State v. Downing

Following a stipulated facts bench trial, Robert Downing, Jr., was convicted of bail jumping based on his failure to appear for arraignment on charges of unlawful issuance of bank checks (UIBC). Downing appeals the bail jumping conviction, arguing that double jeopardy and the mandatory joinder rule rendered the underlying UIBC charges invalid at the time of the missed court appearance. He also claims ineffective assistance based on his counsel’s failure to raise mandatory joinder. We disagree and affirm.

FACTS

Downing passed a series of bad checks in March and April of 2001. In December 2001…