Hutcherson v. State

Nov 22, 1978
2-1076A384
Reporters:
,
Before:
Young, Lybrook, Robertson

YOUNG, Judge.

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING

The State petitions for rehearing on the ground that ‍​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‍a new question of law was erroneously decided, namely in construing I.C. 1971, 35-24.1-4.1-6(b) (Burns Code Ed.) as referring to heroin, and not a substance containing heroin. It is our duty to construe criminal statutes strictly against the State ‍​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‍and in favor of the accused. Utley v. State, (1972) 258 Ind. 443, 281 N.E.2d 888; Coleman v. State, (1970) 253 Ind. 627, 256 N.E.2d 389. This rule of strict construction means that criminal statutes “will not be enlarged by implication ‍​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‍or intendment beyond the fair meaning of the language used, and will not be held to include offenses and persons other than those which are clearly described and provided for . . . .” Kelley v. State, (1954) 233 Ind. 294, ‍​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‍298, 119 N.E.2d 322, 324.

Petition for Rehearing denied.

LYBROOK, P.J. (sitting by designation), and ROBERTSON, J. (sitting by designation), concur.