State v. Ayers

Shaw, Judge:

A jury convicted appellant Rosalyn Ayers of neglecting her child in violation of S. C. Code Ann. Section 20-7-50 (1976). Before trial, counsel for Ayers moved to change venue based on pretrial publicity. After trial, counsel moved for a mistrial, claiming the verdict was coerced. The trial judge denied both motions. We affirm.

Motions for change of venue and mistrial are addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge; on appeal his decision will not be disturbed absent a showing of abuse of discretion. State v. Thompson, 278 S. C. 1, 292 S. E. (2d) 581 (1982), cert. denied,…