Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1989

State v. Avery

State v. Avery
Louisiana Court of Appeal · Decided July 24, 1989
548 So. 2d 85; 1989 La. App. LEXIS 1458; 1989 WL 82019 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

State v. Avery

Opinion of the Court

ORDER

WRIT GRANTED AND MADE PEREMPTORY:

Under the aggregate punishment rule, relator is entitled to a jury trial since the potential aggregate punishment for the charged offense exceeds six months. State v. Williams, 404 So.2d 954 (La. 1981). The granting of a motion to consolidate lies within the discretion of the trial judge. However, it is an abuse of discretion to refuse to order consolidation unless the state demonstrates a legitimate prosecuto-rial end in opposing consolidation. La.C. Cr.P. art. 706; State v. Comeaux, 408 So.2d 1099 (La. 1981). Depriving an accused of a jury trial is not a legitimate prosecutorial end. State v. Comeaux, supra; State v. Jones, 396 So.2d 1272 (La. 1981). See also State v. Wallace, 539 So.2d 123 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1989). Therefore, the trial judge erred in denying relator’s motion for consolidation solely for the purpose of preventing relator from having a jury trial. This case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this order.

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