Opinion ID: 2612223
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: impeachment with a prior conviction

Text: Appellant submits that the trial court erred in determining that he could be impeached with his prior felony conviction. The trial court conducted a pretrial hearing and, pursuant to rule 609, 17A A.R.S. Rules of Evidence, held the prior conviction admissible should the appellant testify. This ruling, claims appellant, was improper and denied him the right to testify and due process of law. Rule 609 admits evidence of a conviction of a felony for the purpose of attacking a witness' credibility if the court determines that the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect. In the absence of an abuse of discretion, we will not overturn a trial judge's decision admitting the prior conviction of a defendant for purposes of impeachment. State v. McElyea, 130 Ariz. 185, 635 P.2d 170 (1981). Due to the absence of witnesses to the alleged crimes, the credibility of the appellant was of considerable importance. The trial judge found that the severity of the crimes was so great in comparison to the prior conviction of theft that the likelihood the jury would be unduly prejudiced was far outweighed by its probative value on the appellant's credibility. The burden under rule 609 was met; the conviction carried a sentence of imprisonment in excess of one year and (although the test is disjunctive and already satisfied) the prior crime involved appellant's dishonesty. The trial court's ruling was well-reasoned and correct.