Opinion ID: 2220114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Does Mention of a Grand Jury Require Mistrial?

Text: Cook argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial made during the testimony of State's witness Boyde Stremme. Stremme testified on direct examination that he withheld certain information about the murder from the police until he was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. Cook objected to the mention of the grand jury, calling it an improper comment on prior criminal conduct. The trial court sustained his objection. The direct examination of Stremme continued and his testimony before the grand jury was mentioned again. Cook moved for a mistrial, but the trial court denied his motion. Evidence of unrelated criminal activity is inadmissible on the question of guilt. Where evidence of criminal activity is revealed, however, the error does not necessarily result in reversal. The burden is on appellant to show he was placed in grave peril when his motion for mistrial was denied. Saperito v. State (1986), Ind., 490 N.E.2d 274. In this case, evidence of criminal activity was not revealed. The simple mention that the witness testified before a grand jury did not by itself permit an inference that Cook was involved in unrelated criminal activity. The grand jury in question was indeed investigating other charges against Cook, but, this fact was never mentioned. The trial court properly denied the motion for mistrial.