Forde v. State

Blackburn, Presiding Judge.

Following a jury trial, Earl Forde, Sr., was convicted on one count of sexual battery against a child under the age of 16 years.* 1 He appeals his conviction, his sentence, and the denial of his motion for new trial, arguing (i) that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to inadmissible hearsay evidence and (ii) that the trial court erred in sentencing him for the commission of a felony pursuant to the amended sexual battery statute despite the fact that it is unclear from the jury’s verdict whether he was found guilty of…