Opinion ID: 2333744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Redaction of Portion of Telephone Conversation

Text: White moved before trial for redaction of a statement in transcripts of his in-jail telephone calls to T.H.'s mother Donna Neasley. On the phone, White stated that [w]hen I told you that the last time, I came back home, didn't I? This statement White complains of was part of the following statement and should be considered in context. Well, that's what I'm trying to do, and if you work with me, you'll see what I'm saying. There's nothing going to happen. When I told you that the last time and I came back home, didn't I? White argued evidence of what he said in this statement was inadmissible under Ark. R. Evid. 404(b) as a reference to a prior trial of White for rape of T.H. that resulted in a mistrial and no retrial. The circuit court concluded: I can't see how anyone could take this as an allegation of any previous allegations against him. The circuit court ruled in essence that there was no Rule 404(b) issue because the statement to be redacted would not cause the jury to be aware that there was an alleged prior similar crime. We agree. There was no abuse of discretion.