Opinion ID: 2208977
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Contemporaneous Misconduct Evidence

Text: Appellant contends that the trial court erred in failing to declare a mistrial when the police officer, while recounting otherwise admissible portions of appellant's statement to police, noted that appellant had admitted using cocaine on the night in question. We find no merit in the contention. Evidence of contemporaneous bad acts, such as the use of cocaine, is admissible if it was part of the same transaction, completes or adds to the understanding of the events in question, and is not unduly prejudicial. See Commonwealth v. Billa, 521 Pa. 168, 555 A.2d 835 (1989). The well-known stimulating and disinhibiting effects of cocaine provide a more than sufficient basis to conclude that the contemporaneous criminal conduct was admissible under the res gestae exception in a trial involving charges that the defendant committed sexual abuse on a twelve year old girl while high on cocaine. See MacDonald, et al., Heavy Cocaine Use and Sexual Behavior, 18 J. Drug Issues 437, 437-55 (1988) (reporting stimulating and disinhibiting effects; but, detailing various forms of sexual dysfunction caused by cocaine abuse); Gold, 800-Cocaine, at 18-19 (3rd Ed. 1986) (noting disinhibiting and stimulating effects, and potential for sexual dysfunction); Stone, Fromme, & Kagan, Cocaine: Seduction and Solution, at 20-21 (1984) (same). Given the potential of cocaine use to contribute to appellant's violent sexual aggression against the child victim, appellant's cocaine use was relevant and admissible. Regardless, in an abundance of caution, the trial court sustained an objection to the passing, unsolicited remark, and a prompt curative instruction was given. The adequacy of that course of conduct was for the trial court to decide, and we find no abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Gibson, 389 Pa.Super. 518, 546, 567 A.2d 724, 738 (1989).