Opinion ID: 1697053
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Failing to Object to Improper Bolstering

Text: Evans argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to object to several statements elicited by the State and to comments during the State's closing argument that improperly bolstered the State's witnesses. First, Evans contends that counsel should have objected to statements by Detective Cook regarding his investigation and his conversations with Thomas. However, the record confirms that the comments elicited from Detective Cook during direct examination occurred in close proximity to each other and counsel objected five times during this period, ultimately moving for a mistrial based on improper bolstering. Similarly, when Detective Cook confirmed on cross-examination that Thomas was not arrested and commented that the Grand Jury made that final decision, counsel immediately requested a sidebar conference and the court issued a curative instruction directing the witness to answer the question as posed without any additional comment. [21] We agree with the trial court that counsel's assistance was neither deficient nor outside the norms of professional conduct. See Occhicone, 768 So.2d at 1048. Second, Evans argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to object during the State's closing argument, in which the prosecutor discounted the defense's theory because Waddell pled to second-degree murder. However, Thomas and Waddell were both accomplices to the crime and witnesses at the trial; therefore, the State was permitted to discuss Thomas's incriminating statements and Waddell's plea agreement, which were valid impeachment tactics used by the defense while cross-examining both of these witnesses. See Bell v. State, 965 So.2d 48, 56 (Fla.2007) (citing Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 137, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476 (1968), and Parker v. State, 458 So.2d 750, 753 (Fla.1984)). Because the prosecutor's statement during closing argument was a legitimate comment on the evidence presented at trial and proper rebuttal to the defense's closing argument, counsel cannot be ineffective for failing to object. See id. at 57.