Pinkney v. State

RAKER, Judge.

In this criminal case, Appellant Eric Pinkney, a pro se defendant, was tried and convicted in a jury trial in absentia, having failed to appear at the scheduled time and place of *206trial. We conclude that the trial judge erred in finding that Pinkney waived his right to be present at trial and, accordingly, we shall reverse the judgment of the circuit court.

I

Pinkney was convicted of theft in violation of Maryland Code (1957,1996 Repl.Vol., 1997 Supp.), Article 27, § 342.1 At trial, the State produced a single witness, Darin Young. Young was an employee of the Music Liberated store…