Court Opinion

ID: 9505512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 20:05:42.79159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:04:32.744126
License: Public Domain

RUCKER, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in parts I and II and dissent to part III. Evidence that it was possible Love could have obtained medication from another inmate raises an inference based on pure speculation and conjecture. The inference of course is that Love indeed obtained such medication thereby accounting for his negative test result for a sexually transmitted disease. In my view the trial court erred by allowing this testimony into evidence. "An inference cannot be based upon evidence which is uncertain or speculative or which raises merely a conjecture or possibility." Op. at 811 (quoting Vasquez v. State, 741 N.E.2d 1214, 1216 (Ind.2001)). However, because there was substantial evidence of Love's guilt, the error was harmless. Therefore, I agree with the majority's conclusion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
DICKSON, J., concurs.