Jones v. Commonwealth

This appeal involves a claim of double jeopardy in a case where felonious offenses were committed by an adult defendant against a juvenile victim. The determinative issue is whether in such a case the requirement of a preliminary hearing is jurisdictional or merely procedural in nature.

The case arose out of an incident occurring December 1, 1977, in which the defendant, Lester Wayne Jones, and an accomplice robbed Joseph Viets at gunpoint. In the course of the encounter, the accomplice shot at Viets. As a result of the incident, the defendant was charged with attempted murder, robbery, and…