Opinion ID: 1930879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 28

Heading: whether m.r.e. 404(b) was violated.

Text: ś 52. In this issue, King complains that, the State, in its disclosure and introduction of evidence under MRE, Rule 404(b), did not comply with the orders of the trial court, nor did this evidence pass the filter of MRE, Rule 403. Though he does not specifically assert any error on the part of the trial court, this Court assumes that King intended to argue that the trial court erred in its rulings on the objections made by King to certain testimony referred to only by page number in King's brief. However, after reviewing the witnesses' testimony to which King objected, we conclude that no reversible error occurred. ś 53. First, King objected during the testimony of Adra Gibson, Dooley's biological mother. Gibson had been asked about her relationship with Dooley. She testified: One time, when he left from the house, he came up there to the trailer to visit with us, and not long after that, Brother King came up there on the outside and shot a gun, andâ King objected to testimony regarding King shooting a gun. The objection was sustained, and the jurors were instructed to disregard the statement. They all indicated that they would. ś 54. Glen King (Glen), King's son, was asked, on direct examination by the State, where Gary Bates slept at the King residence. King objected to this testimony. Because Glen could not answer the question from personal knowledge, the objection was sustained, and Glen was not allowed to answer the question. ś 55. Glen was also asked about a conversation he had with A.B. regarding King. King objected on hearsay grounds, but the objection was overruled based upon the tender years hearsay exception, which states as follows: The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness: (25) A statement made by a child of tender years describing any act of sexual contact performed with or on the child by another is admissible in evidence if: (a) the court finds, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide substantial indicia of reliability; and (b) the child either (1) testifies at the proceedings; or (2) is unavailable as a witness: provided, that when the child is unavailable as a witness, such statement may be admitted only if there is corroborative evidence of the act. M.R.E. 803(25). The trial judge had previously heard argument, outside the presence of the jury, on the reliability of A.B.'s statements (which described sexual contact with King), and A.B. had previously testified regarding the statement. Though perhaps cumulative, allowing Glen to testify to this statement was not erroneous, especially since Glen had solicited the statement from A.B., and since defense attorneys had attacked A.B.'s credibility. See M.R.E. 801(d)(1)(B) (A statement is not hearsay if: The declarant testifies at the trial or hearing and is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement, and the statement is ... (B) consistent with his testimony and is offered to rebut an express or implied charge against him of recent fabrication or improper influences or motive....). ś 56. King also objected to Glen's testimony as follows: He's told me about some other things, rumors that he has heard in the community, that were not related to this particular conversation. In response, the court warned Glen not to testify to any rumors about any other victim. [5] ś 57. Finally, King objected to the testimony of Melody Stewart. Stewart was a nurse at the jail where King and Dooley were housed prior to trial. She testified that she observed Dooley and King lying on their sides, together in the bottom bunk. King was facing the wall, and Dooley was facing King. When Stewart entered the cell, Dooley jumped up immediately, but King initially refused to get up, falsely claiming that another nurse had already come by. After fumbling with his crotch area, King finally did arise, and Stewart testified that he had a noticeable erection. ś 58. King complains that the trial court committed reversible error by allowing Melody Stewart to testify not once, but twice, first in the State's case-in-chief, and second in rebuttal to Dooley's testimony. However, the record reveals that Stewart testified only once before the jury, and this was in rebuttal to Dooley's testimony. Though she was called during the State's case-in-chief, her only testimony at that time occurred outside the presence of the jury, and King's objection thereto was sustained by the trial court. ś 59. King complains that Stewart's testimony failed the balancing test of M.R.E. 403 because it was not related in any way to the charged crimes and because King never put his character in issue by testifying, either directly, or through other witnesses. ś 60. Though character evidence is not permissible to show conformity therewith on the occasion of the alleged crimes, M.R.E. 404(b), it is, as King freely admits, admissible as rebuttal evidence to explain, repel, counteract or disprove evidence of the adverse party. Williams v. State, 539 So.2d 1049, 1051 (Miss.1989). Dooley testified that he had never engaged in any kind of homosexual conduct with King. Therefore, evidence that he and King engaged in homosexual activities while incarcerated was admissible to impeach his testimony. Though it is arguable that the probative value of this evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial effect, this Court is of the opinion that the probative value of this testimony was not substantially outweighed by the dangers espoused in M.R.E. 403, especially considering that Dooley opened the door to this testimony through his denial. ś 61. Generally, evidence of a crime other than that charged in an indictment is not admissible against the accused. Townsend v. State, 681 So.2d 497, 506 (Miss.1996). However, [a]dmission of evidence and testimony about evidence is within the broad discretion of the trial court, requiring a reversal only on a demonstrable abuse of that discretion. Id. at 507. King has failed to demonstrate an abuse of discretion. ś 62. Moreover, the jury was specifically instructed that it could consider Stewart's testimony for the limited purpose of determining the truth and veracity of the defendant's, Nathan Paul King, testimony. The trial court further instructed the jury: you are not permitted and hereby instructed not to consider any testimony regarding and testimony of H.G. and Melody Stewart in arriving at your decision as to whether or not David Earl King and Nathan Paul King are guilty of the charges for which they were on trial. This instruction cured any possible prejudice that could have occurred. See Day v. State, 589 So.2d 637, 644 (Miss.1991). The jury is presumed to follow the instructions of the trial court. Davis v. State, 660 So.2d 1228, 1253 (Miss.1995); Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581, 618 (Miss.1995); Collins v. State, 594 So.2d 29, 35 (Miss.1992). King has not attempted to show any evidence that the jury failed to follow the trial court's limiting instructions, thus, the presumption that it did must prevail. ś 63. In short, it appears that King got everything he asked from the trial court. All the objections to the testimony of these witnesses cited as error by King were sustained by the judge and cautionary instructions were given where necessary and/or requested. ś 64. This issue is without merit.