Gravely v. Commonwealth

Opinion

BRAY, J.

Frank Gravely, Jr. (defendant) was convicted in a jury trial of distribution of cocaine and sentenced by the trial court, in accordance with the verdict, to seven years imprisonment, two years of which were suspended. On appeal, defendant complains that the trial court erred in permitting cross-examination of his character witnesses concerning their knowledge of unrelated drug charges against defendant and other misconduct. We agree and reverse.

At trial, defendant called Frank Mitchell (Mitchell) and Jerome Etter (Etter) as character witnesses. Following inquiries into…