Chartier v. State

*762OPINION

The primary issue in this appeal is whether the district court abused its discretion in failing to sever appellant John Douglas Chartier’s trial from that of his codefendant, David Wilcox. We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in failing to sever Chartier’s trial from Wilcox’s trial. Chartier suffered unfair prejudice because the cumulative effect of the joint trial violated Chartier’s right to a fair trial by preventing the jury from making a reliable judgment as to his guilt or innocence. For this reason, we reverse the judgment of conviction and remand to the…