Staten v. State

We granted the State's petition for writ of certiorari in this case to determine if the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in reversing Leonard Staten's conviction of rape in the first degree and remanding for a new trial. As a result of his conviction, Staten had received a sentence of 25 years' imprisonment. We reverse the Court of Criminal Appeals' judgment and remand the case.

In reversing Staten's conviction, the Court of Criminal Appeals relied on our case of Anonymous v. State, 507 So.2d 972 (Ala. 1987), in holding that evidence that Staten had tried to have sex with the victim on prior…