Opinion ID: 2253001
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: OtherCrimes Evidence

Text: The State presented the testimony of three other children as other-crimes evidence. Defendant presented an innocent construction of his acts. The trial judge gave to the jury over defendant's objection Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.14 (2d ed. 1981) (hereinafter IPI Criminal 2d), which, modified for this case, stated: Evidence has been received that the defendant has been involved in offenses other than that charged in the indictment. This evidence has been received solely on the issue of defendant's modus operandi[,] or method of acting[,] and his intent. This evidence may be considered by you only for the limited purpose for which it was received. Defendant contends that this instruction misstates the law. He argues that when a defendant presents an innocent construction of his or her acts in a sex offense case with a child-victim, evidence of crimes committed against other children cannot be used to prove guilty knowledge or intent. This contention ignores the following settled principles: Generally, evidence of other crimes is inadmissible if relevant merely to establish the defendant's propensity to commit crime. [Citation.] Evidence of the commission of other crimes is admissible, however, when such evidence is relevant to prove modus operandi, intent, identity, motive, or absence of mistake. [Citations.] In fact, this court has held that evidence of other offenses is admissible if it is relevant for any purpose other than to show the propensity to commit crime. [Citations.] ( People v. McKibbins (1983), 96 Ill.2d 176, 182, 70 Ill.Dec. 474, 449 N.E.2d 821.) These principles apply equally to sex offense cases with child victims. See, e.g., People v. Soler (1992), 228 Ill.App.3d 183, 202-03, 170 Ill.Dec. 81, 592 N.E.2d 517; People v. Jendras (1991), 216 Ill.App.3d 149, 158-60, 159 Ill.Dec. 560, 576 N.E.2d 229. IPI Criminal 2d No. 3.14 fairly reflects the applicable law in this case. We find no error in the giving of this instruction.