Opinion ID: 853615
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence about the Earlier Auto Chase

Text: Boone contends the trial court erred in admitting the auto chase into evidence, asserting that this past behavior was introduced to show character in conformity with the charged offense. Evidence Rule 404(b) provides in relevant part: Evidence 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. Our standard for assessing the admissibility of 404(b) evidence is: (1) the court must 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) the court must balance the probative value of the evidence against its prejudicial effect pursuant to Rule 403. Spencer v. State, 703 N.E.2d 1053 (Ind. 1999). The trial court has wide discretion in ruling on relevancy of evidence. Hicks v. State, 690 N.E.2d 215 (Ind.1997). If evidence has some purpose besides behavior in conformity with a character trait and the balancing test is favorable, the trial court can elect to admit the evidence. The State's contention is that the car chase was not introduced to show conformity, but rather to show motive and intent. The intent exception in Evidence Rule 404(b) is available when a defendant goes beyond merely denying the charged culpability and affirmatively presents a claim of particular contrary intent. Wickizer v. State, 626 N.E.2d 795 (Ind.1993); Evid. R. 403. When a defendant alleges in trial a particular contrary intent, whether in opening statement, by cross-examination of the State's witnesses, or by presentation of his own case-in-chief, the State may respond by offering evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or acts to the extent genuinely relevant to prove the defendant's intent at the time of the charged offense. The trial court must then determine whether to admit or exclude such evidence depending upon whether its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Wickizer, 626 N.E.2d at 799. A leading ground for Boone's defense was her claim that the killing arose out of sudden heat, thus reducing the crime from murder to voluntary manslaughter. In light of Boone's decision to defend herself by claiming the killing occurred due to the heat of the moment, the State was entitled to submit evidence that tended to show that Boone's intent to inflict fatal harm was one of longer standing.