Opinion ID: 887287
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the District Court abuse its discretion by denying Riggs' motion for severance?

Text: ¶ 34 The decision of whether to sever charges which were originally joined for trial is left to the sound discretion of the district court. State v. Southern, 1999 MT 94, ¶ 14, 294 Mont. 225, ¶ 14, 980 P.2d 3, ¶ 14 (citations omitted). A criminal defendant seeking to sever counts into separate trials has the burden of proving either that the counts were misjoined under § 46-11-404(1), MCA, or, if joinder was proper, that severing the counts under § 46-13-211(1), MCA, is necessary to prevent unfair prejudice. Southern, ¶ 14 (citations omitted). It is not sufficient for a criminal defendant to prove that he will face some prejudice as a result of a joint trial, or that he stands a better chance of acquittal if separate trials are held. Rather, a criminal defendant must prove that the prejudice is so great as to prevent a fair trial. Southern, ¶ 29 (citations omitted). ¶ 35 In Southern, we identified three types of prejudice which may result from consolidating charges. First, a jury may consider the criminal defendant facing multiple charges a bad man and accumulate evidence until it finds the defendant guilty of something. Second, a jury may use proof of guilt on one count to convict the defendant of a second count even though that proof would be inadmissible at a separate trial on the second count. Third, the defendant may be prejudiced if he or she wishes to testify on one charge but not on another. Southern, ¶ 30. Riggs argues that the first two types of prejudice are present here. We disagree. ¶ 36 Riggs' argument that the first type of prejudice was present in this case consists, in its entirety, of the following: The allegations regarding [one of the complainants] were dismissed as unfounded by law enforcement. Riggs gave statements during the investigation, and his comments were emphasized by the prosecutor. Trial on all charges should not have been permitted. ¶ 37 We conclude that there is no basis on which to rule that the District Court abused its discretion on this argument. ¶ 38 Riggs' argument that the second type of prejudice was present in this case likewise fails. Riggs cites the eighteen-month period during which the acts were alleged to have taken place in support of his contention that the District Court erred in not severing the charges. This corresponds with the second factor of the Just/Matt rule, which we apply to determine whether evidence of other crimes is admissible in a trial pursuant to Rules 403 and 404(b), M.R.Evid.: (1) the other crimes, wrongs, or acts must be similar; (2) the other crimes, wrongs, or acts must not be too remote in time; (3) the evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of the person in order to show that he or she acted in conformity with such character, but may be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident; (4) although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, danger of misleading the jury, consideration of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. See Southern, ¶ 34. ¶ 39 Our prior jurisprudence bespeaks our refusal to set an arbitrary time limit for admissibility of other-crimes evidence when analyzing severance issues. In State v. Martin (1996), 279 Mont. 185, 194, 926 P.2d 1380, 1386, we held that evidence of offenses committed over a five-year span are not too remote to be considered admissible other-crimes evidence. Furthermore, we have concluded that the problem of remoteness is alleviated when there is, as here, a continuing pattern of similar conduct. State v. Tecca (1986), 220 Mont. 168, 172-73, 714 P.2d 136, 139. ¶ 40 Accordingly, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Riggs' motion to sever the charges.