Opinion ID: 1060569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 33

Heading: Evidence of Prior Bad Act: Alleged Rape

Text: Angela Ragland also testified that, during the crimes, the appellant told her that [h]e had been accused of raping someone and that he didn't, and if he was going to go to jail, he was going to go to jail for doing something. The appellant objected and a jury-out hearing was held to conduct a Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b) analysis. The trial court found the testimony admissible, but determined that it should only be considered on the issue of mental intent. The trial court instructed the jury that they're not to presume that he's guilty of any previous rape. Generally, [e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity with the character trait. Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b). Nonetheless, such evidence may be admissible for other purposes. Id. Other acts may be admitted to prove such issues as motive, intent, knowledge, absence of mistake or accident, common scheme or plan, identity, completion of the story, opportunity, and preparation. Neil P. Cohen et al., Tennessee Law of Evidence § 404.6. Thus, the trial court properly found that testimony concerning the alleged rape was admissible pursuant to Tenn. R. Evid. 404(b), as it was highly relevant to the issue of intent and its probative value outweighed the danger of unfair prejudice.