Opinion ID: 1882379
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Query on Electric Chair Statement

Text: Stephens next alleges the trial court reversibly erred by allowing the State to elicit testimony from him that he had asked authorities to help him get the electric chair. After being arrested for the crimes in this case, Stephens asked authorities if they could help him get the death penalty. The State claimed the statement was relevant because it showed a conscious recognition of guilt. However, during a proffered cross-examination, Stephens testified that he had asked the authorities to help him get the death penalty because of all of the crimes he had committed in his life. Stephens' counsel objected to the statement, arguing it was either irrelevant or that the prejudicial impact of such statement outweighed its probative value. The trial court overruled the objection and allowed Stephens to testify that he had asked the authorities to help him get the death penalty because of all of the crimes he had committed in his life, not because he felt guilty for murdering Sparrow III. In order for evidence to be relevant it must have some logical tendency to prove or disprove a fact which is of consequence to the outcome of the case. See Charles W. Ehrhardt, Florida Evidence § 401 (1999). Here, the State alleged the statement was relevant because it had a logical tendency to prove the defendant felt guilty for murdering Sparrow III. The defendant's state of mind at the time he made the statement was relevant to prove a material fact. See Johnson v. State, 660 So.2d 648 (Fla.1995). Stephens also argues the statement was unduly prejudicial. Under section 90.403, Florida Statutes (1997), relevant testimony may be excluded if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the likelihood of unfair prejudice. However, the trial court should be given wide discretion in determining whether the evidence is unduly prejudicial. See Sims v. Brown, 574 So.2d 131 (Fla.1991) (finding the weighing of relevance versus prejudice or confusion is best performed by the trial judge who is present and best able to compare the two); Lewis v. State, 570 So.2d 412, 415 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990) (holding the trial judge should be given wide discretion in determining whether evidence should be admitted over a section 90.403 objection). Weighing all the evidence in this case and considering the overwhelming evidence of guilt, we find the trial judge acted within his discretion, and any potential error was harmless. See Walker v. State, 707 So.2d 300 (Fla.1997); Shellito v. State, 701 So.2d 837 (Fla.1997); Reaves v. State, 639 So.2d 1 (Fla.1994). Here, the State did not ask Stephens to tell the jury about his other crimes. It merely asked Stephens if he had made an agreement with the authorities that he would tell them everything that had happened in this case if they agreed to help him get the electric chair. It was Stephens who went beyond that to explain that he had asked for help in getting the electric chair for all of the other crimes he had committed in his life. Moreover, the jury was never told that the other crimes were five other robberies and another murder where he shot the victim three times. Stephens has failed to demonstrate error in the admission of this relevant information.