Shanklin v. Commonwealth

Charles A. Shanklin was convicted by a jury of grand larceny of a motor vehicle and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. He contends the trial court erred in limiting the cross-examination of Shanklin’s brother, William, a prosecution witness. William admitted that he was testifying pursuant to a plea agreement, but the trial court, sua sponte, ruled that he could not be asked what sentence he had received under the bargain.

The Commonwealth presented two employees of an automobile dealership who testified that on January 10, 1980, the defendant took a customized 1975 Ford van for a…