Opinion ID: 1439460
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Chad Green

Text: Fourth, Appellant claims that Chad Green's statements, that it was a common thing for him to smoke methamphetamine with Appellant and that Appellant made him do other things he did not want to do, such as steal, were improperly allowed. Although a review of the record reflects that Appellant did not make a contemporaneous objection to Chad's statement that he commonly smoked methamphetamine with Appellant, we will examine the statement for prejudice and error as required by Rule 10(b). The trial court allowed Chad's testimony about Appellant forcing him to steal under Rule 404(b), just as the court had allowed prior Green family testimony on Appellant's control of the family. Upon review, the trial court erred in allowing both statements. First, Chad's testimony about smoking methamphetamine had no independent relevance to the State's case that Appellant committed the murders and kidnapping. Rather, it demonstrated that Appellant was a drug user  a subject that was not an issue in this case. Second, Chad's specific statement about his father making him do things he did not want to do, such as steal, was not relevant. Specifically, the issue of Chad's stealing under Appellant's direction is not relevant. These two statements merely demonstrated that Appellant had control over Chad and that he was a bad father. We note that Chad was not on trial, Appellant was. As such, there was no valid reason to allow the statements. They were prejudicial and not probative. Therefore, the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the statements.