State v. Taggart

KLEINSCHMIDT, Judge.

Darren Taggart appeals from his conviction on two counts of aggravated assault. He claims that he should have been allowed to cross-examine the victims about their refusal to be interviewed by his attorney before trial. We find that although the restriction on cross-examination violated the Defendant’s right to confrontation, the error, under the particular facts of this case, was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Late on a night in March of 1994, the victims, R and P, were riding home on their bicycles from their jobs as restaurant workers when the Defendant rode up to…