Opinion ID: 2241914
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of the Recorded Confession

Text: Goodner argues that admitting the cassette recording of his confession improperly presented evidence of his prior bad acts in violation of Indiana Rule of Evidence 404(b). Goodner objects to the cassette because it contains taped statements referring to his criminal record and other illegal activities. Indiana Rule of Evidence 404(b) generally allows evidence of prior misconduct to be introduced unless such evidence is used to imply the defendant is of bad character or to infer the charged crime was committed in conformity with that character. Id. Ind.Evidence Rule 404(b) provides: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. A trial court is afforded broad discretion when ruling on the admissibility of evidence. Moore v. State, 637 N.E.2d 816, 818 (Ind. App.1994). Absent a requisite showing of abuse, the trial court's decision will not be disturbed. Id. Goodner's statements, which the trial court determined fell into several of Rule 404(b)'s exceptions, can be divided into three main categories: statements regarding his prior conviction, statements about his previous possession and dealing of cocaine with Evans, and statements concerning his cocaine sales earlier in the week of his arrest. As for Goodner's claim concerning statements about his earlier arrests, the court granted Goodner's motion in limine requesting his statements about his previous arrest be withheld from the jury. The record shows that those particular statements were not admitted at trial. The court redacted those designated portions of the tape. Goodner's statements concerning his cocaine possession and drug activities prior to his arrest were properly admitted not only to counter Goodner's testimony indicating his purported intent to aid police in a set up operation of Evans, but also to demonstrate his intent to deliver the cocaine. During trial, Goodner offered evidence that he worked as an informant for the police. According to Goodner, however, no one told him that he had been deactivated. He testified about calling Detective Poskon a few months before his arrest to discuss Evans' cocaine dealings. Goodner tried to establish that he possessed the cocaine as part of a ploy to assist the police in arresting Evans. Goodner's recorded statements regarding his previous drug deals with Evans directly rebut his professed intent. Goodner provides a specific contrary intent within the meaning of Wickizer v. State : evidence may be used to show intent when defendant goes beyond merely denying the charge to affirmatively presenting a contrary intent. Wickizer v. State, 626 N.E.2d 795 (Ind.1993). The trial court, therefore, correctly admitted his statements concerning his ongoing cocaine dealings with Evans. Similarly, the trial court appropriately admitted Goodner's statements regarding his two sales earlier that week. Goodner's statements concerning transactions that week, however, were part of a plan that encompassed the charged offense: disposition of a half-ounce of cocaine. The concerns that led us in Wickizer to adopt a narrow construction of the intent exception do not appear applicable to evidence of acts that are part of the plan for the charged offense within the meaning of plan under Rule 404(b). [3] The trial court properly admitted Goodner's taped statement under the exceptions to Evid.R. 404(b).