Effective 28 Aug 1997

545.240. Informations — how filed, verified. — Informations may be filed by the prosecuting attorney as informant during term time, or with the clerk in vacation, of the court having jurisdiction of the offense specified therein. All informations shall state the name of the prosecuting attorney and be verified by his oath or by the oath of some person competent to testify as a witness in the case, or be supported by the affidavit of such person, which shall be filed with the information; the verification by the prosecuting attorney may be upon information and belief; all in the manner provided by supreme court rule. The names of the witnesses for the prosecution must be affixed to the information, in like manner and subject to the same restrictions as required in case of indictments.

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(RSMo 1939 § 3894, A.L. 1997 S.B. 248)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 3504; 1919 § 3849; 1909 § 5057

CROSS REFERENCE:

Misdemeanor prosecutions, Chap. 543

(1951) Where accused does not attack information by motion to quash, failure of assistant prosecuting attorney to sign it, is unavailing on appeal. State v. Taylor, 362 Mo. 676, 243 S.W.2d 301.

(1951) Trial court has large discretion in granting leave to endorse names of witnesses on indictment at beginning of trial. State v. Farris (Mo.), 243 S.W.2d 983.

(1960) Information signed by an assistant prosecuting attorney of Jackson County held sufficient. State v. Easley (Mo.), 338 S.W.2d 884.

(1964) Where information is supported by affidavit of private individual that individual must have actual knowledge of the offense but verification of information by prosecuting attorney may be upon information and belief. State v. Statler (Mo.), 383 S.W.2d 534.

(1967) It is only where the information is supported by the affidavit of a private individual that such person must have actual knowledge of the offense, and the prosecuting attorney may verify an information upon information and belief. State v. Crump (Mo.), 412 S.W.2d 490.