Opinion

State v. Brown

  • 29 N.C. App. 180
  • 223 S.E.2d 572
  • 1976 N.C. App. LEXIS 2409
Court
Court of Appeals of North Carolina
Filed
Apr 7, 1976
Status
Published
Author
Britt
On the bench
Britt, Clark, Parker
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 14.8%

The opinion

BRITT, Judge.

G.S. 15-179 provides as follows:

“When State May Appeal. — Except as provided in G.S. 15A-979(c), an appeal to the appellate division or superior court may be taken by the State in the following cases, and no other. Where judgment has been given for the defendant—

(1) Upon a special verdict.

(2) Upon a demurrer.

(3) Upon a motion to quash.

(4) Upon arrest of judgment.

(5) Upon a motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence, but only on questions of law.

(6) Upon declaring a statute unconstitutional.

(7) Upon a motion to bar prosecution based on the prohibition against double jeopardy.”

We hold that an appeal by the State is not authorized in this case. On oral argument in this court the State contended that the appeal is permitted by subsection (4), “upon arrest of judgment.” We reject that contention because no judgment was arrested. The action of the court in allowing defendant’s motion in arrest of judgment had no effect and we treat it as mere surplusage.

While we think the trial court erred in directing a verdict for defendant, we are not authorized to correct that error. The record discloses that during the presentation of evidence defendant did not challenge the qualifications of the breathalyzer operator and did not object to any of his testimony. Defendant’s *182 first complaint with respect to the testimony came after the jury returned its verdict; that was too late. 3 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Criminal Law § 162; State v. Harrell, 16 N.C. App. 620 , 192 S.E. 2d 645 (1972) ; State v. Davis, 8 N.C. App. 589 , 174 S.E. 2d 865 (1970).

Appeal dismissed.

Judges Parker and Clark concur.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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