State v. Chipps

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of one count of second-degree burglary and four counts of identity theft. Defendant subsequently pleaded guilty but mentally ill to grand theft. Defendant appealed, challenging both his jury convictions and the sentences imposed for each of his crimes. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the performance of defense counsel did not clearly deprive Defendant of his constitutional rights to counsel and a fair trial; (2) Defendant’s sentence did not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment; and (3) the circuit court did not err by denying Defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal on the charges of second-degree burglary and identity theft. View "State v. Chipps" on Justia Law