Opinion ID: 2323462
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pretrial Ruling

Text: Before trial, the government filed a notice of intent to introduce evidence that Harrison had made sexually suggestive comments to four high school students other than the complaining witness T.G. [5] The court considered the matter at a pretrial hearing. The government offered several rationales under which the comments would be admissible, including as proof of Harrison's unusual sexual preference for teenage girls; as evidence of the circumstances surrounding the assault on T.G.; and as evidence of his motive and intent to engage in sexual conduct with T.G. Harrison opposed the introduction of the evidence, arguing, inter alia, that it was being offered to show predisposition. In response to Harrison's argument that the disputed evidence was prejudicial and lacked legitimate probative value, the court observed that its value for the government was in showing that Harrison had an interest in, to use the vernacular, hitting on these young girls. Thereafter, the court held the evidence clearly admissible on the issue of intent, motive, [and] absence of mistake or accident, and also to prove peculiar sexual preference.