State v. Chaplin

Justice Ingrid Gustafson delivered the Opinion of the Court.

*918**233¶ 1 Michael Allen Chaplin (Chaplin) appeals a criminal conviction from the Twenty-First Judicial District Court, Ravalli County. We affirm.

¶ 2 We restate the issue on appeal:

Whether the District Court violated Chaplin's right to present a full defense, including his right to assistance of counsel, when it did **234not affirmatively offer Chaplin the opportunity to make a closing argument in a bench trial?

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 3 Chaplin was charged with Sexual Intercourse without Consent and Attempted Sexual Abuse of…