Opinion ID: 1810649
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: failure to object to testimony regarding prior bad acts

Text: ¶ 66. Crawford asserts ineffectiveness in failing to object to testimony concerning prior bad acts. The first part of this claim is that counsel failed to object to certain parts of testimony where Crawford alleges that F.B.I. agent Summerlin made inappropriate references to Crawford's prior trials. However, this claim is lacking in merit as a review of the record reflects that the word trial never came out of agent Summerlin's mouth at the points alleged by Crawford. Summerlin use the words upcoming event, instead. This was not evidence of prior bad action as Crawford alleges. ¶ 67. Crawford also asserts that the prosecution elicited inadmissible prior bad act testimony from both Crawford's father and Dr. Russell, the defendant's expert. However, in each instance, the prosecution performed this questioning on the cross examination of a witness that the defendant was using to establish the insanity defense and, as such, prior bad act evidence became admissible for challenging this defense. See McLeod v. State, 317 So.2d at 391. Because all of the above evidence was admissible, Crawford cannot show counsel was deficient and, thus, his claim is without merit. See Woodward, 843 So.2d at 7.