Arrington v. State

After a bench trial, the appellant, Sean M. Arrington, was convicted of first-degree burglary, a violation of § 13A-7-5, Ala. Code 1975, and second-degree theft of property, a violation of § 13A-8-4, Ala. Code 1975. The trial court sentenced him, as a habitual offender, to serve concurrent terms of fifteen years in prison on the burglary conviction and four years in prison on the theft conviction. See § 13A-5-9(a)(1) and (3), Ala. Code 1975. This appeal followed.

On Friday, November 5, 1999, when his trial was scheduled to begin, the appellant did not appear in court, but his attorney did. At…