Opinion ID: 1308431
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: State v. Jones

Text: On April 23, 1981, Jones and a companion, Clarence Williams, were arrested shortly after police observed them moving various items of property from Williams' car into Jones' adjacent motel room. The property found in Jones' motel room matched the description of items reported stolen from two local residences earlier that day. A subsequent search of the motel room also disclosed property reported stolen from two other local residences earlier that month. In addition, the search revealed two pairs of pliers, one of which was later determined to have been used to gain entry to at least one of the burglarized homes. Jones was charged with four separate counts of second degree burglary. Prior to testifying at trial, Jones filed a motion in limine to exclude evidence of prior felony convictions for drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon. Jones contended that under ER 609(a)(1), the evidence was inadmissible because its probative value was outweighed by its prejudicial effect. The State countered by arguing that because lying is an integral facet of the criminal personality, Jones' criminal record necessarily reflected a propensity for lying. The trial court denied Jones' motion, ruling that the prosecution could introduce Jones' prior convictions if he denied them. Jones nevertheless took the stand in his own defense. He claimed he did not commit the burglaries and that the stolen property found in the motel room was acquired from Clarence Williams in exchange for drugs. Jones also suggested the police planted the pliers in his room. On direct examination, he acknowledged one prior felony conviction. On cross examination, and over defense objection, the prosecutor elicited an admission of two prior felony convictions as well as the particular circumstances of each conviction. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts of second degree burglary. The Court of Appeals affirmed, reasoning that even if the admission of Jones' prior convictions was error (which the Court of Appeals did not expressly decide), it was harmless under the nonconstitutional standard of State v. Cunningham, 93 Wn.2d 823, 831, 613 P.2d 1139 (1980). State v. Jones, 33 Wn. App. 372, 375-77, 656 P.2d 510 (1982), review granted, 99 Wn.2d 1009 (1983).