Opinion ID: 1351510
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Testimony Regarding Obscene Letters

Text: On cross-examination of defendant's mother, Mrs. Wilson, the prosecutor asked her whether she had had an argument with her son about his mailing obscene letters to women in the neighborhood. She answered in the affirmative. Defense counsel objected, contending the question was beyond the scope of direct examination. The trial court overruled the objection. (38) Defendant now contends the trial court erred by permitting the question and that the error requires reversal. We disagree. Wilson testified on direct examination that defendant is probably one of the sweetest children  child  one of the sweetest kids I got, and that [h]e was just such a delightful fellow even right now. Manifestly, the prosecutor's question about the obscene letters was well within the scope of Wilson's testimony on direct examination. The challenged testimony was plainly admissible on rebuttal. (Evid. Code, § 210; People v. Rodriguez, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 791-792.)