Justia Criminal Law Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s conviction for second-degree murder. The court held (1) the circuit court did not err in allowing the State to present other acts evidence to the jury but did err in allowing a witness to testify about Defendant’s alleged abuse against her, but Defendant was not entitled to a new trial on this basis; (2) the State’s presentation of a theory of guilt and motive did not amount to prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct; (3) the circuit court did not err in allowing the State to present testimony from its multiple expert witnesses; (4) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to allow Defendant to present additional instances of alleged child abuse committed by a possible third-party perpetrator; and (5) there was sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction against Defendant. View "State v. Patterson" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s conviction for unlawfully possessing a controlled substance, holding that the evidence was sufficient to prove that Defendant knowingly possessed oxycodone, a controlled drug. At issue on appeal was whether the evidence was sufficient to prove that Defendant knew the pills he possessed were a controlled substance of some kind. The Supreme Court held that, when viewed cumulatively and taken in a light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, there was sufficient evidence and inferences therefrom for a rational jury to have found that Defendant knew the pills he possessed were a controlled substance. View "State v. Martin" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s termination from the drug-court program and subsequent revocation of suspension of execution of a four-year sentence. Contrary to Defendant’s arguments raised on appeal, the Supreme Court held (1) this court may not directly review the drug court’s actions in this appeal, but the court does have appellate jurisdiction over the circuit court’s decision to revoke the suspension of execution of Defendant’s sentence; and (2) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by revoking the suspension of execution of Defendant’s sentence and by reinstating her original, four-year sentence. View "State v. Stenstrom" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s convictions of first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Contrary to Defendant’s arguments on appeal, the court held (1) the State’s evidence was sufficient to corroborate accomplice testimony, and therefore, the circuit court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for a judgment of acquittal; (2) even if the circuit court’s admission into evidence several challenged evidentiary items was in error, the error was harmless; (3) the circuit court did not violate Defendant’s right to confront and examine a witness whose out-of-court statements were admitted at trial; and (4) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in imposing Defendant’s sentence. View "State v. Kihega" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s denial of Defendant’s motion to suppress evidence discovered after police officers executed a search warrant at Defendant’s home. During the search, officers found marijuana in Defendant’s van, which was parked outside the home. The circuit court ruled (1) Defendant did not have a personal, legitimate expectation of privacy in his friend’s home and therefore could not challenge the search; and (2) alternatively, the search did not violate Defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not err when it denied Defendant’s motion to suppress because Defendant did not establish a protectable interest in the property searched. View "State v. Gaters" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the denial of the circuit court’s motion to suppress the evidence obtained after law enforcement officers executed a search warrant for Defendant’s home and arrested Defendant. The officers obtained the warrant based on information gained from a pole camera installed without a warrant on a public street light to record Defendant’s activities outside of his home. On appeal, Defendant argued that the officers’ use of the pole camera without a warrant violated the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court held (1) the warrantless use of the pole camera, installed to observe Defendant’s activities outside his residence for a two-month period, constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment, and therefore, the officer that installed the camera was required to first obtain a warrant; but (2) the officer acted reasonably based on the facts of this case, and the circuit court did not err when it denied Defendant’s motion to suppress based on the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule. View "State v. Jones" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s conviction of fourth-degree rape, holding that the circuit court had jurisdiction to enter the judgment even where Defendant did not receive a preliminary hearing after the State filed an amended information. The State filed the amended complaint and information to correct a clerical error in the original indictment. Defendant was not advised of his right to a preliminary hearing, nor did he receive one, but Defendant failed to object. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) while the judge erred by continuing to preside over this matter after he deemed himself disqualified under the Code of Judicial Conduct, the error was harmless; and (2) Defendant waived the issue relating to a preliminary hearing when he failed to object before trial. View "State v. Shelton" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s convictions for eight offenses, rendered after a jury trial. The court held (1) the circuit court did not err in admitting certain out-of-court statements as res gestate evidence; (2) the evidence was sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction of possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm; (3) the evidence was sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction of simple assault on a law enforcement officer while armed with a firearm; and (4) the evidence was sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction of possession of a controlled substance. View "State v. Kiir" on Justia Law

Defendant was convicted of several offenses charged in two indictments. The circuit court granted the State’s motion to join both indictments for trial. After a trial, Defendant was convicted of all offenses. Defendant appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in joining the indictments and in admitting evidence of an unknown bystander’s report that Defendant may have possessed a gun. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in joining the indictments because the joinder was proper and Defendant failed to make a sufficient showing of prejudice; and (2) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of the bystander’s report. View "State v. Goodshot" on Justia Law

Defendant was convicted of one count of first-degree manslaughter and received a sentence of life imprisonment. Defendant appealed his sentence, arguing that the circuit court abused its discretion in light of other sentences imposed for manslaughter in Minnehaha County, as well as his lack of criminal history. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the sentencing court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing Defendant to life imprisonment where (1) the sentencing court could reasonably conclude that Defendant’s offense was among the most serious commissions of first-degree manslaughter, and (2) the court’s finding that rehabilitation was speculative was not clearly erroneous. View "State v. Talla" on Justia Law