Opinion ID: 1360599
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: chats with lilashley pa

Text: Gaines contends the internet chats he had with LilAshleyPA between February and July 2004 were improperly admitted at trial. We disagree. [1] We find the chats were properly admitted. Initially, Gaines contends that since S.C.Code Ann. § 16-15-342 (Supp.2006) did not become effective until April 26, 2004, [2] and most of his chats with LilAshleyPA occurred prior to that date, the earlier chats should not have been admitted inasmuch as they were not criminal behavior. We disagree. The fact that the offense of criminal solicitation of a minor did not become a crime in South Carolina until April 24, 2004 is not dispositive. The chats with LilAshleyPA were at all times illegal under Pennsylvania law. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6318 (unlawful contact with a minor if intentional contact with minor for purposes of engaging in sexual activity). Further, Gaines was not indicted for the chats with LilAshleyPA. Accordingly, we find no merit to this contention. Further, although many of the chats Gaines had with LilAshleyPA occurred prior to April 24, 2004, there were also chats in June 2004, in which he reiterated both his desire to make love to LilAshleyPA before she turned 13, and his desire to fly her to SC to be with her. Accordingly, the earlier chats were cumulative. State v. Johnson, 334 S.C. 78, 512 S.E.2d 795 (1999) (to qualify for reversal on ground of cumulative effect of trial errors, defendant must demonstrate errors adversely affected right to fair trial); State v. Wyatt, 317 S.C. 370, 453 S.E.2d 890(1995) (error in admission of evidence is harmless where it is cumulative to other evidence which was properly admitted). In any event, evidence of the chats with LilAshleyPA were properly admitted by the trial court pursuant to Rule 404(b), SCACR, because they were relevant to demonstrate a common scheme or plan, intent, and/or the absence of mistake. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is generally not admissible to prove the defendant's guilt for the crime charged. Such evidence is, however, admissible to show motive, identity, the existence of a common scheme or plan, the absence of mistake or accident, or intent. Rule 404(b), SCRE; State v. Pagan, 369 S.C. 201, 631 S.E.2d 262 (2006); State v. Lyle, 125 S.C. 406, 118 S.E. 803 (1923). To be admissible, the bad act must logically relate to the crime with which the defendant has been charged. If the defendant was not convicted of the prior crime, evidence of the prior bad act must be clear and convincing. Id. ; State v. Beck, 342 S.C. 129, 135-36, 536 S.E.2d 679, 682-83 (2000). Even if prior bad act evidence is clear and convincing and falls within an exception, it must be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to the defendant. Rules 403, 404(b), SCRE; State v. Gillian, 373 S.C. 601, 646 S.E.2d 872 (2007); State v. Braxton, 343 S.C. 629, 541 S.E.2d 833 (2001). Where there is a close degree of similarity between the crime charged and the prior bad act, both this Court and the Court of Appeals have held prior bad acts are admissible to demonstrate a common scheme or plan. See State v. Hallman, 298 S.C. 172, 175, 379 S.E.2d 115, 117 (1989) (evidence of prior bad acts bears such close similarity to the offense charged in this case that its probative value clearly outweighs its prejudicial effect); State v. McClellan, 283 S.C. 389, 392, 323 S.E.2d 772, 774 (1984) (such evidence is inadmissible unless the close similarity of the charged offense and the previous act enhances the probative value of the evidence so as to overrule the prejudicial effect); State v. Patrick, 318 S.C. 352, 356, 457 S.E.2d 632, 635 (Ct.App.1995) (sufficient similarities between the Georgia case and present case to apply the Lyle common scheme or plan exception); State v. Blanton, 316 S.C. 31, 32, 446 S.E.2d 438, 439 (Ct.App.1994) (prior acts were sufficiently similar to the charged offense to be admissible); State v. Wingo, 304 S.C. 173, 176, 403 S.E.2d 322, 324 (Ct.App. 1991) (prior bad acts tended to show common plan or scheme when the experiences of each victim paralleled that of the other victims). Under the facts presented here, it is clear the prior chats with LilAshleyPA were properly admitted. In both cases, HMMRTHEGRT8 engaged in AOL chat room conversations with young females whom he believed to be twelve and thirteen years old. He told both girls he was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and explained that it was illegal for him to date them. He proposed to both the idea of taking them to a motel room and also expressed his desire for each to come and live with him. He sought confirmation from both girls that they had not been intimate with anyone before, requested that each send him photos of themselves, offered to buy them clothing and lingerie, and suggested similar sexual acts for the girls to perform. Accordingly, we find the chats with LilAshleyPA were properly admitted.