State v. Smith
Annotate this CaseDefendant was convicted of second-degree sexual assault and sentenced to twenty-five years of confinement and fifteen years of extended supervision. Defendant subsequently moved to vacate the judgment of conviction, asserting that he was incompetent at the time of trial and sentencing. The postconviction court denied relief, concluding that Defendant had been competent during trial and sentencing. The court of appeals reversed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the court of appeals applied an incorrect standard of review to the circuit court’s competency finding and improperly weighed evidence rather than giving deference to the postconviction court’s finding; and (2) when the evidence is reviewed under the proper standard, the postconviction court did not commit clear error in finding that Defendant was competent to stand trial and be sentenced.
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