Opinion ID: 427700
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Direct references to prior bad acts

Text: 25 As part of its case-in-chief, the prosecutor called Colonel Roberson. On direct examination, the following colloquy took place: 26 Q What did you say and what did Mr. Jordan say? 27 A At that point I asked him if in fact he had communicated a threat to one of my security policemen which was-- 28 (R. at 13.) Appellant objected to the reference to the prior incident and the district court sustained the objection as to why he was debarred. (R. at 13-14.) The questioning continued: 29 Q What did Mr. Jordan tell you? 30 A Well, he indicated to me ... that he had not made a statement that he was alleged to have made. 31 (R. at 14.) Appellant objected and moved for a mistrial. The district court sustained the objection but denied the motion for a mistrial. 32 Where evidence regarding prior bad acts is presented, the trial court has broad discretion in ruling on motions for mistrial. The trial court's striking of testimony, instructions to disregard and/or later jury instructions will avoid reversible error. See United States v. Kahan & Lessin Co., 695 F.2d 1122, 1124-25 (9th Cir.1982); United States v. Flemino, 691 F.2d 1263, 1267 (8th Cir.1982); Allen v. Snow, 635 F.2d 12, 15 (1st Cir.1980), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 910, 101 S.Ct. 1981, 68 L.Ed.2d 299 (1981), and United States v. Miroff, 606 F.2d 777, 782 (7th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 928, 100 S.Ct. 1315, 63 L.Ed.2d 761 (1980). Similarly, in cases where evidence regarding prior bad acts is presented, the presentation does not constitute reversible error when viewed against the entire record and overwhelming evidence of guilt. See United States v. Bettencourt, 614 F.2d 214, 218 (9th Cir.1980); United States v. Johnson, 610 F.2d 194, 196 (4th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 911, 100 S.Ct. 1840, 64 L.Ed.2d 264 (1980); United States v. Fritz, 580 F.2d 370, 376 (10th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 947, 99 S.Ct. 340, 58 L.Ed.2d 338 (1978); United States v. Miller, 508 F.2d 444, 450 (7th Cir.1974). 33 In sustaining appellant's objection to Colonel Roberson's testimony regarding the prior incident, the district court warned, It is sufficient that he was excluded from the Base, and he was there on this particular incident to discuss the matter. The circumstances of the prior occurrence are not relevant. (R. at 14.) When the prosecutor attempted to elicit information regarding the prior incident from Jordan, the district court sustained appellant's objection and denied his motion for mistrial. In so doing, the district court reminded all those who were present that: 34 [a]s to specific incidents, he [Jordan] is only on trial for resisting these particular military policemen and for the charge of aggravated battery. 35    36    37 The jury understands it is only the charges against Mr. Jordan that he is being tried for, not for something else that happened. 38 (R. at 107.) 39 Considering the case as a whole, the district court's prompt cautionary instructions and the overwhelming evidence presented, the direct references to Jordan's prior bad acts, while improper under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), did not constitute reversible error. 40 C. Cross-examination regarding prior arrests 41 During the defendant's case-in-chief, defendant's counsel asked a character witness, Gerdes, whether he was familiar with Mr. Jordan's reputation for being a peaceful and law-abiding citizen? Gerdes replied that Jordan's reputation was [v]ery good as far as I know. (R. at 82.) On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked Gerdes about a prior arrest of Jordan. Appellant contends that the district court erred in not granting him a mistrial when mention was made of his prior arrest. 42 While Fed.R.Evid. 404 generally prohibits the use of a person's character for evidence, the rule does allow [e]vidence of a pertinent trait of his character offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same. Fed.R.Evid. 404(a)(1). If a party places his character into evidence by testimony as to his reputation, [o]n cross-examination, inquiry is allowable into relevant specific instances of conduct. Fed.R.Evid. 405(a). 43 The price a defendant must pay for attempting to prove his good name is to throw open the entire subject which the law has kept closed for his benefit and to make himself vulnerable where the law otherwise shields him .... his own witness is subject to cross-examination as to the contents and extent of the hearsay on which he bases his conclusions, and he may be required to disclose rumors and reports that are current even if they do not affect his own conclusion. 44 Michelson v. United States, 335 U.S. 469, 479, 69 S.Ct. 213, 220, 93 L.Ed. 168 (1948). 45 When the prosecutor questioned Gerdes about his knowledge of Jordan's prior arrests, the district court properly denied Jordan's motion for mistrial because Jordan had 'opened the door' to this line of inquiry by putting in issue appellant's [Jordan's] reputation for the traits of ... [peaceful] and law-abiding citizenship. United States v. Payne, 635 F.2d 643, 647 (7th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 972, 101 S.Ct. 2050, 68 L.Ed.2d 351 (1981). D. Conclusion 46 Jordan relies on United States v. Shelton, 628 F.2d 54 (D.C.Cir.1980) as authority for his contention that the references to prior bad acts require a new trial. In Shelton, the prosecutor, by innuendo, portrayed the criminal defendants as seedy and sinister characters, members of the drug underworld involved in all sorts of skullduggery. Id. at 56-57. Jordan fails to show that the prosecutor, intentionally and through innuendo, portrayed Jordan as an undesirable and a person likely to commit a battery or to resist a police officer. The record reflects scattered and unintentional references to Jordan's prior bad acts, careful balancing by the district court when objections and motions for mistrial were made to these references, and a number of cautionary statements regarding the references. In light of the record, this Court finds these references to be, at most, harmless error. II 47 Whether the district court erred in refusing to instruct the 48 jury on the defense of compulsion? 49 Jordan argues that the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the defense of compulsion. Since Jordan had restricted his request for a jury instruction on the affirmative defense of compulsion to the charge of resisting a police officer, we limit our review to that count. 50 Ill.Ann.Stat. ch. 38, Sec. 7-11(a) (Smith-Hurd 1972) supplies the basis for an instruction on the compulsion defense: 51 A person is not guilty of an offense, other than an offense punishable with death by reason of conduct which he performs under the compulsion of threat or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great bodily harm, if he reasonably believes death or great bodily harm will be inflicted upon him if he does not perform such conduct. 52 Jordan properly cites People v. Unger, 33 Ill.App.3d 770, 338 N.E.2d 442 (1975) to show that only very slight evidence, is necessary to entitle a defendant to an instruction on an affirmative defense such as compulsion. Id. at 772, 338 N.E.2d at 444. The Illinois Supreme Court, in reviewing Unger, set forth what kind of evidence must exist: 53 ... the defense of compulsion generally requires an impending, imminent threat of great bodily harm together with a demand that the person perform the specific criminal act for which he is eventually charged (citations omitted). Additionally, where the defense of compulsion is successfully asserted the coercing party is guilty of the crime. 54 66 Ill.2d 333, 339-40, 5 Ill.Dec. 848, 851, 362 N.E.2d 319, 322 (1977) (emphasis added). 55 In Jordan's case, nothing exists in the records as a basis for fear of immediate, serious physical harm or injury from the base security policemen. The officers wore uniforms and Jordan recognized them as policemen. Additionally, Jordan does not contend that the policemen demanded that he commit the crime with which he was charged, that is, resisting arrest. Therefore, the court correctly refused to instruct the jury on the defense of compulsion. III 56 Whether the evidence failed to prove, beyond a reasonable 57 doubt, that appellant was guilty of aggravated 58 battery or of resisting a peace officer? 59 Jordan contends that the evidence failed to prove him guilty of aggravated battery or resisting a peace officer beyond a reasonable doubt. 60 This Court notes that: [I]n deciding whether the evidence was sufficient to allow the jury to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, [this Court] must view conflicting evidence and inferences reasonably drawn from the record in the light most favorable to the government. United States v. Henderson, 645 F.2d 569, 572 (7th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 850, 102 S.Ct. 289, 70 L.Ed.2d 139 (1981). In so doing, the Court must keep in mind the jury's right to determine the credibility of witnesses. United States v. Washington, 586 F.2d 1147, 1152 (7th Cir.1978). The verdict of the jury must be sustained if there is substantial evidence to support it. United States v. Wilkins, 659 F.2d 769, 773 (7th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1102, 102 S.Ct. 681, 70 L.Ed.2d 646 (1981), citing Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1943). 61 Ill.Ann.Stat. ch. 38, Sec. 12-3 (Smith-Hurd 1979) states that [a] person commits a battery if he intentionally or knowingly without legal justification and by any means, ... (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual. When the person committing the battery [k]nows the individual harmed to be a peace officer, ... while such officer is engaged in the execution of any of his official duties ..., that person commits aggravated battery. Id. at Sec. 12-4(b)(6). A person resists a police officer when he knowingly resists or obstructs the performance by one known to the person to be a peace officer of any authorized act within his official capacity.... Id. at Sec. 31-1 (1977). 62 The testimony of the airmen indicated that Jordan deliberately kicked back and struck Airman Schultz on the knee and that Jordan resisted Airman Beck when the airman was taking him into custody. As such, the jury received substantial evidence from which it could find Jordan guilty on both counts. IV 63 WE AFFIRM the decision of the district court. Although the sentence imposed seems severe, we note that a procedure exists under Fed.R.Crim.P. 35 whereby Jordan may file a motion for reconsideration of his sentence, and we are satisfied that the district court will, upon review, give it careful consideration. 64 AFFIRMED.