Opinion ID: 6108592
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Character and Reputation Evidence

Text: For the second point on appeal, Hill argues that the circuit court erred in sustaining the State's objection to the admission  of evidence from other witnesses about Dillard's character and reputation for engaging in sexual assaults. Hill asserts that this testimony should have been admissible pursuant to Rule 401 and Rule 405 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence, because it was relevant to corroborate Wright's testimony at trial. During an in camera proceeding before trial, defense counsel stated that Hill's defense was that Dillard and Hill's girlfriend, Wright, had a relationship during which she periodically bought pills from him. Defense counsel claimed that he assaulted her the night of the offense, and that Hill heard her scream and went in. Defense counsel sought to admit the testimony of other women to show that Dillard would use that [time] as an opportunity to assault young women. The circuit court stated, I think Ms. Wright can testify as to what she says occurred the night she went into the house. We're not going to bring all these other folks in here to testify about that. The circuit court further ruled that Wright could testify about what had occurred the night of the offense and stated that Hill could proffer the other witnesses at some point during the proceedings today. At trial, testifying for the defense, Wright stated that she and Hill went to Dillard's residence to buy some pills on the night of the offense. She stated that she frequently bought pills from Dillard and would often resell the pills and turn a profit. Wright testified, We were sitting on the couch and he kind of forced hisself [sic] over on me and started fondling like my crouch [sic] and my breast and I just started screaming and tell him get to off me [sic] and that's when Johnny [Hill] come in and we-I-when Johnny [Hill] come to the right side where I was and Cle pulled a gun out and it was in my face and I run around the back side of the-over the couch, stepped along the couch and went around to the left side and he started firing the gun and Jonathan ran into the bedroom that was right there to the right and he kept firing the gun and I-I didn't see Jonathan after that. Defense counsel later proffered the testimony of two witnesses who allegedly would corroborate Wright's testimony. Defense counsel stated, Your Honor, the defense would have called Megan Schwartz. If called to testify, she would testify that within a month or two before this event happened, she also would seek Cle Dillard to buy drugs and that the last time she went out there to his house he also sexually accosted her in exchange for the drugs rather than money and that she was able to get away from him herself but she used mace to spray him and ran from him through the front door and ran and got in the car with a friend waiting on her and got away. We would proffer that as evidence of corroboration of what happened out there that evening. .... Oh, and we would have also proffered the testimony of Amanda West who would have testified similar to Megan Schwartz. She would have testified that she knew Cle Dillard and also knew of his reputation as being a drug dealer and a lecherous old man who attacked women and-and knew a woman who lived out there with him, that she went out there one time to see this woman who lived there and [the] way Mr. Dillard treated her and what their relationship was for pills. So we would have had those two witnesses to testify and corroborate the story. At that time, the circuit court stated, All right, sir. Thank you very much. We've concluded the proffer and we will stand in  recess until the jury returns with their verdict. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts are admissible for proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Ark. R. Evid. 404(b). Specific instances of conduct are admissible only when the character or a trait of character of a person is an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense. Ark. R. Evid. 405(b). Here, any proffered witness testimony alleging that Dillard acted in conformity with his alleged reputation of trading sex for drugs is barred by Rule 404(b). Additionally, the evidence is barred by Rule 405(b). Although the proffered witness testimony would have provided evidence of specific instances of conduct to show the reason that Hill entered the home, it would not have provided specific instances to show the reason that Hill entered or remained unlawfully in Salvo's bedroom. Thus, this proffered witness testimony would not have supported an essential element of the aggravated-residential-burglary charge or his general-denial defense. For these reasons, we hold that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to allow this witness testimony.