Capiro v. State

John Capiro appeals his conviction and sentence for grand theft over $100,000, raising a number of issues. We find merit to his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel and reverse only as to that issue.1

Capiro’s conviction was the result of a business deal gone wrong. In 2006, Capi-ro started a commercial mortgage lending company. Two of Capiro’s friends (the “victims”) expressed an interest in Capi-ro’s business. Capiro agreed to make the victims part owners in the business, and the victims in turn loaned Capiro $250,000. Capiro and the victims, without the assistance of counsel,…