Opinion ID: 1288891
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Distinction between evidentiary and joinder context

Text: In the context of evidentiary law, Lyle and its progeny protect a defendant from the unrestricted admission of bad act evidence. Lyle prohibits such evidence unless the evidence has a particular relevance to the crime charged and falls within at least one of five categories: motive, identity, common scheme or plan, absence of mistake or accident, or intent. [5] Further, bad acts that are not the subject of conviction must be proved by clear and convincing evidence. State v. Wilson, 345 S.C. 1, 545 S.E.2d 827 (2001). This preliminary fact-finding by the judge ensures the evidence is subjected to some procedural safeguard before the jury hears it. In the context of the joinder of charges for a jury trial, however, procedural safeguards are already in place that eliminate the need for preliminary fact-finding by the trial judge. Before a defendant is tried on joint charges, the charges are investigated by law enforcement and subject to judicial procedures such as indictment and preliminary hearing. In this procedural context, it is unnecessary to hold a mini-trial for the State to prove each charge to the judge before proceeding with a joint trial to the jury. Accord Solomon v. State, 101 Md.App. 331, 646 A.2d 1064 (1995) (Moylan, J.). Further, in the evidentiary context, bad act evidence that falls within a Lyle exception and meets the clear and convincing standard may still be excluded if the danger of unfair prejudice substantially outweighs the probative value of the evidence. State v. Braxton, 343 S.C. 629, 541 S.E.2d 833 (2001). Similarly, in the joinder context, the defendant may argue unfair prejudice if, after the State's case, the trial judge determines that a directed verdict should be granted. The standard for submission of charges to the jury is any substantial evidence. State v. Johnson, 334 S.C. 78, 84, 512 S.E.2d 795, 798 (1999). If the trial judge finds there is no substantial evidence to submit any one of the joined charges to the jury, the defendant may move for a mistrial on the basis of unfair prejudice resulting from joinder.