State v. Brothern

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The State charged Defendant by way of trial information of "assault domestic abuse causing bodily injury - enhanced" and "assault domestic abuse by use or display of a weapon." At the close of evidence during the trial, the State moved to amend the trial information to add a habitual offender enhancement. Defendant's trial counsel did not object to the amendment, and the district court granted the State's motion. Defendant was subsequently convicted Defendant of the underlying charge in count I. After Defendant was sentenced, Defendant appealed, asserting that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the State's motion to amend the trial information. The court of appeals denied relief. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction and sentence but vacated the court of appeals decision to reject Defendant's ineffective-assistance claim, holding (1) under certain circumstances, an amendment to add a habitual offender enhancement to a trial information should not be allowed after the close of the evidence; but (2) the record in this case was insufficient to resolve Defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim. View "State v. Brothern" on Justia Law