Dixon v. State

Kem Dixon challenges his convictions for first-degree felony murder and attempted armed robbery. Of the two issues he raises on appeal, only one has merit. We agree that the trial court erred in allowing the admission of collateral crimes evidence.

In the early morning hours of December 26, 1989, Raymond Sobczak, the night auditor at the Best Western Motel in Tampa, was shot to death while on duty as he stood behind the cash register. Danny Noles, a security officer on duty at the motel, told the police that the suspect was a black male. Mr. Noles was unable to testify at trial because of…