Patton v. State

Patton was charged with rape and incest of one of his sons. He retained counsel; counsel was later discharged, after hearing, by the circuit court, at counsel's request. Patton was told by the circuit court to get a new lawyer within the next two months. While out on bond for the charges of which he was eventually convicted, Patton won $ 1,000,000 in the Arkansas lottery, netting $ 680,000 after taxes.

As the State argues and the majority confirms, this case is a forfeiture issue and can be affirmed as such. I write simply to express very strong concerns about how the trial court handled…