Opinion ID: 852914
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ritchie's Tattoo

Text: The prosecutor referred during the guilt phase to a tattoo on Ritchie's neck displaying the numbers three and seven. Ritchie contends that this was a reference to officer Toney's badge number. There is no showing that the jury was aware that Officer Toney's badge number was 37. The potential prejudice is therefore solely whatever effect Ritchie's having a tattoo might have on the jury. Ritchie argues that this reference constituted prosecutorial misconduct because the trial judge had granted Ritchie's motion in limine to bar reference to the tattoo during the guilt phase. Sanctions for violation of the trial court's pretrial order are for the trial court to assess. Underwood v. State, 644 N.E.2d 108, 111 (Ind.1994). The issue before this Court is whether the misconduct requires a retrial, not whether it violates a trial court order. As a freestanding ground for mistrial, the trial court's rulings as to misconduct are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Although the reference may have constituted misconduct, in order to grant a mistrial, the trial court must determine that no lesser step could have rectified the situation. Id. The trial court has discretion in determining whether to grant a mistrial, and the decision is afforded great deference on appeal because the trial court is in the best position to gauge the surrounding circumstances of the event and its impact on the jury. Schlomer v. State, 580 N.E.2d 950, 955 (Ind.1991). The trial court felt that the reference was not so prejudicial to warrant a new trial. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling as it did and we decline to disturb the trial judge's ruling.