Opinion ID: 2588463
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: evidence of prior act

Text: DeVries challenges the court's admission of evidence under ER 404(b) that DeVries gave two pills to Bowden a few days before the incident involving Mannen. The court stated the prior incident showed DeVries knew the pill given to Mannen was a controlled substance even though the pills were not the same. Bowden testified the pill she took was a soft capsule, while Mannen testified the pill she took was hard. Evidence can be admitted under ER 404(b) only if the trial court finds the evidence serves a legitimate purpose, is relevant to prove an element of the crime charged, and, on balance, the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect. State v. Lough, 125 Wash.2d 847, 853, 889 P.2d 487 (1995). In doubtful cases, the evidence should be excluded. State v. Smith, 106 Wash.2d 772, 776, 725 P.2d 951 (1986). There was no evidence the prior pills were a controlled substance or that the pills were the same. The prior incident had little or no probative value on the elements of the crime charged and it should have been excluded.