Wynn v. State

Louis Wynn appeals his conviction and sentence for petit theft based on the trial court’s denial of a peremptory challenge during jury selection. We reverse and remand because the trial court erred when it disallowed Wynn’s peremptory challenge of a Haitian-Ameriean juror after defense counsel provided a genuine, race-neutral reason for the challenge.

The State charged Wynn with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft, and resisting a police officer without violence. During the defense’s voir dire, the following exchange occurred between defense counsel and prospective juror W. E., a…