Opinion ID: 2451882
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: joinder of the felon/firearm charge

Text: In the last year and a half, we have examined the prejudicial impact that occurs when a felon/firearm charge is combined with a murder charge for trial on two occasions. Sullinger v. State, 310 Ark. 690, 840 S.W.2d 797 (1992); Ferrell v. State, 305 Ark. 511, 810 S.W.2d 29 (1991). In each instance, we affirmed the conviction and judgment, though we held that the trial court had erred in failing to sever the charges for trial. We did so, based on what amounted to a harmless error analysis. Though there was error, we held that the error was not prejudicial to the defendant because of the existence of one or more overriding factors, including: (1) the overwhelming evidence of guilt; (2) cross-examination of the defendant on the prior conviction; and (3) a limiting instruction to the jury. In both Sullinger and Ferrell , we scrutinized the circumstances of the case in light of these factors and concluded that the joinder error was harmless, primarily due to overwhelming evidence of guilt and the fact that the defendant would have taken the stand in any event and been crossexamined about his felony conviction. The state now urges us either to affirm Sutton's conviction using the Sullinger and Ferrell analysis or on the basis of McEwen v. State, 302 Ark. 454, 790 S.W.2d 432 (1990). In McEwen , a felon/firearm charge and aggravated robbery charge were tried together and convictions for both resulted. Prejudice was argued on appeal due to the joinder, and we rejected the argument on the basis that severance was a matter discretionary with the trial judge. We noted that the judge's discretion was not abused by the ruling in McEwen because it was premised on the fact that the same gun was used in both offenses and that severance would have meant two trials and a duplicative effort. We also observed in that case that the prior felony conviction could have been brought out on cross-examination and, thus, no prejudice resulted from the joinder. We first consider in the case at hand whether Sutton's motion to sever the murder and felon/firearm charges and his motion in limine to exclude the prior felony conviction preserved the issue for appeal without a further objection made at trial. We have held that raising an objection by pretrial motion without a corollary objection at trial is sufficient to preserve the issue for appeal, but failure to object at trial precludes the party from relying on anything disclosed at trial which was not brought out at the pretrial hearing. Rowe v. State, 271 Ark. 20, 607 S.W.2d 657 (1980), cert, denied 450 U.S. 1043,101 S.Ct. 1764, 68 L.Ed.2d 242 (1981) (pre-trial motion to suppress lineup identification which was denied preserved the issue without additional objection at trial); see also Ward v. State, 272 Ark. 99, 612 S.W.2d 118 (1981) (when a motion in limine is overruled, no further objection is needed). Here, Sutton moved to sever the charges and moved in limine on the prior conviction. Under these circumstances, an additional objection to the felony conviction at trial was not necessary. In examining the approach taken to the joinder issue in other jurisdictions, we observe a wide range of solutions. Some jurisdictions have balanced judicial efficiency against prejudice to the defendant and denial of a fair trial under the Due Process Clause and held in favor of severance. See, e.g., State v. Cook, 673 S.W.2d 469 (Mo.App.1984). The District of Columbia Court of Appeals, while noting that joinder may not always be an abuse of discretion, has held that a high level of care is necessary to avoid prejudice when a felon/firearm charge is joined for trial. U.S. v. Dockery, 955 F.2d 50 (D.C.Cir.1992); but see United States v. Daniels, 770 F.2d 1111 (D.C.Cir.1985) (district court did not abuse its discretion in denying severance). The D.C. Circuit in Dockery stated: The primary concern is that prior crimes evidence weigh[s] too much with the jury and ... overpersuade[s] them as to prejudge one with a bad general record and deny him a fair opportunity to defend against a particular charge. 955 F.2d at 53; quoting Michelson v. United States, 335 U.S. 469, 476, 69 S.Ct. 213, 218, 93 L.Ed. 168 (1948). The D.C. Circuit concluded that the defendant was prejudiced and looked to factors such as the government's refusal to admit the prior conviction by stipulation rather than proof and the absence of a cautionary instruction on inferences to be drawn from the conviction as reasons for reversal. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had held in a case where evidence was sparse on the primary charge of murder and a cautionary instruction on the prior felony was not given until the end of a three-day trial that the defendant was manifestly prejudiced. United States v. Lewis, 787 F.2d 1318 (9th Cir.1986). Though the Ninth Circuit did not dwell on this point, the defendant also did not take the stand; thus, the prior felony would not have been otherwise admissible. Similarly, the Kentucky Supreme Court has held that failure of the trial court to sever a felon/firearm charge for trial was prejudicial error. Hubbard v. Commonwealth, 633 S.W.2d 67 (Ky.1982). In a dissenting opinion, it was noted that the defendant had not testified at trial. He was, therefore, not subject to cross-examination on his felony record. Other state appellate courts have also held that prejudice results from joinder and introduction of a felony record at trial where otherwise the felony conviction would have been inadmissible. See, e.g., Elerson v. State, 732 P.2d 192 (Alaska App.1987). In addition, the Georgia Court of Appeals, though it did not reach the merits due to the appellant's assertion of a new ground attacking joinder on appeal, observed that a felon/firearm offense is not an included offense of armed robbery and may be an existing offense before and after the commission of armed robbery. Coleman v. State, 163 Ga.App. 173, 293 S.E.2d 395 (1982). It is clear from this authority that foreign jurisdictions have engaged in the same analysis as we have in assessing prejudicial error in these cases. Turning to the merits in the case before us, the evidence for conviction is much weaker than the evidence presented by the state in either Sullinger or Ferrell . The eyewitness testimony is from a witness, Kathy Riggsbee, who was under suspicion as an accomplice and who was charged with hindering apprehension. Moreover, the prior conviction sustaining the felon/firearm chargegrand larcenywas more than ten years old and could not have been used for impeachment purposes under Ark.R.Evid. 609(b). Where a felon/firearm charge is tried with a second felony, the jury is confronted at the opening of the trial with the stark and highly significant fact that the defendant is a convicted felon. The felon/firearm charge generally has no relevance to the second charge being tried and serves only to sully the defendant in the minds of the jurors. In the present case, the previous conviction occurred in 1974 and was for grand larceny. It had no probative value in Sutton's trial for the murder of Lyle Boliou. At the end of the trial, the jury was instructed that a prior conviction could only be used to assess credibility and not as evidence against the accused. However, we are of the opinion that this general instruction did little, if anything, to offset the effect of the criminal record. The state argues that Sutton, in fact, did commit the felon/firearm offense at the same time he purportedly shot Boliou on August 13, 1990. In other words, he was a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm at that moment. Hence, so the argument continues, the two offenses were part of a single scheme or plan under Ark.R.Crim.P. 22.2(a) at the time the trigger was pulled. We are mindful that at least one other jurisdiction has adopted this point of view. See State v. Illig, 237 Neb. 598, 467 N.W.2d 375 (1992). However, we are not convinced by this argument for two reasons. First, the prejudice caused by evidence of a prior conviction in the state's case is great. Secondly, we do not believe that an ongoing violation of a felon's possession of a firearm should be telescoped into one moment in time in order to enhance the prosecutor's case on a second, more serious charge. We are disinclined, as are other jurisdictions, to conclude that joinder of a felon/firearm charge with a second felony charge constitutes prejudice by that fact alone in all instances. See, e.g., United States v. Daniels, supra . However, we agree with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the danger that the jury's perception of the defendant will be adversely affected is so strong as to create a presumption favoring severance. 787 F.2d at 1322. Further, we do not believe that the circumstances in this case are sufficient to overcome that presumption of prejudice. The evidence of guilt was weak, and the prior felony was inadmissible for purposes of impeachment. In addition, the error was not cured by the instruction on the prior conviction and credibility at the end of the trial. Sutton, accordingly, was prejudiced by the joinder and is entitled to a new trial. We, therefore, hold that the trial of the felon/firearm charge with the murder charge was prejudicial error and that the circuit court abused its discretion in denying the motion to sever. Because McEwen v. State, supra , is inconsistent with our holding in this case, we overrule it. Sutton makes numerous other assertions of error, and we address those that may arise on retrial.