Court Opinion

ID: 9730841
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:26:11.003054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:10.022021
License: Public Domain

R. M. Maher, P.J.
(dissenting). I must respectfully dissent from the opinion of my colleagues because I reach a different conclusion as to the effect on the jury of testimony indicating that defendant frequented an adult bookstore.
All relevant evidence is generally admissible. MRE 402. Evidence is "relevant” if it has the tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. MRE 401. Relevant evidence *74may, nevertheless, be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. MRE 403.
The crucial issue in the trial of the instant case was whether the act of sexual intercourse, which admittedly took place, was the result of force or coercion exerted by the defendant. On this issue, the testimony regarding the adult bookstore had very little probative value, if it had any value at all. While the testimony may have been material as it provided background and detail, see McCormick, Evidence (2d ed), § 185, p 434, its relevancy concerning the crucial issue of force or coercion was miniscule at best as defendant’s presence in an adult bookstore does not tend to establish that he used force or coercion to obtain a sexual act. On the other hand, the prejudicial effect of the evidence on this same issue was great. Popular prejudices concerning the effect of establishments such as adult bookstores make it quite possible that the jury was improperly influenced by the testimony, and the jury might have concluded that defendant was predisposed to commit the crime or more likely to use force than a person not associated with such places. The prejudicial effect of this evidence clearly outweighted its probative value and denied defendant a fair trial. In short, the evidence cost more than it was worth. See McCormick, supra, § 185, p 438-440.
I would reach this issue despite the lack of an objection in order to avoid manifest injustice. Defendant’s connection to the adult bookstore was mentioned several times during the trial and was associated both with the crime charged and his subsequent arrest. I appreciate the fact that the lack of an objection precluded the trial court from ruling on this issue. In addition, I do not suggest *75that the prosecution was deliberately attempting to influence the jury unfairly. The fact remains, however, that defendant is entitled to a fair trial free from potentially inflammatory references. I would reverse and remand for a new trial at which references to the adult bookstore would be excluded.