Opinion ID: 1402432
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of Evidence of Prostitution

Text: In Phillips I, defendant argued the court had erred in excluding evidence that Colman was a prostitute and had gone to Fresno at the time of the crimes to engage in prostitution. We disagreed, finding the court had discretion to exclude the evidence under Evidence Code section 352. ( Phillips I, supra, 41 Cal.3d at pp. 49-51, 222 Cal.Rptr. 127, 711 P.2d 423.) At retrial, defendant again sought to present this evidence and argued new theories why it was admissible. The court again exercised its discretion to exclude the evidence, first before Colman testified, then again when defendant argued that her actual testimony made the evidence more probative. As before, defendant contends the court erred in excluding the evidence. What we said in Phillips I remains true. Permitting the defense to elicit testimony from Colman that she engaged in acts of prostitution had an obvious potential for embarrassing or unfairly discrediting her. (Evid.Code, § 765.) The degrading impact of such questions has long been recognized. (See People v. Crandall (1899) 125 Cal. 129, 134, 57 P. 785.) The question faced by the trial court, then, in deciding on the motion in limine, was whether the patent prejudicial impact of permitting such questioning was substantially outweighed by its probative value. (Evid. Code, § 352.) ( Phillips I, supra, 41 Cal.3d at pp. 49-50, 222 Cal.Rptr. 127, 711 P.2d 423.) Defendant argues that differing circumstances and the different theories he proffered at the retrial compelled the court to admit the evidence. We disagree. Prostitution activities might have some slight relevance to a witness's credibility, but we made clear in Phillips I that the court had discretion to exclude the evidence. That Colman was with defendant in Fresno was obviously highly relevant, but her occupation or the reason she was in Fresno was at most marginally relevant. Defendant argues the evidence was relevant to whether he had attempted to establish an alibi. The trial court considered these arguments at trial. It carefully exercised its discretion, both at the outset of trial and when defendant raised the issue again during Colman's actual testimony. At the second trial as well as the first, the court acted within its discretion in finding that the highly prejudicial nature of this evidence outweighed any probative value.