Williams v. State

I respectfully dissent. As the majority indicates by its quote from Hunt v. State, 354 Ark. 682, 128 S.W.3d 820 (2003), penal statutes are strictly construed with all doubts resolved in favor of the defendant, nothing being taken as intended which is not clearly expressed. This court follows the universal rule that criminal statutes are strictly construed and no case is to be brought by construction within a statute unless it is “completely within its words.” Austin v. State, 259 Ark. 802, 804, 536 S.W.2d 699, 700 (1976); Lewis v. State, 220 Ark. 259, 262, 247 S.W.2d 195, 196 (1952); Casey v.…