State v. Ridout

The opinion of the court was delivered by

PRESSLER, P.J.A.D.

Following a trial by jury, defendant Donna Ridout was convicted of second-degree robbery, N.J.S.A 2C:15-1, and of third-degree criminal restraint, N.J.S.A 2C:13-2, as a lesser included offense of the kidnapping with which she was charged. She was sentenced to a seven-year prison term on the robbery conviction and to a concurrent four-year term on the criminal restraint and was paroled while this appeal was pending. Defendant appeals, and we reverse.

The critical issue in this case was identification. The victim, elderly and confused,…