Opinion ID: 2636693
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Issue 1: The trial court erred when it admitted evidence of Wells' prior bad acts under K.S.A. 60-455.

Text: Wells challenges the trial court's ruling allowing evidence of his prior bad acts pursuant to K.S.A. 60-455. Specifically, the trial court allowed B.H. to testify that one night Wells had tried to remove her pajama pants. It also permitted the jury to hear C.B.'s statements that Wells had previously done the same thing to her as charged in the present case. The State argues that the trial court was correct in finding that this evidence was relevant to prove Wells' motive and intent. Wells responds that motive and intent were not disputed material facts; that consequently this evidence was inadmissible; that the error was not harmless; and that he is therefore entitled to reversal of his conviction and remand for a new trial. The version of K.S.A. 60-455 in effect at the time of the alleged crime and during Wells' trial is as follows: Subject to K.S.A. 60-447 evidence that a person committed a crime or civil wrong on a specified occasion, is inadmissible to prove his or her disposition to commit crime or civil wrong as the basis for an inference that the person committed another crime or civil wrong on another specified occasion but, subject to K.S.A. 60-445 and 60-448 such evidence is admissible when relevant to prove some other material fact including motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identify or absence of mistake or accident. We observe that the legislature amended the statute effective April 30, 2009. See L. 2009, ch. 103, secs. 12, 15. Neither party, however, has filed a letter of supplemental authority pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 6.09(b) (2009 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 47) arguing the amendments' relevance to the issues before us.