Slater v. State

I, Donnie Slater appeals the Arkansas County Circuit Court’s order denying his Rule 37 petition for postconviction relief. Ark. R. Crim. P. 37.1 (2016). We assumed jurisdiction of this appeal pursuant to footnote 1 in Barnes v. State, 2017 Ark. 76, 511 S.W.3d 845 (per curiam), Slater contends that the trial court erred in denying-his petition because (1) trial counsel was ineffective at trial because he failed to do an adequate pretrial investigation and properly prepare for trial; (2) trial counsel failed to make a specific directed-verdict motion causing the issue to be waived on appellate…