By Ray King
The Arkansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected an argument from a prison inmate who said he should have been allowed to represent himself at a trial in 2023.
Following that trial in 2023, Vincent Peal,53, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and Circuit Judge Alex Guynn sentenced him to 5 years in prison.
Peal did not challenge the evidence that resulted in his conviction but argued that he tried multiple times to fire Attorney William Howard, who he hired to represent him, but was not permitted to do so by the trial court. He also said he wanted to represent himself at the trial.
Appeals Court Judge Waymond Brown wrote that while Peal complained about his attorney, he never made an unequivocal request to waive his right to an attorney nor ask the court to let him represent himself.
Peal, who has prior convictions for aggravated robbery and third-degree domestic battery is serving his sentence in the Varner Unit and will be eligible to apply for parole in May 2027.
