Justin R. Cone v. State

Syllabus

Justin Ryan Cone was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The trial court refused the State's request for a jury instruction that, under section 16-3-657 of the South Carolina Code (2015), the testimony of an alleged victim of criminal sexual conduct need not be corroborated. However, over Cone's objection, the trial court allowed the State to cite and quote the statute during its closing argument. The court of appeals affirmed Cone's conviction, holding the issue of whether the State could argue section 16-3-657 was unpreserved. We granted Cone's petition for a writ of certiorari and now reverse the court of appeals and remand for a new trial.