Cherry v. State

*427GARRITY, Judge.

This matter involves our review of a case wherein the trial court, without objection, proceeded to announce its verdict immediately after denying defense’s motion for judgment of acquittal. The appellant contends that the trial court committed prejudicial error per se in finding her guilty without first affording defense counsel an opportunity to make a closing argument on her behalf.

The appellant, Mary E. Cherry, was convicted by the Circuit Court for Baltimore County (Raine, J.) of theft of goods having a value of less than $300. The trial had proceeded by way of a Statement…