State v. Silva

Matthew Silva appeals his convictions of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, forgery, and hit and run. Silva was involved in an “accident” within the meaning of the felony hit and run statute when a police officer was injured while jumping free of Silva’s moving vehicle. Defense counsel’s decision to concede guilt during closing argument to charges of forgery and attempting to elude a police vehicle did not constitute an unauthorized guilty plea that effectively waived Silva’s right to a fair trial and his right to hold the State to its burden of proof. There being no other issues…