Opinion ID: 2539877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Cross-examination of Eric Schott

Text: Appellant claims that he was improperly precluded from cross-examining Eric Schott about a prior robbery conviction. Schott, who was incarcerated with Appellant while he was awaiting trial, testified that he overheard Appellant make several statements regarding this case. On cross examination, defense counsel elicited from Schott that, at the time of trial, he had pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in the second degree. Schott admitted that he would not have testified for the Commonwealth in Appellant's trial without the plea agreement, which had been completed that morning. Defense counsel attempted to cross-examine Schott as to the nature of the robbery which he committed in Clay County. The trial court restricted cross-examination to the fact of Schott's conviction and disallowed questions pertaining to the specific circumstances of the offense. On avowal, Schott testified that he and an accomplice robbed an elderly couple in their Clay County home. Appellant now argues that defense counsel should have been permitted to elicit the circumstances of his robbery conviction. Kentucky's Rules of Evidence are clear that this type of cross-examination is not permitted. KRE 609(a). Schott admitted on direct examination that he is a convicted felon and even identified the most recent conviction as robbery. Accordingly, defense counsel was not entitled to delve into the circumstances of the crime. See Blair v. Commonwealth, 144 S.W.3d 801, 808 (Ky.2004) (where the witness admits the existence of the felony conviction, [KRE 609] permits impeachment only by evidence of a prior felony conviction and prohibits disclosure of the nature of the conviction....). Moreover, a review of the record reveals that cross-examination was thorough and vigorous. Defense counsel relentlessly attacked Schott's credibility based on his plea agreement with the Commonwealth, his numerous felony convictions in Kentucky and Indiana, and his repeated parole violations. There was no abuse of discretion by the trial court. Davenport v. Commonwealth, 177 S.W.3d 763, 771 (Ky.2005) (trial court enjoys broad discretion in regulating cross-examination).