Opinion ID: 2139457
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Letica's Prior Conviction

Text: Letica took the stand in his own defense and testified about a prior burglary conviction. On cross-examination, the State asked Letica, over his objection, whether that burglary conviction was for breaking and entering the building or structure of another to commit criminal deviate conduct. Letica answered that at the time he pled guilty to burglary, he didn't know what the underlying felony was, but had recently become aware that such, in fact, was the crime charged. Although Letica himself introduced his prior conviction, he contends it was error to allow the State to question him on the specifics of the burglary conviction because those questions raised additional issues of other possible offenses not resulting in conviction. We disagree. Letica opened the door on direct examination and the trial court properly allowed the State to question him on this issue. The questions here were intended to elicit a more accurate statement of Letica's prior burglary conviction. Calling for the name of the felony intended upon the entry did not constitute an impermissible exploration of the details of the crime and was proper. King v. State (1984), Ind., 468 N.E.2d 226, 230-31. Letica next contends that additional questions asked by the State were likewise improper and should result in a reversal of his conviction. Specifically, after Letica denied that his prior burglary conviction was for breaking and entering the dwelling of another to perform deviate conduct on a woman, he was asked whether it was to break and enter to rape a woman. After Letica replied in the negative, the State directly asked him: Did you rape a woman? to which Letica replied: No, I didn't. Letica notes that the State introduced no evidence of his prior criminal record and contends this final question prejudiced him. Letica argues that evidence of a prior rape conviction does not fit under the depraved sexual instinct rule, citing Reichard v. State (1987), Ind., 510 N.E.2d 163, and Lehiy v. State (1987), 509 N.E.2d 1116. In Reichard, the trial court admitted evidence of prior alleged rapes perpetrated by the defendant upon various individuals. Likewise, in Lehiy, the State put on a witness who testified as to defendant's prior attempted rape of her. Both cases are distinguishable in that here the State did not attempt to produce evidence of a prior rape, but merely questioned Letica to provide a more accurate statement of his prior burglary conviction. King, supra . In addition, both Lehiy and Reichard are further distinguished in that both involved jury trials whereas Letica was tried before the bench; accordingly, there was no chance of a jury being prejudiced by the State's questions on cross-examination in this case. Letica presents no reversible error on these issues.