Moton v. State

MUIR, CELESTE HARDEE, Associate Judge.

Mack Arthur Moton appeals the judgment of conviction for armed robbery with a firearm after a denial of his motion for mistrial. We reverse because the state improperly elicited character evidence involving LaFrance, a key state witness, and the error was not harmless.

Evidence of the character of a witness is irrelevant and thus inadmissible. See §§ 90.402 and 90.404, Fla. Stat. The only exception is when that character has been attacked. § 90.609, Fla. Stat. Proof of the characteristic is limited to testimony in the form of reputation. § 90.609, Fla.…