Opinion ID: 1149417
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: renfroe's controlled substance violation

Text: Renfroe positively identified Bevill as the person seen talking to a young woman in the crime area and in the time frame of the crime. Upon cross-examination the defense sought to discredit him because of previous convictions for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, assault and battery, and controlled substance violation. The circuit court permitted Bevill's counsel to adduce before the jury his driving under the influence and assault and battery convictions, but because his conviction for controlled substance violation apparently had been expunged, the court held that under Rule 609(c) of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence (MRE) proof as to this conviction was inadmissible. The record is not clear, but Bevill's counsel apparently sought to develop somehow that the prosecution was involved in the expungement of this conviction. At least, Bevill argues this reason on appeal as a basis for this evidence. Prior to the adoption of the MRE, proof of a witness's conviction of a crime was competent as a general attack on his credibility. Miss. Code Ann. § 13-1-11 (1972); Mhoon v. State, 464 So.2d 77, 82-83 (Miss. 1985); Baker v. State, 307 So.2d 545 (Miss. 1975). Under Rule 609 a prior conviction is not automatically admissible on cross-examination, and there are restrictions delineating when and under what circumstances a prior conviction is admissible simply as a general attack on credibility. Under Rule 609(c) such conviction is never admissible if the defendant has been pardoned, or the conviction annulled or expunged. In this case the defendant's purpose for developing facts as to this conviction was not simply to discredit Renfroe because he had been convicted of such a crime (which may very well have been inadmissible under some provision of Rule 609), but to ferret out any motive or reason Renfroe might have to be such a favorable state witness. Any evidence of the prosecution's participation in the expungement of public record of a criminal conviction of Renfroe would, of course, be relevant as bearing on Renfroe's impartiality, or direct interest in testifying for the State. Upon remand, the defense should be afforded the opportunity to ascertain whether or not the prosecution participated in any way in the expungement of some conviction of Renfroe, and if so, to cross-examine Renfroe of such facts as a basis for showing special motive or interest in testifying for the State. Rules 401, 402, 404(b) MRE. The full factual development of the prosecution's involvement, if any, can be developed at a pre-trial hearing or in chambers, and if it should develop that the prosecution did participate in any way in such expungement, the defense should be permitted to cross-examine Renfroe as to this when and if he testifies as a witness.