Vigna v. State

John Vigna v. State of Maryland, No. 55, September Term, 2019. Opinion by Biran, J. CRIMINAL LAW – CHARACTER EVIDENCE – CHARACTER OF THE ACCUSED FOR APPROPRIATENESS WITH CHILDREN – The Court of Appeals held that, in a prosecution of a defendant for a sex crime against a minor, the defendant’s character for appropriateness with children in his custody or care may be a pertinent trait of character for purposes of admissibility of character evidence under Maryland Rule 5- 404(a)(2)(A). When the State objects to a defendant’s proffer of opinion or reputation evidence under Rule 5-404(a)(2)(A) to…