Rule 6-305 Unnecessary allegations.

When the state charges someone with a crime in magistrate court, the written complaint does not have to spell out every little detail of what happened. Things like the exact time, the exact place, how the crime was carried out, the value of property involved, who owned the property, or the specific intent behind the act do not always need to be included. The main rule is that the complaint just needs to give the defendant enough information to know what crime they are accused of.

The complaint also does not need to name the exact type of money involved, like whether it was cash, a check, or a specific currency. It does not need to state the exact degree of the crime or list any legal exceptions that might apply. Basically, small details that do not change the core charge can be left out, as long as the defendant still understands what they are being accused of.

If the state chooses to include these extra details anyway, that is allowed. Adding this extra information does not change the complaint or make it broader than it should be. Courts will treat these extra details as unnecessary information that does not affect the case, meaning they will not be used later to argue the complaint was unfair or incorrect.