The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.

Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinions

by Booth, George

 

AC38727 - State v. Danovan T. (Risk of injury to child; prosecutorial improprieties; claim that defendant was deprived of due process right to fair trial; "The defendant, Danovan T., appeals from his conviction of two counts of risk of injury to a child in violation of General Statutes § 53-21 (a) (2). In this appeal, he argues that his conviction should be reversed because (1) certain improprieties by the prosecutor deprived him of his general due process right to a fair trial and (2) the trial court improperly restricted his right to present impeachment evidence against the state's witnesses, thereby depriving him of his constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him. For the reasons that follow, we reject these arguments and affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC38113 - State v. Jeffrey H. (Sexual assault in first degree; "The defendant, Jeffrey H., appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of three counts of sexual assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-70 (a) (1). On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court (1) abused its discretion by preventing him from pursuing certain inquiries on cross-examination, thereby violating his sixth amendment right to present a defense, and (2) abused its discretion by admitting into evidence out-of-context portions of his interview conducted following a polygraph examination, in violation of his right to due process. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC38528 - State v. Biggs (Larceny in second degree; conspiracy to commit larceny in second degree; larceny in third degree as accessory; conspiracy to commit larceny in third degree; engaging police in pursuit; "The defendant claims on appeal that the court (1) abused its discretion and violated his right to an impartial jury by failing to conduct an adequate investigation as to a claim of juror misconduct that he brought to its attention on the date originally scheduled for his sentencing and (2) violated his constitutional right against double jeopardy by imposing separate sentences upon him on two counts of conspiracy that were based upon a single conspiratorial agreement. The state disputes the defendant's juror misconduct claim, contending that the court adequately investigated and properly disposed of that claim. It agrees with the defendant, however, that the court violated his right against double jeopardy by imposing separate sentences upon him on two counts of conspiracy that were based upon a single conspiratorial agreement. We agree with the state, and therefore we affirm the trial court's judgment on all charges except for conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree, and remand this case to the court with direction that the defendant's sentence and resulting conviction on that charge be vacated pursuant to State v. Polanco, 308 Conn. 242, 259–60, 61 A.3d 1084 (2013).")