Gregory Marquise Willis v. State of Mississippi

Summary

The Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed Gregory Marquise Willis's convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon. The court held that Willis waived his discovery-violation and evidentiary objections by failing to object contemporaneously and request a continuance. It also concluded that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence and that the sentences were within the statutory range and not shown to be grossly disproportionate.

Holdings

1. Willis's discovery-violation claim was procedurally barred because he did not contemporaneously object to Officer Pierce's testimony and did not request a continuance after learning of the disputed evidence.
2. The convictions were not contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence and did not result in an unconscionable injustice.
3. The twenty-year sentence for robbery was not excessive because it fell within the statutory sentencing range, and Willis failed to establish gross disproportionality or address all required Solem factors.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court erred by admitting Officer Pierce's testimony concerning Jonathan Williams's statement despite an alleged discovery violation and Mississippi Rules of Evidence 1002 and 1003.
2. Whether the guilty verdict was contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
3. Whether Willis's twenty-year robbery sentence was excessive or grossly disproportionate.

Disposition

affirmed