Opinion ID: 1894811
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: evidence of other bad acts by defendant cassey

Text: Cassey argues that the trial justice committed prejudicial error when he admitted evidence (1) of the filthy condition of Cassey's home, including evidence that her children were covered in fecal matter as well as the presence of roaches and other bugs throughout the house and (2) that Ted had been injured by a knife thrown by Cassey and that said knife wound was allowed to be untreated and had become infected. Cassey argues that since this case was in essence a credibility contest between her and her son, such evidence may well have tipped the balance against her. In this case defendant Cassey took the stand and testified in her own behalf. She categorically denied the charges of sexual molestation of her son. She concluded with a statement that I love him very much. Thus Cassey presented herself as a loving and devoted mother who had done nothing wrong in respect to her child. By so doing, she in effect placed in issue her total relationship to this child. It thus became both necessary and relevant for the state to explore this relationship, including the care and attention that she gave to her children. The fashion in which she acted as a loving mother was not merely a collateral issue. See State v. Bowden, 439 A.2d 263 (R.I. 1982). As a consequence the admission of rebuttal testimony by Officer James Ruthowski concerning the condition of her home at 54 Watson Street, Central Falls, on July 16, 1984, was relevant to and probative on the issue of her conduct as a loving mother. This testimony concerning Ted's condition with a festering and infected wound on his chest, the piles of fecal matter, the filthy condition of the children, and the indescribable smell was relevant to the issue that Cassey created when she described herself as a loving mother, thus inevitably creating the inference that she as a loving mother would have been unlikely to commit the disgusting offenses with which she was charged. Admission of this evidence in the circumstances of this case was not erroneous. Evidence was also introduced on cross-examination that defendant Cassey had lost custody of her son Ted by some official action. Cassey challenges this evidence on the ground of relevance. In light of other evidence presented concerning Cassey's conduct in the home, loss of custody would have been a virtually inevitable result. Inquiry about this further fact, in light of the relevance of other testimony, was at most harmless. However, we believe that this evidence was also relevant on the issue of her self-portrayal as a loving mother. There was no indication that the loss of custody was related to the charges of sexual molestation as opposed to her complete disregard of her obligations to care for these children. The fact that this case was simply a credibility contest provided no basis for allowing defendant Cassey to present herself as a virtuous mother without contradiction by the state.