State v. Reyes

Syllabus

Jose Reyes Reyes was convicted by a jury of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The court of appeals affirmed the conviction. State v. Reyes, Op. No. 2019-UP-214 (S.C. Ct. App. filed June 12, 2019). We granted Reyes's petition for a writ of certiorari. We affirm the court of appeals and hold: (1) the trial court did not improperly rule in the jury's presence the child victim was competent to testify, and (2) although the trial court erred in allowing the solicitor to ask the child victim improperly-phrased questions, this error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.