Opinion ID: 1057949
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Detective Morrow's testimony

Text: Finally, R. Vaughn argues that Sindle was ineffective for failing to object or to request a mistrial when Detective Morrow violated a motion in limine by testifying that R. Vaughn had been incarcerated. At the post-conviction hearing, Sindle explained that the reference was very brief and that he did not want to draw the jury's attention to it by objecting. He did not request a mistrial because he had an alibi witness, and he thought it was in R. Vaughn's best interest to continue with the trial. The Court of Criminal Appeals did not find Sindle deficient in this regard and held that, even assuming a showing of deficient performance, R. Vaughn failed to show prejudice because the most he could expect was an instruction to the jury to disregard the reference. We agree.