Opinion ID: 1652324
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attempted Drug Transaction

Text: For his third argument, Appellant argues that the trial court erred by failing to exclude Freddie Trice's testimony about the conversation between Appellant and Pfeifer about a potential drug transaction that transpired about six hours before the shootings. After conducting a hearing outside the presence of the jury, the trial court allowed the testimony, but cautioned Trice not to interpret or editorialize the conversation for the jury. Trice then recited the conversation in which Appellant approached Pfeifer about purchasing 10 ounces. The trial court has the discretion to determine whether prejudicial evidence substantially outweighs its probative value, and its judgment will be upheld absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Weger v. State, 315 Ark. 555, 869 S.W.2d 688 (1994). Evidence of other crimes is admissible under A.R.E. Rule 404(b) to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or lack of mistake or accident. In Lee v. State, 327 Ark. 692, 942 S.W.2d 231, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 572, 139 L.Ed.2d 412 (1997), we held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting a conversation about cocaine that the witness had with the appellant during a murder trial. This court explained: [W]hen the purpose of evidence is to show motive, anything and everything that might have influenced the commission of the act may, as a rule, be shown. The State is entitled to produce evidence showing circumstances which explain the act, show a motive for killing, or illustrate the accused's state of mind. Id. at 702, 942 S.W.2d at 235-36 (citations omitted) (emphasis added). In Johnson v. State, 326 Ark. 430, 934 S.W.2d 179 (1996), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S.Ct. 1848, 137 L.Ed.2d 1051 (1997), this court upheld the admission of conversations about a proposed drug transaction into evidence at the appellant's trial for murder. This court concluded that circumstances connecting the perpetrator to the victim and revealing a possible motive were clearly relevant. This court further elaborated that the circumstances of the attempted drug transaction did not justify excluding the conversation that was otherwise relevant. Freddie Trice's testimony was highly relevant as to Appellant's probable motive or lack thereof. The jury might also have inferred Appellant's state of mind, intent, or plan from this testimony. Moreover, Appellant admitted that he had approached Pfeifer and inquired about buying an eight-ball. Appellant even used Freddie Trice's testimony in his closing argument to suggest a lack of animosity between Appellant and Pfeifer. We therefore conclude that the trial court did not err by admitting Freddie Trice's testimony.