Beasley v. State

MAXWELL, J,

for the Court:

¶ 1. A jury in the Jackson County Circuit Court found Irvin Beasley guilty of touching a child for lustful purposes and sexual battery of a seven-year-old child. Beasley argues the State impermissibly commented on his initial post-Miranda refusal to speak with investigators prior to his later statement about fondling the young boy. Beasley also contends he suffered prejudice because a jury-panel member, whom the court later struck for cause, allegedly cried in the presence of the veni-re during voir dire.

¶ 2. Finding the references to Beasley’s initial refusal to…