Opinion ID: 1984862
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issue 2 Chain of Custody

Text: Defendant next contends that the court erred in admitting State's exhibit no. 1, the handgun, because there was not a sufficient chain of custody. Defendant does not quarrel with the sufficiency of evidence showing the possession of the handgun from the time it was picked up by the police from the corner of the tavern until the time of trial. Rather, he contends that the State should also have been required to prove the chain of custody of the handgun from the time it entered the tavern. The argument is without merit. The chain of custody doctrine requires an adequate foundation to be laid showing the continuous whereabouts of the exhibit beginning with the time it came into the possession of the police. Graham v. State (1970), 253 Ind. 525, 255 N.E.2d 652; Russell v. State (1985), Ind., 489 N.E.2d 955; Lilly v. State (1985), Ind., 482 N.E.2d 457. The purpose of the rule is to avoid any claim of substitution, tampering or mistake. Graham, supra; Henry v. State (1978), 269 Ind. 1, 379 N.E.2d 132; Jones v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 463, 296 N.E.2d 407.