Opinion ID: 1150032
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issue III: Introduction of rebuttal evidence of an uncharged crime.

Text: Appellant points out that he was not charged with sexual battery in the incident testified to by the state's witness. Therefore, he argues that testimony concerning the alleged attack was inadmissible because it is evidence of collateral crimes, and its presentation to the jury was error. The state responds that the appellant opened the door to this type of evidence by mounting a case that dealt with his nonviolent nature; this incident was relevant to rebut that claim. At the outset, it must be remembered that there is a different standard for judging the admissibility and relevance of evidence in the penalty phase of a capital case, where the focus is substantially directed toward the defendant's character. See § 921.141(1), Fla. Stat. (1987). In Elledge v. State, 346 So.2d 998, 1001 (Fla. 1977), we pointed out that the purpose of considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances is to engage in a character analysis of the defendant to ascertain whether the ultimate penalty is called for in his or her particular case. Thus, evidence that would not be admissible during the guilt phase could properly be considered in the penalty phase. Alvord v. State, 322 So.2d 533, 538 (Fla. 1975), cert. denied, 428 U.S. 923, 96 S.Ct. 3234, 49 L.Ed.2d 1226 (1976). Section 921.141(1); Florida Statutes (1987), relating to sentencing proceedings, provides that evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to the nature of the crime and the character of the defendant and shall include matters relating to any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances enumerated in subsections (5) and (6). Any such evidence which the court deems to have probative value may be received, regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of evidence, provided the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut any hearsay statements. However, this subsection shall not be construed to authorize the introduction of any evidence secured in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Florida. As noted in Alvord, [t]here should not be a narrow application or interpretation of the rules of evidence in the penalty hearing, whether in regard to relevance or any other matter except illegally seized evidence. 322 So.2d at 539 (citing State v. Dixon, 283 So.2d 1 (Fla. 1973), cert. denied sub nom. Hunter v. Florida, 416 U.S. 943, 94 S.Ct. 1950, 40 L.Ed.2d 295 (1974)). Because no conviction was obtained, evidence such as that introduced in the instant case has been deemed inadmissible to prove the aggravating circumstance of committing a previous violent felony. Provence v. State, 337 So.2d 783 (Fla. 1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 969, 97 S.Ct. 2929, 53 L.Ed.2d 1065 (1977). On the other hand, even where the defendant waived the mitigating circumstance of no prior criminal activity, the state was allowed to bring out the defendant's prior misconduct when the defendant opened the door by introducing evidence of his nonviolent character. Parker v. State, 476 So.2d 134 (Fla. 1985). We hold that, during the penalty phase of a capital case, the state may rebut defense evidence of the defendant's nonviolent nature by means of direct evidence of specific acts of violence committed by the defendant provided, however, that in the absence of a conviction for any such acts, the jury shall not be told of any arrests or criminal charges arising therefrom. [1] Cf. Squires v. State, 450 So.2d 208 (Fla.) (in guilt phase of trial, state was permitted to rebut evidence of nonviolent character by showing that defendant had fired a deadly weapon at persons other than the victim), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 892, 105 S.Ct. 268, 83 L.Ed.2d 204 (1984). The court did not err in permitting the rebuttal evidence of the separate incident of sexual battery. Such evidence was more reliable than the reputation evidence which was condemned in Dragovich v. State, 492 So.2d 350 (Fla. 1986).