Opinion ID: 2127227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility of Evidence of Defendant's Criminal Record

Text: Russell contends the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to cross-examine him about a prior misdemeanor battery conviction. Russell argues that (1) he did not open the door to such evidence because he did not place his good character in issue; (2) even if such evidence were admissible, the prosecutor should not have brought it out in cross-examination of Russell; and (3) even if the prior conviction were admissible, the underlying facts supporting the conviction were not. We disagree. First, we note that this issue does not present us with an Ashton v. Anderson crime which is admissible for purposes of impeaching a witness. 258 Ind. 51, 62-63, 279 N.E.2d 210, 216-17. Apart from the Ashton rule, when a defendant merely alleges self-defense, as in the instant case, but does not tender evidence of his general good character, evidence of prior misconduct is inadmissible. Gray v. State (1986), Ind., 500 N.E.2d 1200, 1201. However, if a defendant introduces evidence of a pattern of non-violent conduct, the prosecution may rebut such evidence with evidence of prior violent misconduct. Berkley v. State (1986), Ind., 501 N.E.2d 399, 400-01; Jackson v. State (1977), 267 Ind. 62, 66, 366 N.E.2d 1186, 1189, cert. denied (1978), 435 U.S. 975, 98 S.Ct. 1623, 56 L.Ed.2d 69. In the present case, Russell introduced evidence tending to depict him as a non-violent person. He elicited from his landlady that he had caused her no problems as a tenant. Additionally, his employer testified that he had never seen Russell carrying a knife. We believe this testimony sufficiently opened the door to allow the prosecutor to introduce evidence of Russell's prior battery conviction. Furthermore, the prosecution did not err in cross-examining Russell regarding his prior conviction rather than cross-examining the witnesses who testified as to his good character. Although examining character witnesses regarding their knowledge of a defendant's criminal record is one method of testing their knowledge concerning defendant's reputation, it is not the only method to introduce such evidence. We have previously affirmed cases in which rebuttal evidence was elicited from witnesses other than those who testified as to a defendant's good character. Berkley v. State (1986), Ind., 501 N.E.2d 399; Bond v. State (1980), 273 Ind. 233, 403 N.E.2d 812; Robertson v. State (1974), 262 Ind. 562, 319 N.E.2d 833. As we have previously stated, [a] witness may be cross examined not only as to his own testimony on direct examination, but also as to all matters within his knowledge which are pertinent or material to the case. Robertson, 262 Ind. at 566, 319 N.E.2d at 836. The question posed to Russell about his criminal record was pertinent here to contradict the evidence of good character which had been submitted by Russell's witnesses. Finally, the trial court committed no error in admitting evidence of the underlying facts supporting Russell's prior battery conviction. The rebuttal evidence offered by the prosecutor was that Russell's misdemeanor battery conviction arose out of an incident at a bar where Russell stabbed a man with whom he was fighting. The prosecutor elicited this information during cross-examination of Russell. In Jackson v. State, supra , this Court held admissible prior specific acts of misconduct which did not result in convictions if the defendant has attempted to demonstrate his peaceful character. 267 Ind. at 66-67, 366 N.E.2d at 1189. We see no reason in the present case to hold inadmissible a prior specific act of misconduct which did result in a conviction. See also, Robertson, supra, 262 Ind. at 566, 319 N.E.2d at 836. The trial court did not err in admitting evidence of Russell's prior conviction. We hereby grant transfer, vacate the decision of the Court of Appeals, reverse the conviction and remand this cause to the trial court for a new trial. SHEPARD, C.J., and DeBRULER, GIVAN and DICKSON, JJ., concur.