Opinion ID: 1275779
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Limiting Instruction

Text: We now turn to Higgenbotham's assertion of error in the district court's giving, over objection, a limiting instruction on evidence of prior crimes. The challenged instruction stated: Evidence has been admitted tending to prove that defendant, Chester L. Higgenbotham, may have committed crimes or other civil wrongs other than the present crimes charged. This evidence may be considered solely for the purpose of proving the defendant's intent, motive, plan, or identity, to commit the crimes of first degree murder and/or kidnapping. Higgenbotham argues that the instruction should have been limited to identity only. We said in State v. Bly, 215 Kan. 168, 176, 523 P.2d 397 (1974): The limiting instruction should not be in the form of a `shotgun' which broadly covers all of the eight exceptions set forth in 60-455. An instruction concerning the purpose of evidence of other offenses should only include those elements of K.S.A. 60-455, which appear to be applicable under the facts and circumstances. Those elements which are obviously inapplicable should not be instructed upon. [Citations omitted.] Higgenbotham observes that two types of prior crimes evidence were introduced at trial: his fraudulent application for an Arizona driver's license and his solicitation of sex for money (in violation of K.S.A. 21-3515[1][b]). This evidence, he contends, was irrelevant to intent, plan, or motive. The Arizona driver's license evidence arguably does not fall within 60-455. In addition to being relevant to establishing Higgenbotham's true identity, the evidence was relevant to verifying or refuting information he gave to police during the criminal investigation. It was not introduced to prove he was disposed to committing murder or kidnapping. Even to the extent that 60-455 does apply, the fraudulent license evidence was relevant to Higgenbotham's true identity. Higgenbotham's solicitation of sex for money 2 weeks before Jodi's murder, his intoxicated condition, and his angry reaction when the women declined sex are relevant to intent, plan, motive, and identity. He sought to have sex with women for money through an escort service. That effort was unsuccessful. A few weeks later, he returned to Wichita and sought out a prostitute. He picked up Jodi, offering her $200 for the evening. She was murdered. Murphy's (Higgenbotham's) wife described him as having had an argument with her. She could smell alcohol on his breath when she confronted him in front of the storage space around 4 a.m. on September 16, 1995. Higgenbotham was in Wichita on a weekend evening to drink and move on to the South Broadway area for a sexual encounter. He was unsuccessful in obtaining a prostitute the first time. He succeeded the second time, at least to the point of getting someone to leave with him in his car. His actions showed a common plan. Higgenbotham's angry reaction after his first solicitation provides the necessary additional causal link to his second try. Also, the failure on the first occasion provides a reason to return for another try. There are simply too many connections between these solicitations: weekend nights 2 weeks apart; same area; intoxication; after failing with the escort service, the next solicitation involves a prostitute picked up on the street; increasing the amount of money offered between the two solicitations; anger resulting from the first (when no one went with him) and murder resulting from the second (when Jodi did go with him). Higgenbotham had a friend along (Peters) during the first solicitation. He went alone the second time. We find no error in the instruction.