David Cameron appeals the district court’s decision to terminate a pretrial diversion and to reinstate criminal prosecution. The issue on appeal is whether the termination order is an appealable order and jurisdiction is proper in this court.
After the State successfully appealed the district court’s dismissal of multiple sexual charges against Cameron, he entered a pretrial diversion agreement and prosecution of the case was stayed. Pertinent conditions of Cameron’s diversion included payment of a diversion fee, a reparations fee, a fine, restitution, and attorney fees. The conditions also required Cameron to perform 40 hours of community service. The State sought revocation of the diversion agreement after Cameron failed to pay monies owed and failed to perform community service work. After hearing evidence, the district court revoked the diversion agreement and reinstated prosecution of the charges against Cameron. Cameron appeals the revocation of the diversion agreement. This court issued a show cause order for parties to address whether the appeal should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
“The right to appeal in a criminal case is strictly statutory and absent statutory authority there is no right to appeal.” State v. Freeman,
Cameron argues his situation should be viewed as akin to the procedural aspects of double jeopardy. He states that the purpose of the prohibition against double jeopardy is to protect a person from “having to go through a trial when the trial should not have occurred to begin with.” He cites Abney v. United States,
The inherent problem with Cameron’s theory of double jeopardy is that he has yet to be placed in jeopardy for his crimes. Double jeopardy protects against being prosecuted twice for the same offense, not being prosecuted initially for the crime. See State v. Beerbower,
The closest case addressing the current jurisdiction issue is State v. McDaniels,
“The primary reason for allowing the State to take interlocutory appeals from suppression orders which substantially impair its ability to prosecute the case is to avoid later problems with double jeopardy. In this case, even though the defendant may eventually have his charges dismissed with prejudice, jeopardy has not attached. Therefore, the State may appeal after the dismissal, and if the appeal is sustained, the defendant may be tried. Accordingly, the potential for a double jeopardy problem which exists in other cases where interlocutory appeals are permitted does not exist in this case.
“Also, the possibility still exists that the defendant may violate his diversion agreement and the trial court, after conducting a hearing, may decide to revoke the diversion and proceed to trial.
“We find in this case evidence was neither suppressed nor excluded within the meaning of the statute. Moreover, there is still a chance the defendant may be brought to trial. If he is, the State’s ability to prosecute the case will not be impaired in any way. Accordingly, we hold the trial court’s order was not appeal-able under K.S.A. 22-3603.”237 Kan. at 771 .
K.S.A. 2002 Supp. 22-3602(a) governs appealable orders by a defendant in a criminal case and provides, in part:
“Except as otherwise provided, an appeal to the appellate court having jurisdiction of the appeal may be taken by the defendant as a matter of right from any judgment against the defendant in the district court and upon appeal any decision of the district court or intermediate order made in the progress of the case may be reviewed.” (Emphasis added.)
In addressing what is appealable under 22-3602(a), the court in State v. Rios,
Without jurisdiction over an appealable order, we will not address any of the other issues concerning the validity of tire revocation.
Appeal dismissed.
