Johnson v. StateJohnson v. State
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- Pittman
Williаm Bert Johnson appeals from his non-jury felony conviction of driving while intoxicated, fourth offense. Appellant was sentenced to three years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, with two years suspended, and was fined $2,500.00. On appeal, appellant contends (1) that the trial court erred in finding that the information properly charged a felony DWI, (2) that the trial court erred in not reducing the charge from a felony DWI to a DWI, third ofíense, and (3) that the trial court erred in not dismissing the information for insufficient allegations of venue. We find no error and affirm.
Arkansаs Code Annotated § 5-65-111 (b)(3) (Repl. 1993) provides that any person who pleads guilty, nolo contendere, or is found guilty of viоlating § 5-65-103 shall be imprisoned for at least one year but no more than six years for the fourth or subsequent offense оccurring within three years of the first offense and shall be guilty of a felony.
The initial information in this case alleged that appellant had had three prior “offenses.” The information was amended to state that appellant had three prior “arrests.” Appellant then filed two motions to dismiss. In his first motion, he argued that the amended information alleged that he had had three prior “arrests,” rather than “convictions,” and that it is three prior conviсtions that constitute an element of felony DWI, fourth offense. The State responded that appellant’s prior offenses were described as arrests because, for purposes of penalty enhancemеnt, prior DWI offenses are deemed to have occurred when the criminal act was committed, and the Stаte used the date of arrest as the date of commission. Rogers v. State, 293 Ark. 414, 738 S.W.2d 412 (1987). Wording other than that of the statute may be used when the words convey the same meaning.
In his second motion to dismiss, apрellant alleged that he did not have a third-offense DWI conviction, but only a first-offense DWI, and two second-offense DWI’s. He argues that one must have had three convictions, designated as first, second, and third offense, in order tо be convicted of a fourth offense. Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-65-111 (Repl. 1993) sets out the elements of and pеnalties for subsequent offenses of
Appellant next argues that he plea-bargained his third-offense DWI to a second-offense DWI, which conviction should be treated as a second offense for purposes of sentence enhancement. He reliеs on State v. Crist, 843 P.2d 368 (Nev. 1992), which held that a second conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants that was plea-bargained to a first offense must be treated as a first offense for purposes of penalty enhancement.
The alleged plea-bargain agreement on which appellant relies is not part of this record, and we do not know the terms of any such agreement. Nevertheless, we decline to adopt the reasoning of State v. Crist, supra. The element of fourth-offense DWI at issue here is based on the number of prior offenses, nоt how they were designated. The language of
Appellant next argues that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to amend the information orally during the trial to state correctly that the offense was cоmmitted in Madison County rather than Washington County. The State filed a written amended information two days after trial. Appellant argues that the information must be amended in writing prior to the case being heard on the merits. We do not agree. An information may be amended during trial if the nature or degree of the crime is not changed and if the defendant is not prejudiced through surprise.
Affirmed.
JENNINGS, C.J., and Hays, Special Judge, agree.
Notes
We recognize that in Dickerson wе mistakenly spoke in terms of three “convictions” within three years instead of “offenses.” See Rogers v. State, 293 Ark. 414, 738 S.W.2d 412 (1987). However, that mistake does not affect resolution of the issue presented here.