Johnson v. Commonwealth

OPINION BY CHIEF JUSTICE DONALD W. LEMONS

In this appeal, we consider whether admitting hearsay evidence in a probation revocation proceeding violated Dese Terrell Johnson's ("Johnson") right to confront witnesses against him under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

I. Facts and Proceedings

In 2005, Johnson was convicted of rape in the Circuit Court of King George County ("circuit court"). The circuit court sentenced Johnson to 30 years' incarceration with 20 years suspended. The suspended portion of Johnson's sentence was conditioned on good behavior and supervised probation.…