Opinion ID: 290186
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reference to Schartner's prior criminal record.

Text: 24 Schartner contends also that the trial court committed reversible error in failing to strike a reference suggestive of his prior criminal record. On the cross-examination of Harvey, defense counsel read from part of a written account of a prior police interview of Harvey. On re-direct examination of the witness, the Government's counsel began to read the balance of the statement when Schartner's counsel objected. During a short discussion with the trial Judge as to the merits of the objection counsel for the United States said that it was the law that 'when counsel refers to part of a former statement, I can read the rest of that statement   '. When the trial Judge then stated his intention to overrule the objection, Schartner's counsel stated, 'I will withdraw the objection.' Government counsel then proceeded to read the statement, including in his recitation that Harvey 'selected a photograph of August Edward Schartner, Dauphin County Prison D 19233,   '. Schartner's counsel moved to strike this reference. His motion was denied. 25 The withdrawal of the original objection constituted a waiver precluding Schartner's counsel from later moving to strike. See United States v. Knox Coal Co., 347 F.2d 33, 44 (3 Cir.), cert. den. sub nom., Lippi v. United States, 382 U.S. 904, 86 S.Ct. 239, 15 L.Ed.2d 157 (1965); Good v. United States, 378 F.2d 934, 936 (9 Cir. 1967) (per curiam). This waiver must be deemed intelligent, being preceded by opposing counsel's statement that he could 'read the rest of the statement'. 26 It is contended by the United States that since the reference to Schartner's previous criminal charge was not emphasized and was in a sense oblique it did not constitute fundamental error affecting Schartner's constitutional rights. See Lyda v. United States, 321 F.2d 788, 791 (9 Cir. 1963) and United States v. Henderson, 185 F.2d 189, 192 (7 Cir. 1950). With this we are in accord albeit somewhat reluctantly. But the prosecuting attorney should not have been permitted to read that portion of the statement proving Schartner's prior conviction and the trial Judge should have prevented such an occurrence. If it were not for the peculiar circumstances surrounding this incident we would hold it to be reversible error. 27