Court Opinion

ID: 9581827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:19:11.996927+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:16.278701
License: Public Domain

BUSSEY, Judge,
dissenting:
I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s disposition of this case. While I agree that the evidence of alarm system tampering was inadmissible, I find the appellant has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by its erroneous admission. See, Harrall v. State, 674 P.2d 581, 583 (Okl.Cr.1984). Initially, I note, as does the majority, that the evidence of tampering was far from clear and convincing. Moreover, the record reveals that there was overwhelming evidence of the appellant’s guilt.
In addition to the facts set forth by the majority, the following was introduced at trial. The victim testified that, at the time she confronted the appellant in her home, he stammered as if taken by surprise. She also stated that the appellant knew no alarm equipment was located in that area of the house because he had serviced the system four weeks earlier.
After leaving the residence, the appellant was observed with a diamond ring matching the description of the one stolen. A companion accompanied the appellant to the Gold Chain Jewelry Shop several days later where the appellant obtained a gold and diamond bracelet for his girlfriend. Approximately one month later, the appellant, his girlfriend, and the companion took a two week trip to Colorado and Las Ve*1358gas, during which time the appellant purportedly paid for all expenses. Extensive evidence was introduced to show that the appellant had little money prior to the ring’s disappearance with which to pay for the aforementioned expenses, (discussed infra)
Finally, the appellant’s cellmate testified that the appellant admitted that he took the ring, described it in detail, and stated that he sold it at the Gold Chain Jewelry Shop. Based on this evidence, I would hold that the erroneous admission of the tampering evidence was harmless error. See Newsted v. State, 720 P.2d 734, 739 (Okl.Cr.1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 995,107 S.Ct. 599, 93 L.Ed.2d 599; and Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967).
I must also disagree with the majority’s view that the introduction of evidence concerning the appellant’s wage garnishment, bankruptcy filing, medical leave of absence, and paycheck deduction for an automobile accident was in violation of Burks. In addition to these items, the following is a partial list of other questions which were asked at trial: whether the appellant’s company had a policy of discouraging outside employment and whether he had an outside job; how many hours per week appellant worked, how much he was paid per hour, and whether he was paid any bonuses; whether an employee was paid while on medical leave of avsence and whether the company paid for medical expenses; whether appellant was working when he and his friends went on their trip and whether he had a job lined up upon return; and finally, what the estimated value of the stolen ring was and how much the appellant purportedly received for it. It is my position that all of the aforementioned evidence was clearly probative to determine the appellant’s financial status at the time he purchased the bracelet for his girlfriend and when he left on vacation. For the reasons stated above, I would affirm appellant’s conviction.