Opinion ID: 1676759
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of an incident involving dokken's use of the same firearm approximately four hours before the fatal shooting?

Text: State moved to introduce evidence of Dokken's argument with Chuck Baecker which occurred on the same evening that Brandsgaard was shot. The trial court granted admission of this evidence over defense counsel's objection. Thereafter, the State presented evidence to the jury which revealed that Dokken drew the same handgun on Baecker some four hours earlier as a result of their argument over the ownership of the railroad ties. On appeal, Dokken argues that this evidence was inadmissible under any of the statutory exceptions codified in SDCL 19-12-5, because its only purpose was to show that he possessed a bad character and thus, acted in conformity therewith in the subsequent shooting of Brandsgaard. Evidence of crimes or acts other than the ones with which an accused is charged, are generally inadmissible. The general rule and its exceptions are set forth in SDCL 19-12-5 which provides: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or accident. Here, the trial court had the discretionary power to admit evidence of the Baecker incident so long as it was relevant to the shooting at the Westport. See: State v. Means, 363 N.W.2d 565, 568 (S.D.1985), State v. Johnson, 316 N.W.2d 652, 654 (S.D.1982), SDCL 19-12-1. Thereafter, the trial court was required to perform the balancing test to assure that the probative value of this evidence substantially outweighed its prejudicial effect upon Dokken. SDCL 19-12-3. Evidence of the Baecker incident was no doubt prejudicial to Dokken. However, we noted in State v. Iron Shell, 336 N.W.2d 372, 375 (S.D.1983), that prejudice does not mean the damage to the opponent's case that results from the legitimate probative force of the evidence, but rather from the unfair advantage that results from the capacity of the evidence to persuade by illegitimate means. Our standard for review is whether the trial court abused its discretion. State v. Pedde, 334 N.W.2d 41, 43 (S.D.1983). We find no abuse of discretion. SDCL 19-12-5 expressly states that other acts evidence may be admissible for other purposes; some of which are enumerated in the statute, however, this listing does not limit the scope of other purposes for which this evidence may be admissible. See: State v. Fender, 358 N.W.2d 248, 253 (S.D.1984). In affirming the trial court in Fender, supra, we ruled that evidence of the defendant's prior conduct was necessary to provide the jury with a foundation and background pursuant to the crime charged, and to show the defendant's state and frame of mind. It follows, therefore, that evidence of the Baecker incident was probative of Dokken's state of mind some four hours later when he shot Brandsgaard. As such, this evidence tended to show that Dokken was ready, willing and able to draw his gun to settle a dispute. Moreover, we wrote in State v. Willis, 370 N.W.2d 193, 198 (S.D.1985), that the term modus operandi is included within the plan exception in SDCL 19-12-5. Thus, we stated that the plan exception requires that the former acts should indicate, by common features, a plan or design which tends to show that it was carried out by doing the act charged. Here, the Baecker incident and Dokken's later altercation with the Deadmen were closely related in time and shared common features. Germane to both incidents was the fact that Dokken was provoked by Baecker and then the Deadmen, to which he responded by drawing his gun after being slapped around, (by Baecker), and grabbed by the arms and hair, (by Brandsgaard and Winters). Inasmuch as Dokken maintained that he was in fear for his life and shot Brandsgaard in self-defense, we find that evidence of his prior conduct under substantially similar circumstances some four hours earlier with Baecker, was admissible under Fender, supra, to provide the jury with the foundation and background necessary for their determination of the reasonableness of Dokken's later conduct at the Westport. We hold that evidence of the Baecker incident was admissible to show Dokken's state of mind, modus operandi, plan, preparation, motive and intent relative to the subsequent shooting of Brandsgaard. As such, we affirm the trial court's ruling upon this evidence.