Opinion ID: 2003427
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admissibility of Bryant's Prior Convictions

Text: During Bryant's trial, the State cross-examined him regarding his convictions for robbery and armed burglary thirty-five and forty years prior to his arrest. Bryant contends these convictions were too remote to be admissible. The trial court has considerable latitude in admitting or rejecting evidence. Error in admitting evidence is not a basis for setting aside a conviction unless the erroneous admission was inconsistent with substantial justice or affects the substantial rights of the parties. Ind.Trial Rule 61; Fleener v. State (1995), Ind., 656 N.E.2d 1140. Under our common law evidentiary rules, [23] a prior criminal conviction may be used for impeachment if it involved dishonesty or false statement or constituted what is commonly referred to as an infamous crime which would have rendered the witness incompetent to testify. Ashton v. Anderson (1972), 258 Ind. 51, 279 N.E.2d 210, 217. Bryant's convictions for robbery and burglary fall squarely within the Ashton infamous crimes which the trial court could rightfully admit for impeachment purposes. A question regarding the lapse of time between the conviction and the testimony to be impeached does not affect the admissibility of the conviction. Robinson v. State (1983), 446 N.E.2d 1287. Rather, the lapse of time from the defendant's prior conviction is a matter for the jury to weigh in assessing the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witness. Id. The trial court properly admitted evidence of Bryant's prior convictions.