State v. Beeder

A jury convicted appellant, Lionel C. Beeder, of third degree assault, witness tampering, and first degree false imprisonment. The district court enhanced the last two convictions under the habitual criminal statute. We determine that the court erred by not declaring a mistrial for prosecutorial misconduct during the prosecutor’s closing argument, and we reverse Beeder’s convictions and remand the cause for a new trial.

BACKGROUND

The State charged Beeder with third degree assault on his ex-wife, Deidre Beeder; first degree false imprisonment of Deidre; making terroristic threats to both Deidre…