Tabares v. State

Jorge Tabares (“Tabares”) appeals from a judgment and sentence claiming that the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike five (5) jurors for cause. Because the record does not support the trial court’s decision to deny the challenges for cause, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

Tabares was charged with three counts of grand theft and one count of organized scheme to defraud. After a jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged of one count of grand theft, and not guilty of the remaining counts of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.

During jury selection,…