State v. Martinez

OPINION

TOCI, Presiding Judge.

During a visit to his sister’s apartment, Mercedes Levario Martinez (“defendant”) pushed the front door closed while the police were attempting to enter pursuant to a warrant to search for narcotics. Defendant was charged with hindering prosecution and was convicted after a jury trial. During the trial, the state introduced defendant’s prior felony convictions to impeach his credibility after he testified that the reason he held the door shut was to play a joke on his brother. In closing argument, the prosecutor, over objection, told the jury that the Arizona…