Pearce v. State

Bernes, Judge.

Following a jury trial, James Pearce was convicted of aggravated sexual battery, incest, child molestation, and statutory rape. On appeal from the trial court’s denial of his motion for new trial, Pearce contends that the trial court erred (1) in denying his motion for a directed verdict as to the aggravated sexual battery charge; (2) in failing to excuse a prospective juror for cause; (3) in failing to declare a mistrial sua sponte when a state’s witness and the prosecutor made allegedly improper comments before the jury; (4) in sustaining an objection to defense…