People v. Criswell

The defendant was charged with murder and with obstructing justice. The jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of obstructing justice and he was sentenced to three years probation, the first year to be served in the House of Correction. He is presently free on bond pending the outcome of his appeal, which raises two issues:(1) Whether the statute of limitations had run on the charge of obstructing justice; and(2) Whether proper principles of sentencing require that he serve more time in jail as a condition of his probation.

We conclude that his first contention is well founded and…