State v. Richardson

ELANA CUNNINGHAM WILLS, Justice.

| Appellee Clarence Richardson was charged with two counts of theft of property in February 2006. 1 The Phillips County Circuit Court initially dismissed the charges based on an allegedly defective search warrant. However, this court reversed the circuit court and remanded the matter for trial. State v. Richardson, 373 Ark. 1, 4, 280 S.W.3d 20, 23 (2008). Following the remand, Richardson’s trial was scheduled for May 21, 2008.

On the morning the trial began, Richardson attempted to waive a jury trial. The State agreed to the jury waiver, but the circuit court…