Appleton v. State

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

In appellant Sharnee Appleton's trial, one of the State's witnesses testified that Appleton had not even been present at the scene of the crime. The court permitted the prosecution to "impeach" this witness by reading line-by-line a prior inconsistent statement in which the witness described Appleton's participation. We hold this was error, but harmless in this case.

Facts and Procedural History

The facts most favorable to the jury verdict revealed that on the evening of March 18, 1998, Ruby Haught, Ron Sol-berg, and others were visiting and smoking crack with Martha…