Patrick Armstrong appeals the denial of his plea of former jeopardy. He contends that his indictment is barred by an earlier trial because a jury was impaneled and sworn before the prosecution was dismissed. We disagree because the trial court lacked jurisdiction in the absence of an indictment and therefore affirm. The record shows that Armstrong was charged by accusation with two counts of terroristic threats and acts and two counts of aggravated stalking. The case came on for trial in the superior court, and Armstrong’s counsel announced that he was ready to proceed. But as soon as the jury had been sworn, Armstrong’s counsel moved to dismiss on the ground that he had not waived in writing his right to indictment by a grand jury under OCGA § 17-7-70 a. The trial court asked counsel why he had not raised this issue earlier, and counsel responded, “The burden is not on me, Judge. It’s on the State. The burden is on the State to proceed as they are required to do and what I did is I let the State proceed. There’s no question about that. I knew exactly what I was doing and that’s the reason I let the jury get impaneled.” The following exchange then took place between counsel and the court: The Court: Well, I guess you obviously thought there was some tactical advantage for your client in doing it that way. Mr. Perry: Exactly. The Court: And what do you think the advantage is Mr. Perry: The advantage is they cannot proceed on this case and the case cannot go forward now that — The Court: You think once the issue’s been joined, once the jury’s been impaneled and sworn that if it can’t go forward on the accusation, then it can’t be re-indicted — Mr. Perry: Exactly. The Court —or indicted Mr. Perry: That’s exactly right.1 The trial court took the matter under advisement and concluded that under the express terms of OCGA § 17-7-70 it lacked jurisdiction to try Armstrong’s case in the absence of a written waiver of indictment. The State offered Armstrong the opportunity to waive indictment and proceed, but Armstrong’s counsel stated, “I’ll stand on my motion.” The trial court then dismissed the jury. The accusation against Armstrong was nol prossed, and he was indicted on the same charges. He then filed his plea of former jeopardy, which the trial court denied. This appeal followed.
“A defendant is not placed in jeopardy until, in a court of competent jurisdiction with a sufficient indictment, he has been arraigned, has pled, and a jury has been impaneled and sworn. Cit.” Fletcher v. State , 213 Ga. App. 401, 404 2 445 SE2d 279 1994. OCGA § 16-1-8 d provides: “A prosecution is not barred within the meaning of this Code section if: 1 The former prosecution was before a court which lacked jurisdiction over the accused or the crime.”
