Opinion ID: 1265609
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: outen and clark

Text: Sherard contends the Court erred in refusing to allow him to question Outen and Clark about the penalties for the crimes that were dismissed as part of their agreement to testify for the State. We disagree. It is well settled that the scope of cross-examination is within the trial judge's discretion, and this Court will not interfere absent a showing of prejudice by the complaining party. State v. Hess , 279 S.C. 14, 301 S.E.(2d) 547 (1983); State v. Maxey , 218 S.C. 106, 62 S.E.(2d) 100 (1950). On cross-examination, Outen testified to previous convictions for second-degree burglary, grand larceny, and strong armed robbery, stating that he'd served eight months and that the last thing in the world he wanted to do was go back. It was then brought out that Outen had originally been charged with murder, for which he knew he could have received a life sentence if tried in General Sessions Court. Outen also testified that he knew he'd be treated much less severely in Family Court than in General Sessions Court, and that the State had reduced or dismissed a number of charges against him in exchange for his agreement to testify. Clark, who was initially charged with murder, and attempted armed robbery, pled guilty in Family Court to accessory before the fact of murder, and attempted armed robbery. On cross-exam, although the specific sentences he might have received in General Sessions Court were not brought out, Clark testified that he knew the penalties were much less severe in Family Court. He also testified that, in order to remain in Family Court and have the charges against him reduced, he had to testify for the State. This line of testimony clearly revealed Outen's and Clark's motives for testifying. Unlike the defendant in State v. Samuel L. Brown , ___ S.C. ___, 399 S.E. (2d) 593 (1991), Sherard has suffered no prejudice from the trial court's ruling. In Brown, no evidence was presented to the jury regarding the sentence the witness avoided in pleading guilty and testifying for the State. Here, both Outen and Clark testified that the State had dropped murder charges against them. Critically, during cross-examination of Outen, the jury was made fully aware that a charge of murder carries a mandatory life sentence in General Sessions Court. We find that Sherard amply demonstrated any bias on the part of Outen and Clark, and, therefore, has shown no prejudice in the trial court's refusal to allow further inquiry into the sentences they avoided. Moreover, we find any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Error in a criminal prosecution is harmless when it could not reasonably have affected the result of the trial. State v. Mitchell , 286 S.C. 572, 336 S.E. (2d) 150 (1985). Here, Clark testified that Sherard shot the victim as he ran, then returned to the car acting proud, telling the others to smell the gun. Outen testified that after the shooting, Sherard got into the car saying, He got him one. Finally, Sherard's own statements to police indicate that he shot Driver while attempting to rob him. Under the evidence, we find that the jury could not have reached any other conclusion.