Opinion ID: 2218579
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: bad acts testimony

Text: D.J.K.'s testimony was followed by that of two additional young girls, M.K., D.J. K.'s younger sister, and P.B., who is not related to the other girls. M.K. recounted three separate instances of sexual contact with Perkins: 1) In 1984, at age thirteen, after babysitting at Perkins' trailer, he sat on the couch she was sleeping on, touched her breast, grabbed her hand, moved it toward his penis, and stopped after she pulled her hand away; 2) in 1985, at age fourteen, after babysitting for Perkins in Eckstein's basement, he sat on the couch with her and started rubbing her breasts, desisting only when she began to scream; and 3) in 1986, when she was fifteen, at his residence at Lake Byron, Perkins put a hand on her breast, reached for her vagina, saying oh, love me, love me, and stopped after she kicked him and reminded him of his crying, pregnant wife, who was in another room. P.B.'s testimony recounted an incident which happened in 1986, when she was fifteen, during an overnight stay at Perkins' trailer. While sleeping on a couch, she was awakened by Perkins, who sat down, whispering unintelligibly. He took her hand and moved it to his penis, at which point she jerked her hand from his grasp. He then left, after telling her that he would leave her alone. Before and during trial, defense counsel made motions to suppress the bad acts testimony of M.K. and P.B., but the trial court declined to do so. The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law to the effect that the bad acts testimony demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence: 1) An intent to commit the acts charged; 2) a plan; 3) identity; 4) a course of continuous criminal action against young women engaged in a babysitting capacity; and 5) motive, opportunity, preparation and knowledge regarding commission of the acts charged. As a matter of law, the trial court concluded that the testimony was relevant to material issues, and that its probative value was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to the defendant. Hence, the bad acts testimony was admitted.