Opinion ID: 2582028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Accomplice/Co-defendant Testimony

Text: [¶15] In addition to his testimony about the theft of the saddles, Dunford testified that he and Williams, acting together, stole a horse from Gladys Esponda. Dunford went on to testify that he pleaded guilty to that crime and had been sentenced for it. Defense counsel did not object to this testimony; indeed, he thoroughly cross-examined Dunford about his plea bargain, guilty plea, and lenient sentence. [¶16] Just as a defendant in a criminal trial has a fundamental right not to be convicted of a crime on the basis that, since he committed a previous crime, it is likely that he committed the crime charged, there is no doubt that a defendant's right to a fair trial embraces a right not to be convicted, in whole or in part, upon the guilty pleas of his conspirators. Capshaw v. State, 11 P.3d 905, 912 (Wyo. 2000). Defense counsel did not interpose an objection, and so we must review this asserted error under the plain error standard. The record is clear that the error urged occurred, and the State concedes that point. The State also concedes that the error violated a clear and unequivocal rule of law. The final part of our analysis is to ascertain whether a substantial right belonging to Williams was materially abridged. Capshaw, 11 P.3d at 911-12. The prosecutor's conduct cannot be condoned. We are alarmed to continue to see that so many prosecutors appear to be unaware of the fundamental principles that apply to their role in the criminal justice system (and affirmance on the harmless error basis does not seem to deter prosecutors from violating this fundamental precept of the criminal justice system), and we are not convinced by the record that Williams intentionally incorporated Dunford's guilty plea into his trial strategy. This case matched Williams' claims against Dunford's, and defense counsel did seize upon Dunford's guilty plea and his sentence to probation as a motive to scapegoat Williams and to further his own interest in avoiding serving any further time in jail. We repeat here what we said in Capshaw : Finally, we offer this additional suggestion for the trial courts so as to deter similar potentially fatal errors from occurring in future cases. As noted above, as a general rule, admission of evidence that a codefendant or conspirator has pleaded guilty or been found guilty is not admissible in the trial of another codefendant or conspirator. If such evidence is introduced by the prosecution, it is error. Recently, we were compelled to reverse a conviction on these very grounds because the prosecution improperly used evidence of guilty pleas by co-defendants. Mazurek v. State, 10 P.3d 531, 535-541 (Wyo.2000). If no objection is interposed by the defense, we will review such an error under the plain error standard. Likewise, if an objection is made, the error is subject to review for harmless error. In either event, a clear and comprehensive instruction to the jury (whether requested by the defense or given by the trial court sua sponte ) may have a salutary effect in either a plain error analysis or a harmless error analysis. Trial courts should be alert to this potential pitfall when a codefendant or conspirator is called as a witness for the prosecution under circumstances similar to the instant case. The prosecution should be cautioned about introducing the subject of a guilty plea or conviction into another defendant's trial, and the trial court should be alert to properly instruct the jury to disregard any such testimony should it be called to the jury's attention. As can be gleaned from a review of the American Law Reports annotation cited above, there are many circumstances where prejudice is not found. One significant factor in such a finding may be the guidance provided by the trial court in such an instance. Capshaw, 11 P.3d at 913. [¶17] Here, the prosecution broke one of the cardinal rules of the concept of a fair trial by introducing this evidence in its case-in-chief. If defense counsel wished to use the guilty plea and light sentence to its advantage by cross-examining about it, then that was its prerogative, and the State then could have used that sort of information to whatever advantage it perceived appropriate. No limiting instruction was requested or offered by defense counsel, and none was given by the trial court sua sponte. This constitutes yet another inexplicable lapse on the part of the defense attorney. In the light of the peculiar circumstances of this case, the fundamental nature of the error, and the clarity of the guidance provided to prosecutors, defense counsel, and trial courts over the years, we are unable to conclude that this error was harmless and that it was not prejudicial to Williams. Thus, it constitutes a second independent basis for reversing the conviction.