Opinion ID: 1633874
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admissibility of Additional Material

Text: Williams argues that the trial judge erred by permitting the Commonwealth to introduce extraneous evidence of other allegedly pornographic images found on the computer. We disagree. Before trial, the Commonwealth filed two notices of its intent to introduce evidence pursuant to KRE 404(b). The first notice involved evidence that Williams had been convicted of three counts of third-degree rape against a 14-year old girl. This also included evidence that he asked that victim if he could take revealing photographs of her. The second notice involved evidence of up to twenty-one pictures of the defendant's other stepdaughter in which she allegedly posed in sexually suggestive manner while fully clothed. Defense counsel objected to the introduction of any of this evidence at a hearing on the matter. The trial judge determined that the photographs of the other stepdaughter were not bad acts, were not relevant and thus were inadmissible. The Commonwealth then informed the trial judge that there was lots of other adult and child pornography found on the defendant's computer. Defense counsel objected to the introduction of other pornographic pictures, claiming that intent was not an element of the offense. He also claimed that the pornographic material had no bearing on whether the photographs of the victim were obscene. The trial judge ruled that the Commonwealth could introduce the evidence from the third-degree rape or up to six other items in the computer, but not both. The Commonwealth stated it would choose the latter. At trial, the Commonwealth presented the testimony of the police detective who retrieved the evidence from the defendant's computer. He identified the six photographs of the victim as being the same as the ones found on the hard drive of the computer. He referred to the six pictures as a series of photographs, meaning a group of photographs taken together, generally of the same subject. During the testimony of the detective the Commonwealth introduced three exhibits, Commonwealth's exhibit # 11, # 12 and collective exhibit # 13. Exhibit # 11 is not in the record. Exhibit # 12 consists of two pages of 32 thumbnail size photographs, including the six digital photographs of the victim. Also depicted on this exhibit are six dark and grainy photographs of an individual who appears in some to be lying in bed and in others posing in a reclined position. The private areas of this individual are not discernable. Collective exhibit # 13 was apparently enlargements of these six photographs, but the record contains only a single enlarged photograph. The remaining twenty photographs in exhibit # 12 are irrelevant and consist of generic pictures and unidentified subjects, some of which may be close ups of the defendant's face. When the detective was asked about the six dark and grainy photographs, he stated that they appeared to him to be the victim. Defense counsel objected, but the ruling, if any, on that objection is inaudible on the videotape record. Thereafter, the trial judge allowed the Commonwealth to introduce collective exhibit # 13 over the defendant's objection. The Commonwealth then asked the detective about the other series on the computer. He responded that there were several images in the folder which contained the photographs taken by the defendant. Defense counsel offered another objection, claiming the trial judge ruled them inadmissible. A lengthy discussion ensued in-chambers and there was some general confusion on what the Commonwealth was seeking to introduce. The prosecutor explained that he had decided not to introduce the six pornographic items that the trial judge had previously ruled admissible. Apparently he was not going to show the jury the pornographic materials, but wanted the detective to testify to their existence. Changing tactics, defense counsel expressed concern that the jury was left with the impression that there was another victim depicted in the other images referenced by the detective. The prosecutor responded that he could clear that up with a couple of questions. When trial resumed, the prosecutor asked the detective whether there was another series generated by the defendant. Defense counsel immediately moved for a mistrial and the prosecutor requested a further opportunity to clear it up. The prosecutor then asked the detective if there were any other photographs on the computer that came from a digital camera. The detective responded that the only ones were those contained in the file he looked at, the same file which was depicted on one of the exhibits. When asked if he knew the manufacturer of the other child pornography, the detective responded in the negative. Both counsel then approached the bench and defense counsel indicated that he thought the issue was cleared up, but he would have to take it up during cross-examination to make sure. On cross-examination, defense counsel clarified that the only photographs on the computer taken with a digital camera were the ones already seen by the jury. He also verified that there was no contention that the other pictures were generated by the defendant. It is abundantly clear from our extensive review of the record that the jury was only informed about the other pornographic material on the defendant's computer. No visual depictions were presented and there was no detailed description of the items. For that reason, reliance on Chumbler v. Commonwealth, 905 S.W.2d 488 (Ky.1995) is misplaced. Considering the entire sequence of events, it is also clear that defense counsel was objecting to the introduction of pornographic images, not the mentioning of them. This is evident because the mother of the victim testified, without objection, that she saw her husband on the porn sites and that led her to ask a neighbor to wipe the hard drive clean. That neighbor then testified, without objection, that when he undertook the task he found child pornography. He later described finding numerous amounts of pornography and child pornography. Defense counsel did object at that time, claiming that child pornography was a legal conclusion. The trial judge sustained that objection and no further relief was requested. Considering the nature of the offense and its characteristics, the introduction of this evidence was admissible to show intent or knowledge under KRE 404(b). The reference was relevant and probative of the issue of whether photographs taken by Williams constituted a sexual performance.