Joe Earl Cole v. State of Mississippi ( 2012 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2012-KA-00566-SCT
JOE EARL COLE a/k/a JOE COLE
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/23/2012
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. WILLIAM E. CHAPMAN, III
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: RANKIN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: BOBBY T. VANCE
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: SCOTT STUART
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: MICHAEL GUEST
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 10/17/2013
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE DICKINSON, P.J., KITCHENS AND CHANDLER, JJ.
DICKINSON, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Following his convictions for one count of sexual battery and three counts of
gratification of lust, Joe Earl Cole argues on appeal that the trial court erroneously admitted
hearsay and evidence of alleged prior unindicted acts of sexual misconduct with two of his
minor granddaughters. Finding no error, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. Joe Earl Cole’s grandchildren regularly visited his home in Rankin County.
Granddaughters H.M., M.M., K.H., M.H., and E.C. all alleged that their grandfather touched
them inappropriately. The Rankin County grand jury indicted Cole for one count of sexual
battery, involving the digital penetration of H.M., and three counts of gratification of lust for
touching the vaginas of H.M., K.H., and E.C. The State did not seek an indictment for any
conduct involving M.M. and M.H.
¶3. Prior to trial, Cole’s counsel filed a motion in limine to exclude taped forensic
interviews of the alleged victims as inadmissible hearsay and – because they contained
references to uncharged allegations involving a different victim – as improper character
evidence.
¶4. On the day of trial, the judge held a hearing on Cole’s motion and determined that the
tender-years exception to the rule against hearsay would overcome Cole’s hearsay objection
to the taped interviews. Cole’s counsel also argued that admission of evidence of Cole’s
prior, unindicted acts of alleged sexual misconduct would violate Rule 404(b) of the
Mississippi Rules of Evidence, which prohibits the use of other crimes or wrongful conduct
– often referred to as “prior bad acts” – to prove the defendant’s character, and to show that,
when the defendant committed the acts for which he was indicted, he was acting in
conformity with that character. Using the same argument, Cole also objected to any live
testimony from alleged victim M.M., for whom no indictment was filed.
¶5. In response, the State argued that evidence of Cole’s prior bad acts was admissible
through Mississippi Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 403, and under this Court’s opinion in
Gore v. State.1
¶6. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial judge found that the taped forensic
interviews fell within the tender-years hearsay exception, but withheld ruling on the Rule
1
Gore v. State, 37 So. 3d 1178 (Miss. 2010).
2
404(b) objection. Then, before opening statements, the trial judge found that the live
testimony of H.M., M.M., K.H., E.C, and Amanda Haller – mother of K.H. and M.H. –
regarding unindicted acts was admissible for all of the purposes argued by the State, and that
the evidence was not substantially more prejudicial than probative.
¶7. At trial, all of Cole’s granddaughters except M.H. testified, alleging that most of the
touching occurred when playing games, such as “find Kay Kay’s head” and “horses” with
their grandfather. When playing “find Kay Kay’s head,” the children would get under the
covers on the bed, turn out the lights, and then try to find K.H.’s head. K.H., who was ten
years old at the time of the trial, testified that Cole had touched her “cookie,” another name
for her vagina, on more than one occasion. She stated that, while playing this game, Cole
touched her under her pants but on top of her underwear.
¶8. To play “horses,” they would pretend that the closet was a stable and one of the
grandchildren was the hay in the stable for grandpa Joe (the horse) to eat. H.M. testified that
while they were in the closet playing this game, Cole had inserted his finger into her vagina.
She testified Cole had touched her several times either on top of or under her clothes. She
also testified that Cole touched her while she was lying in a bed with several other people,
including her grandmother. She testified that Cole had touched K.H. at least five times that
she could remember.
¶9. E.C. testified that Cole had touched her more than once, including instances while
playing “find Kay Kay’s head” and again when sitting on the couch watching TV. E.C. was
eleven years old at the time of the trial.
3
¶10. M.M., age nine at the time of trial, testified that Cole had touched her private parts
while they were sitting on the couch watching television with her grandmother. Cole also
would come into M.M.’s bedroom while she was sleeping and touch her, she said. When
Cole touched her, it was always over her clothes, she testified. She also stated that, when
they would play “find Kay Kay’s head,” Cole would touch K.H. the most.
¶11. M.H., who was three years old at the time, did not testify at trial. Her mother,
Amanda, testified that she had informed M.H. about “bad” and “good” touches while
changing her diaper, at which point M.H. told her that Grandpa Joe had touched her there.
The State introduced into evidence taped forensic interviews of all five granddaughters. The
interviewers testified as well.
¶12. The trial judge instructed the jury that any acts involving M.M. and M.H. were
unindicted acts, and were admissible only to show “motive, opportunity, intent, preparation,
plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or accident.” A jury found Cole guilty of
all counts. Cole received sentences of twenty years for sexual battery and fifteen years for
each count of gratification of lust, to run concurrently. Cole appealed, arguing that the trial
judge committed reversible error by allowing evidence of the acts involving M.M. and M.H.,
for which he was not indicted.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶13. We must employ two standards of review while reviewing this case. In determining
whether a trial judge made an erroneous ruling on the admission or suppression of evidence,
we employ an abuse-of-discretion standard.2 But even where we find error, we do not
2
Haggerty v. Foster, 838 So. 2d 948, 958 (Miss. 2002).
4
reverse unless “the error adversely affects a substantial right of the party.” 3 Stated another
way, trial judges enjoy “a great deal of discretion as to the relevancy and admissibility of
evidence. Unless the judge abuses his discretion so as to be prejudicial to the accused, the
Court will not reverse [the] ruling.” 4
ANALYSIS
¶14. At trial, the State offered evidence, through live testimony and taped forensic
interviews, of instances of Cole’s sexual misconduct involving different victims -- M.M. and
M.H. -- than those alleged in the indictment. Cole’s attorney lodged two objections to the
evidence, arguing first that the taped forensic interviews were hearsay, and also that the
evidence of prior bad acts violated Rule 404(b), as inappropriate use of character evidence.
¶15. The trial judge conducted an extensive and thorough analysis of the children’s
conduct, demeanor, and lack of motive to lie in the taped interviews, and he found the
evidence admissible, holding that the tender-years hearsay exception 5 applied, and that the
prior bad acts were admissible to show motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,
knowledge, identity, and absence of mistake or accident.6 He also found that the evidence
was not substantially more prejudicial than probative as required under Mississippi Rule of
Evidence 403.
3
Id. (quoting In re Estate of Mask, 703 So. 2d 852, 859 (Miss. 1997)).
4
Green v. State, 89 So. 3d 543, 549 (Miss. 2012) (citations omitted).
5
Miss. R. Evid. 803(25).
6
Miss. R. Evid. 404(b).
5
¶16. On appeal, Cole argues that the trial court erred by admitting this evidence under
Rules 404(b) and 403, because no Rule 404(b) purpose was relevant to an element of the
offenses charged, and because the evidence was substantially more prejudicial than
probative. He also argues that Rules 608 and 609 require all prior-bad-acts evidence to be
prior convictions.
I. Whether Mississippi Rules of Evidence 608 and 609 require all prior-bad-acts
evidence to be prior convictions.
¶17. As a preliminary matter, we reject Cole’s argument that Rules 608 and 609 of the
Mississippi Rules of Evidence limit all prior-bad-acts evidence to prior convictions. Cole’s
contentions on this issue are wholly without merit, because Rules 608 and 609, by their
terms, apply only to evidence used to impeach a witness.
¶18. Rule 608 states in relevant part:
Specific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the purpose of attacking or
supporting the witness’s character for truthfulness, other than conviction of
crime as provided in Rule 609, may not be proved by extrinsic evidence. They
may, however, in the discretion of the court, if probative of truthfulness or
untruthfulness, be inquired into on cross-examination of the witness (1)
concerning the witness’s character for truthfulness or untruthfulness, or (2)
concerning the character for truthfulness or untruthfulness of another witness
as to which character the witness being cross-examined has testified.7
Rule 609 provides in its relevant part:
For the purpose of attacking the character for truthfulness of a witness, (1)
evidence that (A) a nonparty witness has been convicted of a crime shall be
admitted subject to Rule 403, if the crime was punishable by death or
imprisonment in excess of one year under the law under which the witness was
convicted, and (B) a party has been convicted of such a crime shall be admitted
if the court determines that the probative value of admitting this evidence
outweighs its prejudicial effect to the party; and (2) evidence that any witness
7
Miss. R. Evid. 608(b).
6
has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted if it involved dishonesty or
false statement, regardless of punishment.8
¶19. Rule 608 addresses the admissibility of impeachment evidence regarding the character
and conduct of a witness,9 and Rule 609 pertains to the use of a witness’s prior convictions
for impeachment purposes.10 The prosecution did not offer evidence of Cole’s prior bad acts
to attack the credibility of a witness. Cole did not testify, so Rules 608 and 609 were
inapplicable to any evidence of his prior bad acts. We find that Rules 608 and 609 do not
apply to the evidence in question and that this assignment of error is without merit.
II. Whether the trial court properly admitted the prior-bad-acts evidence pursuant to
Mississippi Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 403.
¶20. Rules 404(b) and 403 govern the admissibility of instances of a defendant’s prior bad
conduct. With only three exceptions not applicable in this case, a person’s prior bad acts are
not admissible “for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a
particular occasion.” 11 Stated another way, the prosecutor in this case was prohibited from
using Cole’s prior bad acts to suggest to the jury that Cole had a bad character or bad
character trait; and that he was acting in conformity with that bad character when he
committed the acts for which he was on trial. Stated still another way, the prosecution may
not introduce prior bad acts for the purpose of showing that the defendant has a propensity
8
Miss. R. Evid. 609(a).
9
Miss. R. Evid. 608(b).
10
Miss. R. Evid. 609(a).
11
Miss. R. Evid. 404(a).
7
to engage in such conduct, that is, because he had done things like this before, he probably
did it this time.12
¶21. Cole argues that his alleged prior bad acts were inadmissible because “no Rule 404(b)
purpose was relevant to an element of the offenses charged.” We disagree.
¶22. Prior to Derouen v. State, this Court considered evidence of prior acts of sexual
misconduct involving different victims to be so prejudicial that we held it was per se
inadmissible, even for other purposes such as those listed in Mississippi Rule of Evidence
404(b).13 Then, in Derouen, we rejected the notion that such evidence was per se
inadmissable, finding instead that it could be admitted for alternative purposes, so long as the
evidence was filtered through Rule 403, and was accompanied by an appropriate limiting
instruction.14 We now must analyze whether the trial judge committed manifest error in
finding that the State had a noncharacter purpose for the evidence of Cole’s prior bad acts.
¶23. The trial judge instructed the jury that it could consider Cole’s prior bad acts to show
– among other things – the absence of mistake or accident. Where a defendant does not put
mistake or accident at issue – or where a reasonable juror could not conclude from the
evidence that the defendant’s conduct was an accident or mistake – prior-bad-acts evidence
may not be admitted for that purpose.15
12
Id.; see also Miss. R. Evid. 404(b) (“Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not
admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity
therewith.”).
13
Derouen v. State, 994 So. 2d 748, 756 (Miss. 2008) (citing Lambert v. State, 724 So. 2d
392, 394 (Miss. 1998) (citing Mitchell v. State, 539 So. 2d 1366, 1372 (Miss. 1989))).
14
Derouen, 994 So. 2d at 756.
15
Mitchell v. State, 110 So. 3d 732, 734 (Miss. 2013).
8
¶24. During the hearing on the admissibility of the evidence, the State argued – based on
Gore – that the evidence of Cole’s prior unindicted acts of sexual misconduct was admissible
“for the purposes of proof of motive, as they say in Gore, to gratify his lust, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or accident.” The State
also pointed out that,
from what we understand, the defendant is framing an accidental touch or,
okay, or a mistake, he mistakenly touched. . . . It’s in the statement from
[KH]. She says she slapped the hand away, and he said, I didn't know I
touched you.
Cole’s counsel made no response to this assertion. We therefore cannot say that the trial
judge abused his discretion in finding that the evidence of Cole’s prior bad acts was
admissible for the purpose of showing absence of accident or mistake.
¶25. As for the other purposes argued by the State, we find nothing in the record to suggest
that Cole’s motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, or knowledge were at issue. These
points never were raised or argued by either side. But where the State argues any alternative
purpose for the evidence that does not violate Rule 404(b), the fact that other alternative
purposes are argued is irrelevant, because Rule 404(b) requires only that the evidence not be
offered for the purpose of showing that the defendant acted in conformity with his bad
character.
¶26. Because the State articulated a legitimate, alternative evidentiary purpose for Cole’s
prior bad acts, we find the trial judge complied with this Court’s requirements under
9
Derouen.16 We also find that the trial judge gave proper instructions on the purpose for
which the jury could not consider the evidence.
¶27. We take this opportunity to note that it would be a rare case in which every one of
Rule 404's examples of alternative purposes applied. We admonish prosecutors to refrain
from offering prior-bad-acts evidence based on a rote recitation, such as: “the State is not
offering the prior bad acts as character evidence to show the defendant acted in conformity
with his character, but the State is attempting to show motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” Instead,
prosecutors should clearly present the alternative purpose for the evidence, and trial judges
should state the purpose for which the evidence is being admitted, and then provide the jury
an appropriate limiting instruction. Only then can we provide a fair review on appeal.
CONCLUSION
¶28. We cannot say that the trial judge erred by admitting evidence of Cole’s prior bad acts
for the purpose of demonstrating the absence of accident or mistake. Because the issues Cole
presents on appeal are without merit, we affirm his conviction and sentence.
¶29. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND SENTENCE OF
TWENTY (20) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. COUNTS II, III, AND IV: CONVICTION OF
GRATIFICATION OF LUST AND SENTENCE OF FIFTEEN (15) YEARS, EACH
COUNT, IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. SENTENCES IN COUNTS II, III, AND IV SHALL
RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH EACH OTHER BUT CONSECUTIVELY TO THE
SENTENCE IMPOSED IN COUNT I. THE EXECUTION OF THE LAST TEN (10)
YEARS OF THE CONCURRENT SENTENCES IN COUNTS II, III, AND IV IS
16
Derouen, 994 So. 2d at 756.
10
STAYED AND THAT PORTION OF THE SENTENCES IS SUSPENDED, WITH
THE APPELLANT TO BE RELEASED, WITH CONDITIONS.
KITCHENS, CHANDLER, KING AND COLEMAN, JJ., CONCUR.
RANDOLPH, P.J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN RESULT WITH SEPARATE
WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY WALLER, C.J., LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ.
RANDOLPH, PRESIDING JUSTICE, CONCURRING IN PART AND IN
RESULT:
¶30. The State argued that Cole’s prior sexual misconduct against minors was admissible
“for the purposes of proof of motive, as they say in Gore, to gratify his lust, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or accident.” The trial
court then admitted the evidence “because of all the reasons argued by [the State] . . . .”
¶31. I concur in result, observing that the trial court properly admitted evidence of the prior
bad acts, for the reasons argued by the State. This comports with Rule 404(b) and a series
of cases in which various trial courts were affirmed on the same or nearly identical issue.17
¶32. Four decisions 18 (three in the last year alone) since Derouen support the ruling of the
trial court in the case sub judice. In Derouen, recognizing that our traditional evidentiary
rules were not workable in sex-crimes-against-minors-cases, Mississippi joined the majority
of the nation 19 and rectified a flawed precedent of prohibiting Rule 404(b) evidence, by
17
Derouen v. State, 994 So. 2d 748 (Miss. 2008); Gore v. State, 37 So. 3d 1178 (Miss. 2010);
Green v. State, 89 So. 3d 543 (Miss. 2012); Young v. State, 106 So. 3d 775 (Miss. 2012); O’Connor
v. State, 120 So. 3d 390 (Miss. June 20, 2013).
18
Gore, 37 So. 3d 1178; Green, 89 So. 3d 543; Young, 106 So. 3d 775; O’Connor, 2013 WL
3067546.
19
Derouen, 994 So. 2d at 753 (detailing the overwhelming weight of authority allowing
evidence of prior sexual acts against children to be admissible) (citing Mitchell v. State, 539 So. 2d
1366, 1374-75 (Miss. 1989) (Hawkins, P.J., dissenting), overruled by Derouen, 994 So. 2d 748.).
11
holding that evidence of a prior sexual act may be admitted into evidence under Rule 404(b).
Derouen, 994 So. 2d at 756 (Miss. 2008). Two years later in Gore, this Court reaffirmed
Derouen and clarified Rule 404(b) application. Gore, 37 So. 3d at 1187. This Court in Gore
held that evidence of prior sexual misconduct against minors is admissible under the motive
purpose of Rule 404(b) if the misconduct demonstrates a similar modus operandi. In Green,
this Court further held that, where the prior sexual acts bear “overwhelming similarities” to
the deviant conduct at issue, they are “undeniably” admissible under Rule 404(b) as both
motive and as evidence of a “common plan, scheme, or system.” Green, 89 So. 3d at 550
n.19 (citation omitted). This Court recently reaffirmed each of these principles in both
Young and O’Connor. Young, 106 So. 3d at 780; O’Connor, 120 So. 3d at 396-98.
¶33. In short, “overwhelming similarities” between the prior sexual acts and the licentious
sexual misconduct charged “undeniably bring the testimony of [the] other victims within the
purview of admissibility under Rule 404(b).” Green, 89 So. 3d at 550. Prior sexual acts also
are admissible when the conduct is probative of “motive.” 20 “Motive” is “an impulse, as an
emotion, desire, or psychological need, acting as incitement to action.” Green, 89 So. 3d at
550 n.19 (citation omitted). Any evidence that tends to show a “‘seemingly uncontrollable
desire to partake in pedophilic sexual activities with young and developing juveniles,’ is
probative regarding motive.” Young, 106 So. 3d at 779 (quoting Green, 89 So. 3d at 550-51
n.19) (emphasis original).
20
Gore, 37 So. 3d at 1191; Green, 89 So. 3d at 550; Young, 106 So. 3d at 779; O’Connor,
120 So. 3d at 397-98.
12
¶34. The jury is entitled to hear evidence of prior deviant sexual acts against minor children
to corroborate whether motive exists if the “defendant’s means of accomplishing these
activities on past occasions bear substantial resemblance to each other and with the present
offense.” Young, 106 So. 3d at 780 (quoting Gore, 37 So. 3d at 1186). Finally, prior sexual
acts which demonstrate “a common plan, scheme, or system . . . utilized . . . repeatedly to
perpetrate separate but very similar crimes,” such that the defendant “had a system that
involved taking advantage of the [familial] relationship” are admissible. Young, 106 So. 3d
at 780 (quoting Green, 89 So. 3d at 550 n.19) (emphasis added). Thus, I would find each of
these were relevant to the case today, not just lack of mistake or accident.
¶35. In the case sub judice, the trial judge admitted the evidence of Cole’s prior sexual acts
in response to the State’s argument that it was admissible for “proper 404(b) motives that
tend to demonstrate the pedophilic sexual activities with young and developing female
juveniles, defendant’s means of accomplishing . . . the activities and substantial resemblance
with each other,” as well as to show absence of mistake.21 The trial judge properly weighed
the probative and prejudicial value of the evidence under Rule 403 before admitting the
evidence.
¶36. The majority posits that a defendant, by not testifying, may preclude Rule 404(b)
purposes (motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, and knowledge) from consideration.
Neither the facts before us, nor the law, offer support for such a finding. The defendant’s
silence does not preclude the use of Rule 404(b) evidence. See Green, 89 So. 3d 543; Young,
21
Later in the trial, the State, once again, cited Gore in argument that the unindicted witness’s
testimony was admissible “for the purpose of proof of motive, as they say in Gore, to gratify his lust
. . . .”
13
106 So. 3d 775. Neither of the defendants in Green or Young testified. Green, 89 So. 3d at
548; Young, 130 So. 3d at 777. The defense in Green was the same as Cole’s defense – his
attorney argued that he did not do it. In both cases, this Court affirmed the admission of
evidence of the defendants’ prior sexual acts against minor children under Rule 404(b) for
the jury’s consideration of motive and a common plan, scheme, or system. Green, 89 So. 3d
at 550; Young, 106 So. 3d at 779-80.
¶37. A defendant’s silence does not control the presentation of evidence and does not
dictate the State’s presentation of evidence (including otherwise-admissible prior bad acts
that satisfy a Rule 404(b) purpose). See Green, 89 So. 3d 543; Young, 106 So. 3d 775. It is
the defendant’s similar and relevant misconduct offered by witnesses with knowledge that
places a Rule 404(b) purpose at issue, not the defendant’s silence. Id. First, the issues for
jury consideration are controlled by the offense charged. Next, the State’s evidence offered
to establish or prove the charge controls the Rule 404(b) consideration. Finally, the
defendant’s defenses, if any, of the charge may place a Rule 404(b) purpose at issue. Stated
differently, the conduct sets in motion whether the trial court will let the witness testify to
prior bad conduct. If a Rule 404(b) purpose is met, along with relevance and similarity to
the offense charged, the trial judge may allow the introduction of the prior sexual misconduct
against a minor.
¶38. The majority also opines that no Rule 404(b) purpose (other than mistake or accident)
was raised or argued by either side. The record reveals otherwise. Throughout the trial, the
State, through its witnesses, fully developed motive, intent, and common plan, scheme, and
system which creates the opportunity (games).
14
¶39. H.M., M.M., K.H., and E.C. all testified to multiple instances (some indicted, some
not) of Cole inappropriately rubbing their breast or vaginal area while they were pre-
pubescent.22 The unindicted acts testified to substantially resembled the indicted acts, as
defined, and applied in our sexual-misconduct-against-minor-children cases since Derouen.
Each witness had fallen prey to Cole’s criminally lewd acts on more than one occasion,
evincing Cole’s “uncontrollable desire” and a “psychological need” to “partake in
pedophillic sexual activities.” Green, 89 So. 3d at 550 n.19. The young victims were mere
babies when the deviant sexual assaults began, further evincing Cole’s motive, intent, and
opportunity of satisfying his “uncontrollable pedophilic desires.”
¶40. The young children also testified to a “common plan, scheme, and system” utilized
by their deviant grandfather to sexually abuse them. With the exception of a few isolated
instances, each minor testified that Cole’s modus operandi was the same, during the same
two games – “horses” and “find Kay Kay’s head.” He utilized the games to create an
opportunity to rub upon and penetrate his own granddaughters’ genitalia, repeatedly
perpetrating his uncontrollable, pedophilic desires. Cole planned and prepared his licentious
assaults on the little girls through the use of those games. He isolated his victims before
playing “find Kay Kay’s head,” as Cole would lock the boys out of the room. And then,
when playing “horses,” he would select only one little girl at a time to take into the closet.
In closing, the State remarked,“[w]hat a great plan for him . . . the kids may have made it up,
but, boy, did he take advantage of it.” (Emphasis added.) Cole’s attorney conceded in
22
The ages of the children were all under nine. The record reveals that each girl was between
the age of six and nine during Cole’s sexual assaults.
15
closing that it “would make sense for a sexual predator” to use “find Kay Kay’s head” as a
scheme to molest children; but, since Cole did not invent the game, it could not be a scheme.
¶41. A “plan” is a “detailed scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the
accomplishment of an object.” Webster’s II New College Dictionary 842 (2001). The
testimony from the young girls demonstrated a “detailed scheme” and “method” to secretly
and furtively accomplish his scheme of sexually assaulting his defenseless, minor
grandchildren. A “scheme” is a “systematic plan of action.” Id. at 987. “Horses” and “find
Kay Kay’s head” offered a systematic way to perpetrate and satisfy his pedophilic desires.
A “system” is defined as a “method.” Id. at 1119. Cole used the two games as a “method”
to accomplish his lascivious touching. Finally, the State argued in closing that Cole used the
two games as his “tool” to effectuate his “plan” of molesting the victims.
¶42. I detect no error when the learned trial judge 23 admitted the evidence under Rule
404(b), tracking this Court’s earlier opinions. The State presented uncontradicted proof of
Cole’s modus operandi, including motive – touching (“pedophillic sexual activities”) his
granddaughters (“young and developing female juveniles”) multiple times each
(“uncontrollable desire”). The prior acts certainly had a “substantial resemblance” to the acts
at issue (all victims were touched during “horses” or “find Kay Kay’s head”). The evidence
presented in this case qualifies as Rule 404(b) exceptions, as it has been defined in Gore,
Green, Young, and O’Connor.
¶43. In short, this is the exact sort of evidence this Court has held admissible in Derouen,
Gore, Green, Young, and O’Connor.
23
The trial judge is the same trial judge as in Gore.
16
Conclusion
¶44. I join in the disposition of the majority, but also would affirm the trial court for the
reasons stated herein.
WALLER, C.J., LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.
17