Opinion ID: 1355273
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Evidence from Federal Proceedings

Text: Defendant Thomas raises several claims of error arising from the admission of evidence that was also used in his prior federal trial. First, Defendant Thomas complains that the trial court erred in overruling his objection concerning the exhibit stickers placed on exhibits used in Defendant Thomas' prior federal trial and further erred by not providing the jury a curative instruction. Next, he asserts as error that the trial court erred by permitting introduction of the video of the crime even though the prosecution had failed to provide a proper foundation or chain of custody for the admission of the videotape. Third, Defendant Thomas contends that the trial court erred by permitting the jury to read a transcript of Mr. Day's previous testimony as Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin read the transcript aloud. Next, Defendant Thomas contends that the date of Defendant Bond's guilty plea and the later date of Mr. Day's testimony provided the inference that the federal proceeding went forward against Defendant Thomas without Defendant Bond. Finally, Defendant Thomas complains that the trial court erred by overruling his objections to Defendant Bond's counsel asking questions regarding Bond's guilty plea in federal court. As argument on these claims, Defendant Thomas makes the general assertion that this evidence was not relevant. The State asserts that Defendant Thomas has waived these claims for failing to make proper argument. See Tenn. Ct.Crim.App. R. 10(b). Additionally, the State contends that Defendant Thomas has failed to demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion with respect to the admission of any of this evidence. The State's position is well-taken. Nonetheless, we elect to review the admission of the contested evidence on its merits. Rulings on the admissibility of evidence based on its relevance are entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned absent an abuse of that discretion. See State v. DuBose, 953 S.W.2d 649, 652 (Tenn.1997). [A]n appellate court should find an abuse of discretion when it appears that a trial court applied an incorrect legal standard, or reached a decision which is against logic or reasoning that caused an injustice to the party complaining. State v. Shuck, 953 S.W.2d 662, 669 (Tenn.1997).
Initially, we note that Defendant Thomas fails to reference the record regarding objections made to the introduction of exhibits that had been previously used during his federal trial. The State, noting this omission, also fails to cite to the objections, if any, made. Despite the reference made at the motion for new trial hearing that this issue was thoroughly addressed at trial, this Court has been unable to locate any objections to these exhibits, although examples of the trial court's curative measures are found. Irregardless, Defendant Thomas claims that the exhibits were prejudicial because they contained exhibit stickers from the previous trial. Numerous exhibits contain stickers indicating that they had previously been exhibits. No other information is provided on the exhibit tags. Assistant United States Attorney Arvin testified that there were proceedings in federal court. With regard to Defendant Thomas, the jury did not know where or how the exhibits were used previously, the name of any other defendant, or the outcome of any hearing. In short, even if any prejudice resulted from the use of these exhibits, such prejudice was slight and did not substantially outweigh the probative value of this evidence. See Tenn. R. Evid. 403.
A videotape of the incident was recorded by Walgreens' security camera and was introduced at trial through the testimony of Charles Young. Defendant Thomas objected, asserting lack of foundation and lack of chain of custody. The trial court found: Well, chain of custody is not relevant. It's just like with a photograph; if the witness can state that he's viewed this film, and it accurately reflects what it purports to show the[n] there is no chain of custody problem like there would be if you had drugs or something that you needed to maintain  preserve the integrity of the item. As far as foundation is concerned, [Charles Young] is the assistant manager of the store. He said he was familiar with the cameras and how they were pointed and how they operated, so I'll note your exception. We agree with the trial court. This issue has no merit.
During the State's case-in-chief, Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin read to the jury a transcript of Mr. Day's testimony given on November 9th during the federal proceedings. Simultaneously, the jurors were each provided a copy of the transcript to read. Although Defendant Thomas conceded that the reading of Mr. Day's prior testimony was permissible, he objected to the handing of the transcript to the jury. The trial court responded, this is not Mr. Day testifying; it's a bit harder for jurors, I think, to follow because it's some sort of neutral presentation of what is otherwise testimony; and so I think it will aid  in my opinion, it will aid the jury in following what is being read. Thus, the trial court overruled Defendant Thomas' objection. However, the trial court further determined that the jury was not to have a written copy with them in the jury room because that would give undue weight to a written document which is, in essence, testimony  nothing more nothing less. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's ruling on this matter. This issue is without merit.

Defendant Bond pled guilty in federal court on November 4, 1998, to the robbery of James Day. Mr. Day subsequently testified about the robbery on November 9, 1998. At trial, Defendant Thomas was concerned that the evidence of the two dates would lead to the inference that, as of November 9, 1998, the [federal] proceeding went forward against [Defendant] Thomas without [Defendant] Bond. Following argument by defense counsel, the trial court found, So long as you  as long as [it] is indicated to the jury; that up until November the 4, [Bond] was, indeed, a party to the [federal] proceeding. At that time he entered a guilty plea to these events. And so at the time that Mr. Day testified on November the 9th, in light of the fact that [Bond] entered a guilty plea to these very events five days earlier, he was not, at that time, an actual party to the proceedings. With reference to an objection lodged by Defendant Thomas that this ruling gives the indication that they were together in that proceeding and that [Defendant Bond] was able to plead guilty and that [Defendant Thomas] possibly disputed something, the trial court further found: First of all, the fact that the transcript contains references to the jury and even the court, I can only say that we made an effort ... to avoid referring to the previous proceeding as a trial or what the outcome might have been, who the actual parties were, what the sentence might have been that these men received. The references to jury and court in the transcript ... could have been addressed and could have been deleted. The entry of this testimony comes as no surprise to anyone in this courtroom. You all have had, of course, the transcript for years now, and we addressed the issue of the state's desire to enter Mr. Day's testimony.... So there's been time for you all to review and request that those matters  those references be deleted had you felt ... that it was unduly prejudicial to leave them in. I don't think it's as prejudicial for them to have been in because we're still not referring to precisely what the proceedings [were], what the results were, or anything of that sort.... With regard to what [Defendant Bond] is asking to be allowed to ask, it's already in the record at this point.... Mr. Arvin has already testified to the date on which Mr. Bond entered his guilty plea to these events, not to a specific trial that was about to begin.... He's entered a guilty plea ... on the 4th of November ... and that Mr. Day's testimony ... occurred on the 9th of November. ... And so, ... he's asking to ... re-ask what's already in the record and already before the jury ... and I don't know that there is any real prejudice to your client. The trial court then limited the manner in which Defendant Bond could make inquiry as to Defendant Bond's status in the proceeding at the time of Mr. Day's testimony. Again, we see no abuse of discretion in the trial court's ruling on this matter. Defendant Thomas is not entitled to relief as to these claims.