Opinion ID: 860978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: exclusion of character evidence

Text: Moore asserts that the trial court erred when it refused to allow him to question witnesses about whether their testimony may have been influenced by any gang members. Moore specifically asserts that he was attempting to show bias or motive of certain witnesses and that he should have been permitted to question Antonio Scarbrough about whether he was a gang member, since  his truthfulness would be subjected to the gang’s code of silence and loyalty. Moore also argues that he should have been allowed to question Ketsia Kirkwood about whether she had been threatened into giving certain testimony. Rule of Evidence 608 (b) (2) allows specific instances of conduct, if probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness, to be used to attack the credibility of a witness concerning his character for truthfulness or untruthfulness. M.R.E. 608 (b) (2). However a determination of the use of such instances is left to the discretion of the trial court. Id. Further, the relevancy and admissibility of evidence is left to the discretion of the trial court, and this Court will reverse only upon a showing of abuse of discretion. Roberson v. State, 595 So. 2d 1310, 1315 (Miss. 1992). The trial court excluded the evidence involving Scarbrough’s gang membership on the grounds that it was impermissible character evidence, but the court offered to reverse its ruling if the defendants could demonstrate how such membership was probative of untruthfulness. The defendants were unable to do so. Kirkwood testified that no one had threatened her. On the basis of this testimony, the trial court properly refused to allow the defendants to then question her about whether Scarbrough was a gang member. These rulings were within the discretion of the trial court, and since the trial court did not abuse its discretion, this Court will not reverse. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CHOCTAW COUNTY OF CONVICTION OF MOSLEY OF ARSON OF A STATE SUPPORTED SCHOOL BUILDING AND SENTENCE TO TWENTY YEARS, SAID SENTENCE TO BE SERVED CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY PREVIOUS SENTENCE, IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CHOCTAW COUNTY OF CONVICTION OF MOORE OF ARSON OF A STATE SUPPORTED SCHOOL BUILDING AND SENTENCE TO TWENTY YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SAID SENTENCE TO BE SERVED CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY PREVIOUS SENTENCE, IS AFFIRMED. COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE TAXED TO CHOCTAW COUNTY. BRIDGES, C.J., McMILLIN, P.J., DIAZ, HERRING, KING, PAYNE, AND SOUTHWICK, JJ., CONCUR. COLEMAN, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.