his fist, his elbows and kicked them with his feet. One of the defendant's own witnesses testified he saw the defendant "assault the other officer in the face and chest, after he had kicked officer Fisher."

When a person has been lawfully arrested by a lawful officer and understands that he is under arrest, it is his duty to submit peaceably to the arrest. State v. Horner, 139 N.C. 603, 52 S.E. 136. The words "submit peaceably to arrest" imply the yielding to the authority of a lawful officer, after being lawfully arrested.

The Chief of Police of the Town of Maxton and a deputy sheriff of Robeson County are lawful officers and as such are authorized to serve warrants in the Town of Maxton issued by a magistrate. G.S. § 160-21.

There was ample evidence of the defendant's guilt to require the submission of this case to the jury, and the defendant's motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly overruled.

The defendant contends and we agree that the trial judge committed error and expressed an opinion when, as the record reveals, he stated in the charge, "The offense charged here was committed in violation of General Statute 14223." G.S. § 1-180 forbids the expression of an opinion by the trial judge. The remainder of the charge clearly reveals that the trial judge did not intend to state such an opinion; however, we are bound by the record which the solicitor stipulated "is a true and correct copy of the transcript of the record and evidence in this case."

In the trial on the charge of simple assault, we find

No error.

In the trial on the charge of resisting arrest, for the error pointed out, there must be a

New trial.

BRITT and FRANK M. PARKER, JJ., concur.