Opinion ID: 853376
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of the Television Scheme

Text: Fry contends that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of the plan to steal a television set. The State responds that this evidence was not used to make the forbidden inference that the defendant had a criminal propensity and therefore engaged in the charged conduct, but was used to show motive and the relationship between Fry and the victims. Indiana Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides that [e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. . . . In assessing admissibility of 404(b) evidence the court must (1) determine that the evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is relevant to a matter at issue other than the defendant's propensity to commit the charged act and (2) balance the probative value of the evidence against its prejudicial effect pursuant to Rule 403. Hicks v. State, 690 N.E.2d 215, 221 (Ind.1997). The relevance and balancing issues are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Thompson v. State, 690 N.E.2d 224, 233 (Ind.1997). Evidence of motive is always relevant in the proof of a crime, and a defendant's prior actions with respect to the victim are also usually admissible to show the relationship between the two. Ross v. State, 676 N.E.2d 339, 346 (Ind.1996). Here, the State offered the evidence of the television scheme to show the defendant's motive for killing Taylor and Jones. Although Fry contended at trial, as he does on appeal, that this evidence was admitted to show his bad character and his propensity to act in conformity with the prior bad acts, the trial court specifically found that the testimony went to motive. [1] This satisfied Rule 404(b). Although the trial court did not make a specific finding on the balance of prejudice and probative value, it did not abuse its discretion under Rule 403. The probative value of the evidence of the television scheme was high. It established a reason for Fry's hostility to Taylor and Fry's motive to rob Taylor. The danger of unfair prejudice was fairly low because this scheme was minor and non-violent in nature, as opposed to the charged crimes. We conclude that the probative value was not substantially outweighed by any potential prejudice that might arise from this evidence. See Ortiz v. State, 716 N.E.2d 345, 350 (Ind.1999).