Opinion ID: 2626189
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The State Must Refrain from Misconduct on Remand

Text: ¶ 24 Jones argues that the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct during closing argument by (1) commenting on Jones's exercise of his right to remain silent and (2) commenting on Jones's refusal to provide a DNA swab sample. This misconduct occurred when the prosecutor (1) argued that Jones had fled to Texas and never called the police to try to clear up what had happened with his niece and (2) highlighted how Jones had only provided a DNA swab sample after a court order forced him to do so. 2 VRP at 330, 334. The Court of Appeals assumed that both comments by the prosecutor were improper. Jones, 2008 WL 4889993, at . Since Jones had a Fifth Amendment right to remain silent with the police and a Fourth Amendment right to refuse to provide a DNA swab sample, we affirm the Court of Appeals ruling that these comments were improper. We go so far as to say that the court's imprimatur is now upon the State and that such argument is improper and should not be repeated on remand.