Opinion ID: 1058311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 49

Heading: Reference to Danny Tackett's testimony

Text: During opening statement, the prosecutor commented: You are going to hear testimony from Danny Tackett and maybe another co-worker... We think Mr. Tackett is going to tell you that he worked with Mr. Reid at a Shoney's ... and that there was talk when the two of them worked about raising money, not by donating money at the Plasma center or anything like that. There was talk about raising money by conducting robberies. Defense counsel objected, and the court conducted a sidebar conference. The court reminded defense counsel that Tackett's testimony about the conversation would be admissible at trial, a finding he had previously made. The court then advised the prosecutor to limit his remarks to anticipated evidence that he believed in good faith would be forthcoming, not otherwise. At trial, Tackett testified that when appellant asked him about how he could get money, he suggested committing robbery as a means of making money and mentioned a fast food place, you know, middle of night, no witnesses. Tackett agreed that he made the suggestion to appellant. Appellant argues that the prosecutor's comment during opening statement intimated that appellant, not Tackett, made the robbery statement about committing a robbery; therefore, the prosecutor committed misconduct. The prosecutor's comments regarding Danny Hackett's suspected testimony were not improper. Moreover, the comments could not have affected the verdict to the prejudice of appellant, because the jury heard Tackett testify he brought up the robbery suggestion. This issue is without merit.