Opinion ID: 854050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bank Records Evidence

Text: Willsey contends that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence certain checks written by her on Biddle's account and records of Biddle's credit card transactions. Specifically, the State offered into evidence five checks written on Biddle's account within the first two weeks of his meeting Willsey and York. Each check was written by Willsey but signed by Biddle. Four were written to cash and purportedly endorsed by Biddle. The fifth was written to and endorsed by Willsey. The credit card statements showed the monthly charges of the account that Biddle closed in December after he complained that Willsey was charging too much. In one month, the card was used to purchase over five hundred dollars at Walmart, despite a credit limit of five hundred dollars. Willsey objected to the evidence at trial on relevance grounds. Ind. Evidence Rule 401, 402. She now contends on appeal that it should not have been admitted under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b). A defendant may not raise one ground for objection at trial and argue a different ground on appeal. Marshall v. State, 621 N.E.2d 308, 316 (Ind.1993). Accordingly, the 404(b) issue is waived. As to the objection made at trial and raised again on appeal, albeit indirectly, the standard for relevant evidence is a liberal one under Rule 401 and we review a trial court's ruling as to relevance for an abuse of discretion. Thompson v. State, 690 N.E.2d 224, 233 (Ind.1997). The State's theory of the case was that Willsey took money from Biddle over a period of months, positioned herself to manage his estate, encouraged him to change his will, and murdered him after she learned that Biddle had asked authorities for help. Under this theory, Willsey's financial benefits from Biddle were in jeopardy if she waited for Biddle to die of natural causes. The State offered the bank records as evidence of Willsey's relationship with Biddle, namely that Willsey looked upon Biddle as a source of income, and that Biddle was balking at continuing this relationship. The records corroborated York's testimony that Biddle destroyed the credit card in frustration with Willsey, and York's characterization of Willsey's financial dealings with Biddle. The trial court acted within its discretion in admitting this evidence.