State v. Troy, 18738

• Decision Date: 29 August 1984
• Docket Number: No. 18738,18738
• Citation: 688 P.2d 483
• Parties: STATE of Utah, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. John TROY, Defendant and Appellant.
• Court: Utah Supreme Court

Page 483

688 P.2d 483

STATE of Utah, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. John TROY, Defendant and Appellant.

No. 18738.

Supreme Court of Utah.

Aug. 29, 1984.

Lynn R. Brown, Salt Lake Legal Defender, Salt Lake City, for defendant and appellant.

David L. Wilkinson, Atty. Gen., J. Stephen Mikita, Asst. Atty. Gen., Ted Cannon, County Atty., Michael J. Christensen, Asst. County Atty., Salt Lake City, for plaintiff and respondent.

RICHARD C. DAVIDSON, District Judge:

Defendant appeals from his jury conviction of aggravated arson and insurance fraud, both second degree felonies. He claims that prosecutorial misconduct prejudiced the jury against him.

Shortly past noon on July 22, 1980, a vacant house in Salt Lake County exploded and burned. The house was owned by defendant and his exwife and was under court order to be sold, with the equity to be divided 65 percent to her and 35 percent to him. Until the house was sold, he was to make mortgage and other payments and to maintain the house. It was vacant at the time of the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished, and a subsequent investigation led to the conclusion that the fire was arson caused. Defendant later filed a claim of loss for fire damage. He was subsequently charged with both aggravated arson and insurance fraud.

The evidence presented at trial showed that the explosion occurred when natural gas, escaping from an uncapped nipple, was ignited by a pilot light. The explosion was followed immediately by the fire. Arson investigators testified that an accelerant, probably gasoline, had been placed in the house. Defendant was in the house at approximately 7:30 on the morning of the fire. He visited the house nearly every day. Defendant was not at the house thereafter until after the fire. A quantity of gasoline was found in a container in his truck. He was employed as a handyman and home repairman and had been working during the time of the fire. No direct evidence was presented that linked him directly to the fire, since all evidence was circumstantial. Evidence of motive showed that he was in poor financial condition, being several payments behind and under a court order concerning the house.

The defense argued that defendant had no motive to burn the house since he would gain much more through a sale of the property at its appraised value rather than through the insurance proceeds. Defendant did not testify in his own behalf.

The defense now argues that the prosecutor caused prejudicial error through misconduct. As evidence of such misconduct, the defense points out several statements made to the jury by the prosecution.

During opening statements, the prosecutor introduced the case by stating, "I'm the prosecutor in the case of the State of Utah versus John Troy also known as John McMillian." This statement was made despite the prosecutor's knowledge that the defendant had changed his name and was not using his former name as an alias. Later in the opening statement, the prosecutor stated, "[A]t the time Mr. Troy was here in Salt Lake County, he was under an identity--evidence will show that he was under an identity provided by the federal--." Objection was made, and the court admonished the jury to disregard the statement. At the close of the State's opening argument, a motion for mistrial was made outside the presence of the jury, citing prejudice caused by the prosecutor's statements that defendant used an alias and that defendant was a protected witness. At that time, the prosecutor admitted that the second name of the defendant was his former legal name and not an alias. Nonetheless, the motion was denied.

During the questioning of an attorney whose firm had been assisting defendant, the prosecutor asked the attorney, "[A]nd did he also represent him (defendant) in various criminal matters." Objection was made and sustained.

In closing arguments, the prosecutor commented on the lack-of-motive defense. "Whether he's rational in his business dealings, you don't have to presume at all. And we know that criminals have all kinds of irrational behavior." Objection was made and sustained. The prosecutor continued, "You know people do things for odd reasons. Hinckley is a classic example." ¹ Objection was again made and sustained. After closing arguments and outside the presence of the jury, another motion for mistrial was made and denied.

Again during closing arguments, the prosecutor told the jury, "[U]se your experience, and in talking to one another, don't put your common sense aside. If you have been involved in a situation, speak up, talk about it, deliberate it." Objection was made again, and the jury was admonished to disregard the statements.

The question presented on this appeal is whether the prosecutor's conduct requires a reversal. We believe it does.

The prosecutor committed misconduct first when he made statements that referred to defendant's past. In his opening statement, reference to an alias very likely may have led the jury to speculate as to defendant's reason for using an alias. Additionally, statements about the defendant's being in Salt Lake County under a federal identity could have had the same effect. The prosecutor knew that defendant had changed his name. His reference to defendant's former legal name as though it were an alias was totally unnecessary and served no valid purpose. In addition, the reason defendant was living in Salt Lake County was completely irrelevant. The prosecutor's attempt to mention the Federal Witness Program was a clear attempt to bias the jury. The later question asked of defendant's former attorney about defendant's "various criminal matters" was another...