Bass v. State

Markel Latrae Bass (“Appellant”) challenges his convictions and sentences for second-degree murder and armed robbery, raising three issues on appeal. We affirm on all issues, but discuss only Appellant’s claim that the trial court reversibly erred in permitting the State to play a recorded jailhouse phone call between him and his mother during which he purportedly made statements related to plea negotiations.

Appellant’s charges stemmed from the robbery and murder of a drug dealer. Prior to trial, the State filed a motion in limine seeking to admit a portion of the conversation, recorded on…