Oklahoma v Stone

Oklahoma v Stone
1934 OK CR 132
37 P.2d 320
56 Okl.Cr. 239
Decided: 10/19/1934
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

(Syllabus.)

1. Appeal and Error - State's Right to Appeal Dependent on Statutory Authority. The right of the state to appeal from any order or judgment of a trial court rests upon statutory authority, which authority cannot be enlarged by construction.

2. Same - State Without Right to Appeal From Order Granting Defendant New Trial. In this jurisdiction the state has no right to appeal from an order of the trial court granting a new trial to a person who has been convicted of a crime.

3. Same - Necessary Service of Notice of Appeal. State attempting to appeal in criminal case must serve notice of appeal on defendant personally, or must post such notice in office of court clerk if defendant cannot be found in county; service of notice on defendant's attorney of record being insufficient (St. 1931, ǧ 3191, 3193).

Appeal from District Court, Marshall County; Asa E. Walden, Judge.

Page 240

Harmon (Chic) Stone was charged with assault with intent to rape, and he entered a plea of guilty. From an order setting aside judgment and sentence and permitting defendant to withdraw his plea of guilty and to enter plea of not guilty, the State appeals. Appeal dismissed.

Sam Y. Colby, Co. Atty., for plaintiff in error.

Don Welch, for defendant in error.

EDWARDS, P.J. Defendant was charged in the district court of Marshall county of assault with intent to rape. On the 16th of April he entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to serve a term of two years in the state penitentiary. On April 17 he filed motion to set aside the judgment and sentence and prayed to be allowed to withdraw his plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, assigning as a reason that he was not guilty; that he entered his plea without having the advice of counsel or having advised with his friends. Action was deferred to May 11th, when the motion was sustained, the judgment and sentence vacated and set aside, and defendant permitted to withdraw his plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty. From this order the state has attempted to appeal.

The state contends that the trial court was without jurisdiction to entertain the motion to set aside the judgment and sentence, citing Ex parte Strader, 37 Okla. Cr. 285, 257 P. 1112; Tracy v. State, 24 Okla. Cr. 144, 216 P. 941.

This court is without jurisdiction to review this appeal for two reasons: First. The right of the state to appeal in a criminal case is limited by section 3191, Okla. Stat. 1931, which is:

Page 241

"Appeals to the Criminal Court of Appeals may be taken by the state in the following cases and no other:

"First. Upon judgment for the defendant on quashing or setting aside an indictment or information.

"Second. Upon an order of the court arresting the judgment.

"Third. Upon a question reserved by the state."