Willis v. State

Indiana Supreme Court

Willis v. State

370 N.E.2d 906, 267 Ind. 439, 1977 Ind. LEXIS 524

CourtIndiana Supreme Court

DecidedDecember 30, 1977

DocketNo. 1276S436

StatusPublished

Cited by4 cases

This text of 370 N.E.2d 906 (Willis v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Willis v. State, 370 N.E.2d 906, 267 Ind. 439, 1977 Ind. LEXIS 524 (Ind. 1977).

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Opinion

Givan, C.J.

On May 9, 1976, a man and a woman, using a sawed-off shotgun, robbed two women on South Sherman Drive in Indianapolis. Appellant Willis and one, Wanda Henderson, were subsequently charged with two counts of [440]*440armed robbery growing out of this incident. Prior to trial Henderson agreed to testify for the State in exchange for pleading guilty and the recommendation that she be sentenced under the minor statute. Defense counsel for Willis orally tendered a motion in limine, asking the court to exclude any testimony of Henderson relating to four other alleged robberies that night unless independent corroboration for such testimony were offered by the State. The motion was denied. At trial the two victims and the investigating police officer testified against Willis. Henderson testified as to the robbery in question and also as to the other four robberies. Willis was convicted on both counts and was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment.

The sole contention on appeal is the denial of appellant’s motion in limine. He cites Newman v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 569, 334 N.E.2d 684, for the proposition that an accomplice’s testimony is highly suspect and argues that his motion should have been granted. However, in the Newman case evidence of the agreement with the prosecutor was concealed by the State. This Court reversed the conviction on the ground that it should have been revealed.

In the case at bar Henderson’s plea bargain arrangement with the State was fully explored on cross examination. Evidence of other crimes is inadmissible on the question of guilt if irrelevant or merely produced to show bad character or criminal tendencies. Kerlin v. State, (1970) 255 Ind. 420, 265 N.E.2d 22. Nor is it admissible if it is misleading or serves no purpose other than to prejudice the defendant. Lawrence v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 306, 286 N.E.2d 830. However such evidence is admissible if it is used to show “intent, motive, purpose, identification or common scheme or plan.” Cobbs v. State, (1975) 264 Ind. 60, 338 N.E.2d 632-633. The evidence here is not misleading; rather it has the legitimate purpose of showing a common scheme of crimes on May 9, 1976. Thus it was properly admitted without independent corroboration.

[441]*441The trial court is affirmed.

DeBruler, Hunter, Pivarnik and Prentice, JJ., concur.

NOTE. — Reported at 370 N.E.2d 906.

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Givan, C.J.

On May 9, 1976, a man and a woman, using a sawed-off shotgun, robbed two women on South Sherman Drive in Indianapolis. Appellant Willis and one, Wanda Henderson, were subsequently charged with two counts of [440]*440armed robbery growing out of this incident. Prior to trial Henderson agreed to testify for the State in exchange for pleading guilty and the recommendation that she be sentenced under the minor statute. Defense counsel for Willis orally tendered a motion in limine, asking the court to exclude any testimony of Henderson relating to four other alleged robberies that night unless independent corroboration for such testimony were offered by the State. The motion was denied. At trial the two victims and the investigating police officer testified against Willis. Henderson testified as to the robbery in question and also as to the other four robberies. Willis was convicted on both counts and was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment.

The sole contention on appeal is the denial of appellant’s motion in limine. He cites Newman v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 569, 334 N.E.2d 684, for the proposition that an accomplice’s testimony is highly suspect and argues that his motion should have been granted. However, in the Newman case evidence of the agreement with the prosecutor was concealed by the State. This Court reversed the conviction on the ground that it should have been revealed.

In the case at bar Henderson’s plea bargain arrangement with the State was fully explored on cross examination. Evidence of other crimes is inadmissible on the question of guilt if irrelevant or merely produced to show bad character or criminal tendencies. Kerlin v. State, (1970) 255 Ind. 420, 265 N.E.2d 22. Nor is it admissible if it is misleading or serves no purpose other than to prejudice the defendant. Lawrence v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 306, 286 N.E.2d 830. However such evidence is admissible if it is used to show “intent, motive, purpose, identification or common scheme or plan.” Cobbs v. State, (1975) 264 Ind. 60, 338 N.E.2d 632-633. The evidence here is not misleading; rather it has the legitimate purpose of showing a common scheme of crimes on May 9, 1976. Thus it was properly admitted without independent corroboration.

[441]*441The trial court is affirmed.

DeBruler, Hunter, Pivarnik and Prentice, JJ., concur.

NOTE. — Reported at 370 N.E.2d 906.

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370 N.E.2d 906, 267 Ind. 439, 1977 Ind. LEXIS 524, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/willis-v-state-ind-1977.

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