Opinion ID: 1656069
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the circuit court erred in admitting evidence of prior acts of intercourse between miley and the victim.

Text: ¶ 21. Under Rule 403 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence, even relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Rule 404(b) of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence dictates that evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.  (Emphasis added). See also Carter v. State, 450 So.2d 67, 69 (Miss. 1984). ¶ 22. Under Rule 105 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence, when evidence against a party is admissible for one purpose but not for another purpose, the trial court must limit the scope of the evidence and instruct the jury accordingly. ¶ 23. The evidence of whether Miley had ever before asked K.S. to don a white tee shirt and whether he had ever before had sexual relations with her was inadmissible to directly prove the crime for which he was indicted. However, the circuit court found that the evidence was more probative than prejudicial, would be helpful to the jury in defining the issues (issues such as why the girl would take off all of her clothes though not specifically instructed to do so), and was therefore admissible on the condition that the State not delve into the details of the alleged prior incidents. The circuit court also gave the jury a limiting instruction as to how this evidence should be used. ¶ 24. The circuit court's ruling met the requirements of Rules 105, 403 and 404(b). There is no abuse of discretion on this issue; and therefore, there is no reason to overrule the circuit court's discretionary decision to admit this evidence of prior acts. Brooks v. State, 242 So.2d 865, 869 (Miss.1971) (reaffirming the tenets of Rule 404(b) and stating that in statutory rape cases evidence of prior sexual acts between the accused and the victim is admissible). See also Hicks v. State, 441 So.2d 1359, 1360 (Miss.1983); Speagle v. State, 390 So.2d 990, 992 (Miss.1980); Kolb v. State, 129 Miss. 834, 835, 93 So. 358, 360 (1922) (stating the relation of the male and female prior to the alleged act may be shown in evidence for the purpose of showing opportunity and otherwise corroborating the testimony of guilt at the time of the act).