State v. Singleton

LAVENSKI R. SMITH, Justice.

The State appeals the trial court’s acceptance of a guilty plea by Appellee Antonio Covell Singleton entered over the State’s objection. The State objected to entrance of the guilty plea, citing Ark. R. Crim. P. 31.1. The State contends that the trial court could not accept Singleton’s guilty plea because the State did not consent. The State asserts that Rule 31.1 requires the State’s consent before a defendant can waive a jury trial. The State reads the rule consistent with our recent cases and we must, therefore, reverse.

Facts

On March 9, 1999, the State charged…