Opinion ID: 1160457
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: In Limine Motion to Bar Evidence About Anthony Simpkins

Text: In the course of trial, the People moved the superior court, in limine, to preclude defendant and Ross from impeaching Sandra S.'s friend, Anthony Simpkins, in the presence of the jury with evidence of prior convictions, including one for the misdemeanor of petty theft. Neither defendant nor Ross opposed the motion. The superior court observed that there does not seem to be any impeachable prior convictions. Defense counsel expressly agreed with that. The superior court granted the motion. Defendant requested permission to inquire in the jury's presence whether Simpkins was then in custody. The superior court gave leave to do so. At the guilt phase, Simpkins testified on the People's behalf. On direct examination, he admitted that he was then in custody following a prior, otherwise unidentified, misdemeanor conviction. On cross-examination by defendant, he was impeached with evidence of misconduct, but not such as underlay his prior petty theft misdemeanor conviction. On cross-examination by Ross, he was not impeached at all, testifying inter alia that he had never seen her previously. (15) Defendant now contends that the superior court erred by granting the People's motion to bar impeachment of Simpkins with his prior petty theft misdemeanor conviction. We reject the claim at the threshold. Defendant has not preserved the point for review. He may not offer an argument in favor of impeachment because he did not offer any to that effect below. [13]