Thompson v. State

James R. Cooper, Judge.

The appellant was found guilty, by a jury, of theft of property. As a habitual offender he was sentenced to ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial after the prosecuting attorney referred to him as a habitual criminal in closing arguments. We affirm.

During the case in chief for the defense the appellant testified and admitted during direct examination that he had pled guilty to two separate charges of theft in 1981 and 1982. He further stated that he pled guilty to the…