Opinion ID: 1930879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 38

Heading: whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury regarding 404(b) evidence.

Text: ś 130. Here, Dooley argues that the trial court erred in failing to give an appropriate limiting instruction regarding the testimony of H.G. and Melody Stewart. The necessity for such an instruction when M.R.E. 404(b) evidence is admitted, informing the jury of the limited purpose for which the evidence may be considered, has been plain in this State since this Court's decision in Smith v. State, 656 So.2d 95 (Miss.1995). In that case, this Court said that such a limiting instruction must be given if M.R.E. 404(b) evidence is to be introduced on the question of guilt, even if one is not requested by the defense, unless the aggrieved party specifically requests that one not be given. Smith, 656 So.2d at 100. Accord, Webster v. State, 754 So.2d 1232, 1240 (Miss.2000). Dooley neither requested an instruction nor asked that one not be given. Thus, it was the responsibility of the trial court to sua sponte instruct the jury on the limited use of this evidence. ś 131. However, despite Dooley's allegations to the contrary, the record clearly shows that the jury was properly instructed on this point. Instruction 23 states as follows: The Court instructs the Jury that testimony of [H.G.] and Melody Stewart was offered for the limited purpose of determining the truth and veracity of the defendant's, Nathan Paul King, testimony. You may give this testimony such weight and credibility as you deem proper under the circumstances for the limited purpose of determining the truth and veracity of the defendant, Nathan Paul King. However, the Court further instructs the Jury that under laws of the State of Mississippi, you are not permitted and hereby instructed not to consider any testimony regarding and testimony of [H.G.] and Melody Stewart in arriving at your decision as to whether or not David Earl King and Nathan Paul King are guilty of the charges of conspiracy to commit sexual battery, sexual battery (two counts) and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said to have occurred on or before the 1st day of March, 2001, for which they are presently on trial. The instruction tells the jury (1) that the only purpose of the testimony of H.G. and Stewart was to aid in determining the truth and veracity of Dooley's testimony; and (2) that the jury was prohibited from using the H.G. and Stewart testimony in arriving at your decision as to whether or not David Earl King and Nathan Paul King are guilty of the charged crimes. The jury is presumed to follow the instructions of the trial court. Davis v. State, 660 So.2d at 1253; Walker v. State, 671 So.2d at 618; Collins v. State, 594 So.2d at 35. Thus, this assignment lacks merit. III. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING THE JAIL NURSE, A STATE'S WITNESS, TO TESTIFY REGARDING AN ALLEGED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEFENDANTS, NATHAN PAUL KING AND DAVID EARL KING, IN VIOLATION OF MRE 404(B). ś 132. Melody Stewart, the on-site nurse at Marion-Walthall County Detention Center in Columbia, Mississippi, was called as a State's witness. Stewart initially testified during the State's case-in-chief, outside the presence of the jury, regarding an incident where Stewart walked into King's and Dooley's cell and found them lying in the same bunk. She testified that when King reluctantly stood up, he had an erection. The trial court sustained King's objection to this testimony. ś 133. However, during Dooley's direct-examination, he testified that he had never engaged in any sexual act with King. Thereafter, during its rebuttal case, the State recalled Stewart, who was allowed to give the same testimony that had previously been held inadmissible. She testified that she observed Dooley and King lying on their sides, together in the bottom bunk. King was facing the wall, and Dooley was facing King. When Stewart entered the cell, Dooley jumped up immediately, but King initially refused to get up, falsely claiming that another nurse had already come by. After fumbling with his crotch area, King finally did arise, and Stewart testified that he had a noticeable erection. ś 134. Dooley argues this evidence was improperly admitted in violation of M.R.E. 404(b). He argues that the evidence was not probative on the charges against him and that, consequently, it failed the M.R.E. 403 balancing test because of its highly prejudicial nature. Dooley also points out that Stewart testified that Dooley and King were not having sex. However, Dooley overlooks the fact that he had testified that he had never engaged in any sexual act with King. Stewart's testimony was probative on this point and thus a proper subject for rebuttal, as it belied Dooley's claim that he had never engaged in any sexual act with King. ś 135. Moreover, as discussed in the previous assignment, the jury was properly instructed on the use of this evidence. Accordingly, this assignment is without merit.