People v. Drayton

Defendant was charged with aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery, attempt rape and battery. The armed robbery charge was reduced to robbery, and a jury found defendant guilty of all four charges. The court sentenced him to 15 to 25 years for aggravated kidnapping, 8 to 15 years for robbery, 6 to 12 years for attempt rape and 6 months for battery, the sentences to run concurrently. On appeal, defendant argues that he was denied a fair trial by the improper remarks of the prosecutor during closing argument; that the court erred in communicating with the jury in the absence of defendant and his…