Opinion ID: 1751766
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admission of Bad-Act Evidence

Text: Holman first argues that the circuit court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of a statement he made on the telephone to then thirteen-year-old Iesha McDonnell and by admitting checks, driver's licenses, and Social Security cards belonging to third parties discovered during a search of his home. Holman contends that this evidence was admitted, in violation of Arkansas Rule of Evidence 404(b), to prove that he was a bad person, and that, even if the evidence were somehow relevant, it nevertheless should have been excluded under Arkansas Rule of Evidence 403 because its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Arkansas Rule of Evidence 404(b) allows evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts to be admitted if it is relevant to show such things as motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. However, evidence is not admissible under Rule 404(b) if its purpose is to show a defendant's bad character traits and to show he acted in conformity therewith in the case at bar. See Morris v. State, 367 Ark. 406, 240 S.W.3d 593 (2006). For evidence to be admissible under Rule 404(b), it must be relevant to prove the main issue independently from proving bad character. See Green v. State, 365 Ark. 478, 231 S.W.3d 638 (2006). Evidence admitted under 404(b) is independently relevant if it has a tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Morris, supra . When evidence of a prior wrong reflects consciousness of guilt of the commission of the crime charged, it is independently relevant and admissible under Rule 404(b). See Eliott v. State, 342 Ark. 237, 27 S.W.3d 432 (2000).