Lopez v. State

BLACKBURN, Presiding Judge.

Following a jury trial, Miguel Hidalgo Lopez was convicted on eight counts of aggravated assault, 1 two counts of aggravated battery, 2 one count of simple battery, 3 and one count of participation in criminal street gang activity. 4 He appeals his convictions and the denial of his motion for new trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and further arguing that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance and that the trial court committed plainly reversible error by improperly commenting on the evidence in violation of OCGA § 17-8-57. For the reasons…