Opinion ID: 1604129
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether the State's Closing Argument Constituted Reversible Error.

Text: ¶ 41. This Court reviews denials of a motion for mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Flora v. State, 925 So.2d 797, 804 (Miss.2006) (citing Spann v. State, 771 So.2d 883, 889 (Miss.2000)). The defense failed to object to the closing argument, which bars this issue. See Ross v. State, 954 So.2d 968, 987 (Miss.2007). ¶ 42. In spite of the procedural bar, the comments made by the prosecutor that Scott was a shyster and a con artist are substantiated by Scott's own testimony. Scott testified that he had been convicted of theft and conspiracy to embezzle; Scott admitted he had used a stolen ATM card, had altered a social security card to change the numbers, and had a stolen license plate on his car to avoid being arrested. Scott, ___ So.3d at ___. We agree with the Court of Appeals. This issue is without merit. The prosecutor's comments were reasonable inferences drawn from the defendant's own testimony. The closing arguments were within the standards set forth by this Court, and we find no error that would afford Scott a mistrial for prosecutorial misconduct during its closing argument.