Opinion ID: 1967394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: references to defendant crosby's incarceration

Text: It is my conclusion that the admission of testimony concerning defendant Crosby's incarceration at the ACI was erroneous. Knowledge of a criminal defendant's incarceration may have a serious, prejudicial effect on the jury. State v. Pugliese, 117 R.I. 21, 26, 362 A.2d 124, 126 (1976). In the instant case the record discloses no reason why the witness, John Eddy, could not have testified that on particular dates in January 1985 he was asked by defendants to help them by retrieving certain articles they had stashed near Foley's lounge. There appears to be no need to show that the reason defendants asked Eddy to help them was because they were incarcerated in the ACI at the time and expected Eddy to be released before them. Criminal defendants often involve other people in committing or covering up their criminal deeds, and for diverse reasons. Because the admission of Eddy's reference to defendants' incarceration was substantially more prejudicial than probative, it constituted error and deprived Crosby of his right to a fair trial. See State v. DiPrete, 468 A.2d 262, 266 (R.I. 1983). Hence defendant Crosby should be granted a new trial.