State v. O'BOYLE

356 N.W.2d 122
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 15, 1984
DocketCr. 1013
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 356 N.W.2d 122 (State v. O'BOYLE) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. O'BOYLE, 356 N.W.2d 122 (N.D. 1984).

Opinions

PEDERSON, Justice.

The State appeals from a “memorandum opinion” of the district court which ordered dismissal of an information charging Dennis J. O’Boyle with Class C felony escape pursuant to § 12.1-08-06, NDCC. O’Boyle has moved to dismiss the State’s appeal. We deny O’Boyle’s motion to dismiss the appeal and reverse the district court’s order of dismissal.

MOTION TO DISMISS

The State’s notice of appeal, which was filed on March 20,1984, states that the appeal is taken from the district court’s memorandum opinion dated March 14, 1984. An “order of dismissal” in this case was filed on March 22, 1984. O’Boyle asserts that because the State has appealed from the district court’s memorandum opinion, rather than from the subsequently entered order of dismissal, the appeal must be dismissed. We disagree.

The right to appeal is purely statutory and an order is appealable only if it comes within the provisions of a specific statute. State v. Lawson, 321 N.W.2d 514 (N.D.1982). Section 29-28-07(1), NDCC, provides that “An appeal may be taken by the state from ... [a]n order quashing an information or indictment or any count thereof.” A motion to dismiss an information and a motion to quash an information are substantially equivalent, and “an order which on its face, without more, has the effect of quashing an information, is appealable” under § 29-28-07(1), NDCC. State v. Hanson, 252 N.W.2d 872, 874 (N.D.1977); State v. Jelliff, 251 N.W.2d 1 (N.D.1977); State v. Howe, 247 N.W.2d 647 (N.D.1976); State v. Allesi, 211 N.W.2d 733 (N.D.1973).

Although a memorandum decision is generally not appealable, when it contains an order which is intended to be a final order, and the order is one from which an appeal may be taken, we will treat the appeal as an appeal from the order. State v. Tinsley, 325 N.W.2d 177 (N.D.1982); State v. Gelvin, 318 N.W.2d 302 (N.D.1982).

In this case, the district court’s memorandum opinion explicitly states: “Based on the foregoing, it is hereby ordered that the Information charging the defendant with the Class C felony of escape is hereby dismissed.” Although the memorandum opinion further states that counsel “may prepare the appropriate order of dismissal,” and an “order of dismissal” was subsequently entered, we conclude that the memorandum opinion itself contained a final order which had the effect of quashing the information. Once the information was effectively dismissed, any further “order” dismissing the information was surplusage. O’Boyle’s motion to dismiss the appeal is denied.

PROPRIETY OF DISMISSAL UNDER RULE 12(b), NDRCrimP

O’Boyle was charged in a criminal information with committing the offense of [124]*124Class C felony escape on or about September 24, 1983 in Mandan. The information alleges that “[without lawful authority, [O’Boyle] removed or attempted to remove himself from official detention by using force or threat of force against another.” Mandan Police Officer Richard L. Schaaf was the only witness who testified at the preliminary hearing. The county court found probable cause and O’Boyle was bound over to the district court.

Prior to trial, O’Boyle filed a motion to dismiss the information “on the grounds that the testimony given at that Preliminary Hearing in this matter included all of the substantive evidence against the Defendant which will or can be offered at the trial of this matter and that said evidence is insufficient to support a felony charge of Escape, although said evidence may be capable of supporting a misdemeanor charge of Escape.”

After submission of briefs by the parties, the district court, apparently on the basis of the testimony given at the preliminary hearing, stated in its memorandum opinion:

“The operative facts in this case show the following: (a.) The defendant was placed under arrest for the misdemeanor charge of driving while under the influence. (b.) The defendant was placed in the rear seat of the police squad car for transportation to the station, (c.) That while the officer was walking to the other side of the car and entering the vehicle, the defendant opened the rear door and fled down the street, (d.) The officer pursued Mr. O’Boyle and approximately two hundred feet from the vehicle, he reached out and grabbed his sweater, the parties fell to the ground, Mr. O’Boyle continued to struggle and broke away from the officer and fled for good, (e.) Mr. O’Boyle was later apprehended at his home in Mandan.”

The trial court concluded that the incident described above could be alleged to constitute Class A misdemeanor escape and a violation of § 12.1-08-02(1), NDCC, which prohibits preventing arrest or discharge of other duties, rather than Class C felony escape which requires the use of “force or threat of force against another in effecting or attempting to effect his removal from official detention.” § 12.1-08-06(2)(a), NDCC. The district court dismissed the Class C felony charge of escape with prejudice, but noted that the dismissal was without prejudice as to the State recharging O’Boyle with Class A misdemeanor escape.

Rule 12(b), NDRCrimP, provides in pertinent part that “[a]ny defense, objection, or request which is capable of determination without the trial of the general issue may be raised before trial by motion.” A defense is “capable of determination” under Rule 12(b) “if trial of the facts surrounding the commission of the alleged offense would be of no assistance in determining the validity of the defense.” United States v. Covington, 395 U.S. 57, 60, 89 S.Ct. 1559, 1561, 23 L.Ed.2d 94, 99 (1969). A pretrial motion to dismiss is not a device for summary trial of the evidence. State v. Howe, 247 N.W.2d 647 (N.D.1976).

Recently, in State v. Kolobakken, 347 N.W.2d 569, 571 (N.D.1984), this Court reversed a county court judgment granting the defendant’s pretrial motion for dismissal based on her asserted defense of lack of criminal responsibility because such a defense “has a bearing on the very issue of a defendant’s legal guilt or innocence and, as such, raises a factual question to be submitted to and determined by the trier of fact.” In Kolobakken, supra, 347 N.W.2d at 570, we stated:

“[Rule 12(b), NDRCrimP] provides no authority for a court to grant a pretrial motion to dismiss based on a defense ‘which raises factual questions embraced in the general issue.’ United States v. Brown, 481 F.2d 1035, 1041 (8th Cir.1973).
“For this reason, courts have denied pretrial efforts to have charges dismissed which were based on defenses of entrapment ... withdrawal ... and insufficiency of the evidence_” [Emphasis added; citations omitted.]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Steffensen
2020 S.D. 36 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2020)
State v. Jones
2002 ND 193 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Lora Lou Norby
2002 ND 71 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Perreault
2002 ND 14 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Davenport
536 N.W.2d 686 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Zink
519 N.W.2d 581 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1994)
State v. DuPaul
509 N.W.2d 266 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1993)
State v. Hammond
498 N.W.2d 126 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1993)
State v. Zeno
490 N.W.2d 707 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1992)
State v. Melin
428 N.W.2d 227 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1988)
City of Bismarck v. Hoopman
421 N.W.2d 466 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1988)
State v. Swanson
407 N.W.2d 204 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1987)
State v. O'BOYLE
356 N.W.2d 122 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
356 N.W.2d 122, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-oboyle-nd-1984.