5-34-4. PROCEDURE WITH REGARD TO PRIOR CONVICTIONS INFORMATION.

The Defendant shall be apprised of the prior convictions charge and shall be arraigned on said charge at the same time as arraignment on the principal charge. In the event of jury trial on the principal charge, the jury shall not be advised of the prior convictions charge until they have reached a verdict on the principal crime. If the operative effect of this chapter is to increase the penalty for the crime to a point where the right to jury trial is invoked, the Defendant shall be entitled to separate jury trials on the principal offense charged and on the prior convictions charge, although the same jury may hear both cases.