Woodard v. State

Phipps, Judge.

Eric Arnold Woodard was tried by a jury and convicted of armed robbery. On appeal, he claims that the trial court erred by admitting his custodial statement and by improperly charging the jury on armed robbery. He further claims that his trial counsel was ineffective. Because we find that Woodard’s statement was improperly admitted in violation of his Fifth Amendment right to counsel, we reverse. We find no error in the jury charge. Woodard’s remaining claims are moot.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 20, 1997, Woodard drove through a McDonald’s drive-through,…