Sutherland v. State

The petitioner Jerry Lee Sutherland was convicted of burglary and theft of property and sentenced as an habitual offender to twenty year terms for each, to be served consecutively. His convictions were affirmed on appeal. Sutherland v. State, 292 Ark. 103, 728 S.W.2d 496 (1987). The petitioner now seeks permission to proceed in circuit court for post-conviction relief pursuant to Rule 37.

The police interviewed the petitioner while investigating the burglary of a gas station where the petitioner had worked until a week before the burglary. A safe had been taken from the station. He denied…