Scroggins v. State

Darrell Hickman, Justice.

Johnny Scroggins was arrested without a warrant for two counts of aggravated robbery at his motel room in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was registered under the name of Johnny Smith. Scroggins’ codefendant, Earl Maxwell, was with him in the motel room and apparently registered under the name of Danny Maxwell. Scroggins was convicted of two charges of aggravated robbery and sentenced to eighty-three years.

The two main issues before the trial court were whether the arrest was legal; and, if not, did that taint and make inadmissible a subsequent confession of Scroggins’. The…