Eldridge v. State

SHIELDS, Judge.

Charles Eldridge appeals his convictions of battery resulting in bodily injury, 1 a class A misdemeanor, and criminal recklessness, 2 a class A misdemeanor.

We affirm the conviction of battery; we reverse the conviction of criminal recklessness and remand for a new trial.

ISSUES

Eldridge raises two issues for our review:

1. Was Eldridge denied his right to a jury trial?

2. Did the trial court commit reversible error in excluding evidence of the victim's prior bad acts?

FACTS

On June 1, 1992, Charles Eldridge and his wife, Sherri Eldridge, were involved in a domestic disturbance. Some…