Opinion ID: 2233086
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: During the course of the State's cross-examination of the defendant, the State asked the following: Q. Mr. Beasley, how many times have you been convicted of a felony? The defendant's attorney objected at this point on the grounds that such questioning was designed to prove the defendant's guilt and not to attack his credibility. The court overruled the objection and the cross-examination continued as follows: Q. How many times have you been convicted of a felony? A. At least twice. Q. Would you tell me about the first time? A. I went to Boy's School twice. Q. On May the 3rd, 1969 were you convicted of assault and battery with intent to commit murder? A. Yes, I was. Q. And were you sentenced? A. Yes, I was. Q. Were you sent to an institution? A. It was broken down as a misdemeanor. Q. Were you sent to an institution? A. Yes, I was. Q. To what institution? A. Indiana State Farm. Q. What was your other felony conviction? A. Burglary. Q. And were you sentenced? A. Yes, I was. Q. Do you know the date? A. No, I don't. Q. Were you sent to an institution? A. Boy's School. Defendant objects on appeal to such line of questioning citing Ashton v. Anderson, (1972) 258 Ind. 51, 279 N.E.2d 210; and Hensley v. State, (1971) 256 Ind. 258, 268 N.E.2d 90. In Ashton, this court set out the proper criteria to be followed in impeaching a witness by his prior criminal record. In recognizing that all criminal convictions do not necessarily reflect upon the credibility of a witness, the Court held that convictions of only those crimes which would have rendered a witness incompetent (treason, murder, rape, arson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, forgery and wilful and corrupt perjury) along with those involving dishonesty or false statement, are admissible to impeach a witness' credibility. In Hensley it was held to be reversible error to cross-examine a defendant concerning any arrests or charges brought against him but which had not been reduced to convictions. Although the State's initial question concerning the defendant's convictions for any felonies may have fallen outside the limits set forth by Ashton, inasmuch as it encompassed felonies which cannot be used to attack credibility, the defendant suffered no prejudice as a result. The damage to the defendant arose, if at all, out of the defendant's unresponsive answer. He volunteered the information concerning his convictions for a misdemeanor in reply to questions seeking information regarding convictions for felonies. The first question was improper because it was overly broad, calling for a revelation of any felony convictions, rather than of those by which he could be properly impeached under Ashton v. Anderson, supra . However, the basis cited for the objection was not valid. An objection made to the admissibility of evidence must be correct, and an objection upon the wrong grounds preserves nothing for appeal. McMinoway v. State, (1973) 260 Ind. 241, 294 N.E.2d 803. In addition, the defendant was tried prior to the time that Ashton was decided, and the Ashton case does not have retroactive application. Dexter v. State, (1972) 260 Ind. 608, 297 N.E.2d 817. By his brief, the defendant attempts to inject other issues predicated upon the above mentioned improper question, including the Ashton v. Anderson issue and prosecutorial misconduct in the mode of interrogation concerning prior conviction. Grounds for objection to the admissibility of evidence relied upon on appeal must be the same as those urged in the trial court. Tyler v. State, (1968) 250 Ind. 419, 422, 236 N.E.2d 815, 816; Rector v. State, (1971) 256 Ind. 634, 271 N.E.2d 452; Jones v. State, (1973) 260 Ind. 463, 296 N.E.2d 407. We do not agree that the error complained of rose to the stature of Fundamental Error, which the defendant is entitled to have reviewed, under Wilson v. State, (1943) 222 Ind. 63, 51 N.E.2d 848 and related cases, although presented for the first time on appeal. Brown v. State, (1975) Ind., 338 N.E.2d 498. The testimony which concerned juvenile delinquency convictions can not be held to render the judgment reversible. Although it is widely recognized that such convictions are not admissible for the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness, Lineback v. State, (1973) 260 Ind. 503, 301 N.E.2d 636, the information was volunteered in response to questions seeking information as to felony convictions. Additionally, the trial court properly struck the question and answer and admonished the jury to disregard them. It is presumed that such admonishments correct the error. Phelps v. State, (1977) Ind., 360 N.E.2d 191; Hudson v. State, (1976) Ind., 354 N.E.2d 164; Martin v. State, (1974) 261 Ind. 492, 306 N.E.2d 93.