Court Opinion

ID: 9585488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:01:02.233174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:48:51.999343
License: Public Domain

*300Benton, J.,
dissenting.
Without reason, this decision overrules three decisions of the Supreme Court of Virginia. See Donahue v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 145, 154-56, 300 S.E.2d 768, 773-74 (1983); Eccles v. Commonwealth, 214 Va. 20, 197 S.E.2d 332 (1973); Boyd v. Commonwealth, 213 Va. 52, 189 S.E.2d 359 (1972). I dissent.
For the reasons stated in Donahue, Eccles, and Boyd, I would hold that the trial judge erred in admitting evidence of the prior criminal conduct. Evidence of other crimes is not admissible for the purpose of showing the defendant has a criminal propensity and was conducting himself in accordance with that propensity. I would reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.