State of West Virginia v. Gilbert Epperly

Summary

The court held that a nonsupport warrant may be initiated by any person cognizant of the relevant facts, including the grandmother of an illegitimate child, because the governing statute expressly permits such a complaint. The court refused to use the in pari materia rule to restrict that clear and unambiguous language based on the separate bastardy statute. It reversed the circuit court's order quashing the warrant and dismissing the proceeding, and remanded for trial.