Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Christopher MARTIN
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2019-01-28
Citations: 262 So. 3d 279
Docket Number: No. 2018-KK-1722
Parties: STATE of Louisiana
v.
Christopher MARTIN
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 262
Pages: 279–280

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana
v.
Christopher MARTIN
No. 2018-KK-1722
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
January 28, 2019
ON SUPERVISORY WRITS TO THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF ORLEANS

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Writ granted. "Remoteness in time, in most cases, is only one factor to be considered when determining whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect. Generally, a lapse in time will go to the weight of the evidence, rather than to its admissibility." State v. Jackson , 625 So.2d 146, 149 (La. 1993). In the present case, while the prior crimes occurred between six and eleven years ago, their probative value would not appear to be substantially outweighed by "the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or waste of time," La.C.E. art. 403, considering defendant stands charged with ten burglaries and the state only seeks to admit evidence of three prior offenses-an attempted burglary and two burglaries-which are probative of defendant's intent and absence of mistake. Accordingly, we reverse the district court's ruling, which excluded the prior crimes from trial, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED
WEIMER, J., would deny.