Opinion ID: 1175565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: evidence of appellant's prior bad acts

Text: On his direct examination of appellant's son, the prosecuting attorney attempted to elicit testimony that appellant had touched the child's genitals on March 15, 1987. Appellant objected, noting that he had been charged concerning his conduct on March 16. He asserted that the introduction of evidence concerning his prior conduct would be improper and prejudicial. The trial court initially overruled that objection on the ground that the two acts constituted a continuing course of conduct. After some discussion, however, the trial court suggested an alternative basis for admitting the evidence, and appellant directed a specific objection to that suggested basis. The trial court overruled that objection on the ground that the evidence was admissible under W.R.E. 404(b) to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Appellant premises error on that ruling. Earlier in the trial appellant had advanced his explanation for the acts observed by the Lascano and Trujillo children on March 16. Appellant suggested, during his cross-examination of Larry Lascano, that he and his son were merely wrestling prior to bathing. By such means he denied having the requisite state of mind to constitute the offense charged. Under such circumstances testimony regarding his acts on March 15 was both relevant and necessary to the state's case, tending to establish that he knowingly took indecent liberties with his son. [2] The state did not offer any other evidence relating to this element of the crime; hence, the son's testimony about the March 15 incident was not merely cumulative. Consequently, it was not unfairly prejudicial to appellant, and the trial court properly overruled his objection. Although the record would perhaps benefit from a brief explanation of how the court weighed the probative value of this evidence against countervailing factors, it is sufficient in this instance to say we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's permitting this testimony. See generally Coleman v. State, 741 P.2d 99, 104-05 (Wyo. 1987). AFFIRMED.