Slaughter v. State

John P. STROUD, Jr., Judge.

In October 1998, appellant, John Slaughter, was tried by a jury and found guilty of the offense of domestic battery in the second degree, which at that time was a class D felony. During the sentencing phase of the trial, the jury returned a verdict that the trial court found unacceptable. Consequently, the trial court imposed its own sentence, which was four years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. We find that the trial court erred in doing so.

The verdict form that was originally submitted to the jury provided:

AMCI 2d 9305 — VP STAGE TWO: STANDARD VERDICT…