Dillman v. Commonwealth

257 S.W.3d 126, 2008 Ky. App. LEXIS 173, 2008 WL 2312640
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedJune 6, 2008
Docket2007-CA-000455-MR
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 257 S.W.3d 126 (Dillman v. Commonwealth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dillman v. Commonwealth, 257 S.W.3d 126, 2008 Ky. App. LEXIS 173, 2008 WL 2312640 (Ky. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION

THOMPSON, Judge.

Gregory Dillman appeals his conviction in the Pulaski Circuit Court for two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree. For the reasons set forth herein, we affirm.

On February 10, 2005, Beverly Morgan, a confidential informant wearing an audio recording device, purchased two methadone tablets from Dillman for eighty dollars. On March 24, 2005, Morgan, wearing an audio recording device, purchased from Dillman one-half of an oxycodone tablet for sixty dollars.

On March 22, 2006, Dillman was in dieted for two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree. Following a jury trial, Dillman was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to twelve years’ imprisonment. This appeal followed.

*128 Dillman first contends his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination was violated. Specifically, he contends the trial court impermissibly ordered him to answer a question from the prosecutor regarding an unindicted crime. We disagree.

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a defendant cannot be compelled to incriminate himself by his own testimonial communications. Varble v. Commonwealth, 125 S.W.3d 246, 253 (Ky.2004). However, when a defendant decides to testify in his own defense, he subjects himself to the rigors of cross-examination and must answer all questions relevant to the prosecution of the case. Lumpkins v. Commonwealth, 425 S.W.2d 535, 536 (Ky.1968).

During trial, Dillman exercised his constitutional right to testify in his own defense. Although admitting that he had obtained oxycodone for Morgan, he testified that he was merely a middleman in the transaction and sold the oxycodone to her “at cost” simply to provide drugs to a friend and fellow drug addict. During cross-examination, Dillman was asked to identify the person who supplied him with oxycodone. After Dillman invoked the Fifth Amendment, the trial court ordered him to disclose the identity of his supplier over his objection.

Dillmans privilege against compelled self-incrimination was not violated. After Dillman testified that he was merely a non-profit middleman, the trial court properly permitted the prosecutor to inquire into the nature of Dillmans middleman status, which included the identity of his supplier. Dillmans own testimony placed the prosecutors question within the scope of relevancy.

Dillman next contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence against him of uncharged crimes and bad acts despite the Commonwealths failure to provide him with reasonable pretrial notice in violation of Kentucky Rules of Evidence (KRE) 404(b) and (c). He also alleges that the evidence was inadmissible under KRE 404(b). We disagree.

Generally, as provided in KRE 404(b) and (c), the Commonwealth cannot produce evidence of crimes and bad acts other than the crimes charged in the indictment. O’Bryan v. Commonwealth, 634 S.W.2d 153, 156 (Ky.1982). However, when a defendants testimony introduces the prior bad acts, he is precluded from claiming that the prosecutors use of the prior conduct constitutes inadmissible evidence. Thompson v. Commonwealth, 648 S.W.2d 538, 539 (Ky.App.1983). Dillmans testimony introduced the prior conduct that he now seeks to declare inadmissible. While we do not seek to discourage such a sacred right, these are the perils of testifying in ones own defense.

Dillman also contends that the Commonwealth was improperly permitted to ask him whether or not he made a statement to police in 2002 that he sold drugs for profit. He further points out that he was not provided with reasonable pre-trial notice regarding the Commonwealths intention to introduce this evidence.

During cross-examination, Dillman testified, I don’t sell drugs, I just picked that up for her [Morgan]. After Dillman agreed that he had taken Morgans money in exchange for drugs, Dillman testified that he believed trafficking or selling only occurs when drugs are sold for profit. The prosecutor then asked Dillman if he was in it for the money. Dillman replied, No, I work.

After requesting a bench conference, the prosecutor informed the court that he sought to introduce Dillmans 2002 statement to police in which he stated that he *129 was acquiring particular drugs because he could make a three hundred percent profit. After Dillman voiced his objections, the trial court ruled that the evidence was admissible under two different legal theories.

First, the trial court ruled that Dillmans assertion of the entrapment defense permitted the introduction of his past statement to establish a pre-disposition to commit drug trafficking for profit. Second, the trial court ruled that the past statement was admissible to rebut Dillmans trial testimony that he does not sell drugs for profit.

We believe that the trial court incorrectly admitted the statement as evidence of Dillman’s pre-disposition in regard to his entrapment defense. A defendant may assert an entrapment defense, which if successful would exonerate him from criminal liability, if he was induced by police or their agent to commit a crime for which he was not otherwise predisposed to commit. Johnson v. Commonwealth, 554 S.W.2d 401, 402 (Ky.App.1977). When a defendant has met his evidentiary burden of establishing this defense, the Commonwealth may demonstrate that a defendant originated or was otherwise disposed to engage in the criminal conduct prior to being induced by a government agent by introducing evidence of a defendants past similar criminal conduct. Wyatt v. Commonwealth, 219 S.W.3d 751, 757 (Ky.2007).

Notwithstanding its ability to introduce past criminal conduct, the Commonwealths evidence of such conduct cannot be so remote that the probative worth of the evidence is outweighed by the prejudice to the defendant. Gray v. Commonwealth, 843 S.W.2d 895, 897 (Ky.1992). Fundamental fairness requires that a jury’s verdict be predicated on the particular crime charged in the indictment and not prior bad conduct dovetailed to the charged offense with the effect of emphasizing a general criminal disposition. Robey v. Commonwealth, 943 S.W.2d 616, 618 (Ky.1997).

We conclude that Dillman’s assertion of an entrapment defense was not sufficient to support the introduction of his prior unsworn out-of-court statement. Dillman’s prior statement was made several years prior to the dates he committed the charged offenses. The introduction of the prejudicial prior statement substantially outweighed its probative value.

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Bluebook (online)
257 S.W.3d 126, 2008 Ky. App. LEXIS 173, 2008 WL 2312640, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dillman-v-commonwealth-kyctapp-2008.