Charging Instruments

• Author: Deandra M. Grant/Kimberly Griffin Tucker
• Pages: 659-678

16-1

CHAPTER 16

CHARGING INSTRUMENTS

I. Required Charging Instruments

§16:01 Three Charging Instruments: Complaint, Information, Indictment

§16:02 Generally, Information for Misdemeanor; Indictment for Felony

II. General Requirements for Valid Charging Instruments

A. Complaint Requirements

§16:10 Statutory Requirements

§16:11 The Complainant Must Be Credible

 

 

§16:14 The Jurat Must Be Proper

B. Indictment and Information Requirements

§16:20 Constitutional Requirement: Indictment or Information

§16:21 Statutory Requirements for an Information

§16:22 Information Must Be Supported by Valid Complaint

 

 

§16:25 Statutory Requirements for an Indictment

III. Charging the Elements of DWI

 

§16:30 Statutory Elements of DWI

§16:31 “Intoxicated”

§16:32 “Operating”

§16:33 Measurement of the Breath, Blood, or Urine Concentration

§16:34 Road

§16:35 “Motor Vehicle”

§16:36 “Public Place”

§16:37 Enhancement Allegation That Prior Was Within 10 Years

§16:38 Open Container

§16:39 Immediate Possession

 

 

 

 

IV. Defects in Charging Instruments

§16:60 Types of Defects: Form and Substance

 

Texas DWI Manual 16-2

 

 

 

V. Motion to Quash

A. General Points

 

 

 

 

B. Motion Requirements

§16:80 The Motion Must Be Timely

§16:81 The Motion Must Be in Writing

 

 

C. Consequences of Motion

§16:90 Misdemeanor Is Discharged but Defendant May Be Prosecuted Again

 

 

§16:93 State May Appeal

 

VI. Amending Indictment and Information

A. What Constitutes an Amendment

 

§16:101 Changing an Enhancement Paragraph Is an Amendment

§16:102 Abandonment: Changes Falling Short of Amendment

§16:103 Amending Underlying Complaint

B. Time for Amendment

1. Before Trial Commences

§16:110 Amendment Before Trial Commences Is Permitted

§16:111 Date the Trial Commences

 

 

§16:114 Amendment After an Exception Is Sustained

2. After Trial Commences

 

§16:121 Amendment on Day of Trial but Before Commencement

 

 

C. Mechanics of Amending

§16:130 Required Steps

 

§16:132 Consequences of Omission of Required Step

§16:133 Right to Ten Days to Respond—Defense Request Required

VII. Lost Indictment

 

§16:141 Procedure for Substitution for a Lost Indictment

VIII. Court’s Right to Dismiss an Indictment

 

§16:151 When Dismissal Without the State’s Consent Is Authorized

§16:152 Possible Additional Basis for Dismissal Without Consent