Case ID: guam_1/html/0182-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOSE M. MESA, Appellant v. PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY OF GUAM, Appellee
    Criminal No. 41-A
    District Court of Guam Appellate Division
    February 23, 1968
    
      Counsel for Appellant: Barrett, Ferenz, Trapp & Gayle (Howard G. Trapp, of counsel)
    
      Counsel for Appellee: Paul J. Abbate, Deputy Island Attorney, Government of Guam
    Before SHRIVER, Judge, District Court of Guam; SHOE-CRAFT, Chief Justice, High Court of the Trust Territory, Pacific Islands and PEREZ, Chief Judge, Island Court of Guam
   PER CURIAM

OPINION

The defendant-appellant herein was convicted in Island Court of the offense of battery with which he was charged, along with other offenses. He took the stand and testified, and on cross-examination the Deputy Island Attorney, over objection, was permitted to ask the defendant whether he had been convicted of other disconnected misdemeanors. This Court previously held that when a defendant witness was asked whether he had been convicted of a felony, admitted that he was so convicted, and was then asked whether he had been convicted also of a misdemeanor, this was not reversible error. In the instant case, however, the Island Attorney has admitted prejudicial error and we agree that the determination below must be reversed. It is so ordered.