Opinion ID: 1439460
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Willie Scott Moffitt

Text: Lastly, Appellant claims that statements made by Scott Moffitt during his testimony were highly prejudicial and improperly allowed. Appellant argues that although the trial court sustained most of his objections regarding insinuating questions, Moffitt blurted out answers during his testimony. Consequently, the jury was left with the impression that Appellant was an extremely violent drug dealer, who had threatened to kill Moffitt and had beat up Moffitt on two occasions. Appellant also points out that Moffitt went so far as to state that if he was on the jury he would convict Appellant. With regard to the question about methamphetamine that Appellant claims left the jury with the impression that he was a drug dealer, Appellant objected at trial and the State moved on to another question. Additionally, the objections to Moffitt's other statements about threats and violence were sustained. Moreover, Moffitt's statement that Appellant beat me down twice was elicited on cross-examination. Thus, these statements do not constitute reversible error. As required by Rule 10(b), we have reviewed all of Moffitt's statements. Only one statement warrants further discussion  [i]f I was on the jury, I'd convict him. This statement was made during Appellant's cross-examination, and Appellant immediately motioned for a mistrial. The trial court overruled the motion on the ground that Appellant's counsel had halfway invited this. Appellant asked for an admonition and the trial court granted one as it acknowledged that the comment showed bias. The trial judge informed the jury that they should disregard and take no thought about what Mr. Moffitt thinks should or should not happen, and specifically pointed out that the statement was not evidence to be considered. Appellant claims that the admonition to the jury was not sufficient and that a new trial must be granted. Appellant primarily relies upon Shroeder v. Johnson, 234 Ark. 443, 352 S.W.2d 570 (1962), as his basis for maintaining that the only way to remove the prejudice that resulted from this statement is to grant a new trial. However, this reliance is unmerited. In Shroeder , this court reiterated that there are: a class of cases which present argument and remarks so flagrantly prejudicial . . . that the commendable efforts of the trial judge to eradicate the evil effects of them will be unavailing. In such event, then, a new trial is the only way to remove the prejudice, notwithstanding the judge may have . . . emphatically instructed the jury to disregard the prejudicial statements. Id. at 449, 352 S.W.2d at 573 (quoting Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. v. Murphy, 74 Ark. 256, 259-60, 85 S.W. 428, 429 (1905)). There, the court went on to explain that it could not say with certainty that the jurors were prejudiced . . . but we are less sure that they were not. Shroeder, 234 Ark. at 450, 352 S.W.2d at 573. Moreover, the court explained that the reference was improper and the court's admonition did not tell the jury what and to whom the `rap sheet' referred, and if it had done so the prejudice probably would have been even greater. Id. There, this court concluded that the trial court erred in not granting the mistrial. In the present case, we are faced with a different situation and a different kind of remark than in Shroeder . Here, Moffitt stated that he would convict Appellant if he was on the jury. The trial court made a specific admonition to the jury that instructed them to disregard and ignore what Moffitt thinks should or should not happen. The court specifically instructed the jury to disregard that last statement about guilt or innocence of the defendant, that is not evidence to be considered by you. This admonishment was sufficient to overcome any prejudice that may have resulted from the statement, especially in light of the other evidence presented to the jury. As such, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by giving the admonishment and denying the motion for mistrial.