Court Opinion

ID: 9848213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:14:45.021685+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:07.963190
License: Public Domain

MORRIS, Judge.
The indictment charged defendant with having had carnal intercourse with his daughter, Jane Denise Austin, on 6 March 1973. The solicitor asked the prosecuting witness whether her father had had sexual relations with her after 6 March. The witness answered: “Yes, Sir.” At that point defendant interposed an objection. The solicitor then asked: “When was the last time he had sexual relations with you?” The witness answered: “April 20.” At that point this appears in the record: “Objection. Motion to Strike. (No ruling) Exception No. 1.” The witness, without further objection or motion to strike, related the sordid occurrences of 20 April.
Defendant allowed the witness to testify at length with respect to the episode of incest on 20 April without further objection or motion to strike. When incompetent evidence has been admitted over objection, and the same evidence is thereafter admitted without objection, the benefit of the objection is ordinarily lost. State v. Rogers, 275 N.C. 411, 168 S.E. 2d 345 (1969). Regardless of the technical reasons for not considering defendant’s first assignment of error, it is without merit. Defendant argues that it is prejudicial. This we certainly concede. We do not concede that it is error. Defendant cites the general rule that evidence tending to show defendant has committed a crime other than the one for which he is being charged is in*541admissible. However, “ [c] ontrary to the general rule, in prosecutions for crimes involving illicit sex acts of a consensual character, it is permissible for the state to introduce evidence of both prior and subsequent acts of like nature as corroborative or explanatory proof tending to show the disposition of the defendant to engage in the act and rendering it more probable that the act relied on for conviction occurred.” 2 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Criminal Law, § 34, p. 540; State v. Sutton, 4 N.C. App. 664, 167 S.E. 2d 499 (1969). This assignment of error is overruled.
Defendant, in his brief, candidly states that his assignments of error two and three are abandoned.
By his fourth assignment of error, defendant contends that the court committed reversible error when it required defendant to go back on the stand for additional questioning, upon motion of the State and over defendant’s objection. Defendant urges that this was in direct violation of G.S. 8-54 which provides:
“In the trial of all indictments, complaints, or other proceedings against persons charged with the commission of crimes, offenses or misdemeanors, the person so charged is, at his own request, but not otherwise, a competent witness, and his failure to make such request shall not create any presumption against him. But every such person examined as a witness shall be subject to cross-examination as other witnesses. Except as above provided, nothing in this section shall render any person, who in any criminal proceeding is charged with the commission of a criminal offense, competent or compellable to answer any question tending to criminate himself.”
This statute gives a criminal defendant the privilege of testifying in his own behalf. It is not his duty to do so, and he cannot be compelled to testify. If he does, however, “he occupies the position of any other witness. He is entitled to the same privileges and is ‘equally liable to be impeached or discredited.’ ” State v. Williams, 279 N.C. 663, 669, 185 S.E. 2d 174 (1971), and cases there cited.
It follows, therefore, that a defendant who avails himself of the privilege of testifying in his own behalf is subject to being recalled for further cross-examination, since the court has full discretion to allow a witness to be examined at any stage of the trial out of the usual order or to be recalled for re-examination. *5421 Stansbury, N. C. Evidence, Brandis Revision, Witnesses, § 24; 7 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Trial, § 14; Rose and Day, Inc. v. Cleary, 14 N.C. App. 125, 187 S.E. 2d 859 (1972), cert. denied 281 N.C. 315 (1972). This assignment of error is overruled.
By defendant’s remaining assignment of error, he contends that the court committed reversible error in allowing into evidence a card from the Alamo Plaza Motel, used for registering guests of the motel, which was dated 20 April 1973 and on which appeared the names of Jodie and Jane Austin. Defendant contends that this evidence was inadmissible because no witness had testified to the genuineness of any purported signature of the defendant on the exhibit. The evidence was not introduced for that purpose. The witness, the motel desk clerk, did not testify to the signature on the card nor was she asked whether defendant signed the card. The evidence was introduced by the State in rebuttal. The prosecuting witness had testified that defendant, her father, had taken her to a motel in Charlotte on 20 April and had had sexual intercourse with her at that motel. Defendant took the stand and by his evidence denied it. The evidence that the Alamo Plaza Motel in Charlotte had a registration card dated 20 April 1973 and bearing the names of Jodie and Jane Austin was offered in corroboration of prosecuting witness’s evidence on direct examination. This card was made in the regular course of business. Its credibility was for the jury, who could have inferred that someone else signed the card, that there was another Jodie Austin, or that Jane Austin was there with another man who used her father’s name. The evidence might or might not, in the eyes of the jury, corroborate the prosecuting witness. It was, however, offered for that purpose, and for that purpose was admissible.
We find no reversible error in defendant’s trial.
No error.
Chief Judge Brock concurs.
Judge Carson dissents.