Court Opinion

ID: 9727905
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:52:34.422751+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:44.240293
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
I generally concur in the entirety of this opinion with the exception of the treatment of Issue II. I would agree with the discourse on Issue II were it not for the exception to the general rule that criminal conduct is admissible where the evidence is connected with or leads up to the offense for which the accused is being tried. Chief Justice Miller refers to the res gestae cases in South Dakota, viz, Bonrud and Burtts.
It is my opinion that evidence of acts constituting continuous offenses or criminal action is admissible under SDCL 19-12-5 (Rule 404(b)). See State v. Roden, 380 N.W.2d 669, 671 (S.D.1986); State v. Means, 363 N.W.2d 565, 568 (S.D.1985).
Undoubtedly, the evidence placed Steele at the 7-Eleven at the time he encountered the alleged victim; it also helped to explain how he was able to convince her to let him ride in her car. It is noted Steele himself utilized his prior conduct and his two arrests as part of his defense. Steele testified that because of these arrests the police officers knew he had been drinking and he felt they were “out to get him.” See Jury Transcript at 283. Thus, he did not want to drive his car and he went to the 7-Eleven to try to find a ride. Jury Transcript at 238. Steele also testified that he told the 7-Eleven clerk about his arrests, and more importantly, he told alleged victim when explaining his need for a ride. Jury Transcript at 243. Therefore, under Steele’s own theory, the fact that the alleged victim gave him a ride, knowing of his earlier arrests, helped to show that she was a much more willing participant that morning than she testified. Thereby, because of the foregoing defense, evidence of Steele’s prior conduct was totally relevant.