State v. Leonard
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The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the superior court convicting Defendant of two counts of second-degree sexual assault, holding that the trial justice did not err in denying Defendant's motion to pass the case or his motion for a new trial.
Defendant was convicted after a trial. The trial justice denied Defendant's motion for a new trial and sentenced him to eight years of imprisonment for each count, with one year to serve and the remaining time suspended. On appeal, Defendant argued, among other things, that the trial justice abused his discretion in denying Defendant's motion to pass the case due to the prosecutor's allegedly improper comments during closing arguments. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding (1) the trial justice did not abuse his discretion in denying Defendant's motion to pass the case; and (2) the trial justice did not erroneously admit evidence unduly prejudicial to Defendant, and therefore, Defendant was not entitled to receive a new trial.
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