Opinion ID: 1754638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Gang-Related Testimony

Text: For his third and final point on appeal, Appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in allowing testimony of Officer Mike Davis that Appellant belonged to the Dixie Dog Pound gang. Appellant objected on grounds of relevance and undue prejudice. Relevancy determinations are within the sound discretion of the trial court subject to reversal only if that discretion is abused. TB of Blytheville, Inc. v. Little Rock Sign & Emblem, Inc. 328 Ark. 688, 946 S.W.2d 930 (1997) Smith v. State, 334 Ark. 190, 974 S.W.2d 427 (1998). Additionally, prejudice, which is not presumed, must be shown or the trial court's ruling will not be reversed. Wallace v. State 314 Ark. 247, 862 S.W.2d 235 (1993); Clark v. State, 323 Ark. 211, 913 S.W.2d 297 (1996). Although the record does not directly reflect it, the parties agree that the trial court granted a motion in limine to exclude evidence of gang activity. The pertinent, objected to testimony appears below: OFFICER DAVIS testified: Q And were you aware of any gang or street gangs in the Dixie Addition area based upon your experience? A Yes, Sir. There is one gang in Dixie. Q Okay. And, Sargent Davis, do you know whether or not this defendant, Mr. Elgin King, is in a gang? A Yes, sir, I do. Q Okay. A He is. Q And which gang is that? A The Dixie Dog Pound. [TR 392-393.] The State elicited this limited testimony that Appellant belonged to the Dixie Dog Pound gang pursuant to direction given by the trial court. After long discussion between the trial court and counsel, the court concluded that this limited testimony was admissible to rebut evidence offered by Appellant. Earlier, Appellant's witness, Dewayne Turner, testified that State's witness Dana Thrash had lied. Turner testified that Thrash was not assaulted in jail at Appellant's behest, but because Thrash was throwing up gang signs. In the State's case in chief, witness Thrash testified that Appellant approached him in jail with an offer. Specifically, that if he took out a witness, Appellant would help him get out of jail on bond. Thrash testified that he did not agree, and that later someone attacked him. Appellant, in his defense case, put on Dewayne Turner to provide evidence that Thrash had made up the story about Appellant approaching him, that Thrash had rehearsed the story in front of Turner, and that Thrash concocted it to deceive the authorities and gain an early release. The trial judge found Turner's testimony opened the door to limited testimony about gang involvement because it implied Appellant was not involved in the assault by positing that a gang had done it for an unrelated reason. The trial court also noted Thrash's credibility had been attacked by Appellant with testimony by Turner that he was in a gang. The trial court stated, Yeah, I just think they've opened it by saying that this is gang activity and has nothing to do with this defendant, I think you can show this defendant's a member of a gang, and it could very well have been related to that. So Appellant's gang membership then became admissible. When a defendant opens the door to issues of character, the State is entitled to rebut those issues of character. Friend v. State, 315 Ark. 143, 865 S.W.2d 275 (1993). As a consequence, the State introduced and the court admitted evidence that Appellant was a gang member. The State sought to expand the testimony. However, the trial court correctly restricted the rebuttal testimony to merely stating that Appellant was a gang member so as to limit it to rebutting Turner's testimony. We have long recognized the propriety of fighting fire with fire when one of the parties opens the door with an untruthful statement, introduces inadmissible evidence, or makes an improper closing argument. See Porter v. State, 308 Ark. 137, 823 S.W.2d 846 (1992); Wortman v. Shipman, 293 Ark. 253, 737 S.W.2d 438 (1987); Pursley v. Price, 283 Ark. 33, 670 S.W.2d 448 (1984); Larimore v. State, 317 Ark. 111, 121, 877 S.W.2d 570 (1994). Moreover, an appellant generally can't complain when he is the one who originally elicited the objectionable testimony. Hicks v. State, 327 Ark. 652, 664, 941 S.W.2d 387 (1997). In the instant case, Appellant apparently put Turner on the stand unaware he might raise the issue of gangs. However, Turner was Appellant's witness and therefore Appellant broached the subject of gangs. The trial court limited the rebuttal testimony of Officer Davis to match what had been brought out by Appellant. Turner testified that Thrash belonged to the Piru gang, from which the jury might infer the prison assault on Thrash was by a gang and did not involve Appellant. Officer Davis testified that Appellant belonged to the Dixie Dog Pound gang, allowing the jury to infer the assault conceivably could have involved Appellant. Based on the foregoing, we hold the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting limited testimony of Appellant's gang membership. Affirmed.