State v. Goodrich

Defendant David A. Goodrich was convicted of burglary, 13 V.S.A. § 1201(a), following a jury trial. Defendant appeals, claiming error in the admission at trial of evidence of his prior convictions. We hold that their admission was reversible error and remand for a new trial.

Early in the morning of February 3, 1987, David Hathaway was awakened in his home in Burlington by noises coming from the living room. Upon going downstairs he discovered defendant standing in the room holding numerous jackets. According to Mr. Hathaway’s testimony, defendant was shining a flashlight on a stereo system.…