Lyons v. Commonwealth

A grand jury for Amherst, county on June 11, 1962, returned an indictment against the defendant, Cecil Lyons, which contained three counts. The first count was for manufacturing alcoholic beverages, a felony, Code § 4-57; the second was for having possession of a still, a misdemeanor, Code § 4-77; and the third for having possession of illegal alcoholic beverages, a misdemeanor, Code § 4-75.

On his trial a jury returned this verdict: “We the jury find Cecil Lyons guilty and fix his punishment at 6 months in jail and $100.00 fine,” and he was sentenced accordingly. The punishment fixed was…