People v. Wood

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE JONES

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, William H. Wood, was convicted of arson following a jury trial in the circuit court of Clay County. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The sole question on appeal is whether he was improperly denied appointed counsel at trial.

Defendant, pro se at trial, presented the testimony of several alibi witnesses that he was playing cards at the time of the offense. The State relied primarily on the testimony of two accomplices, both of whom had pleaded guilty to the same offense. Defendant did not testify at trial.

Defen…