Woodson v. State

• Decision Date: 23 June 1981
• Docket Number: 5 Div. 549
• Citation: 405 So.2d 967
• Parties: Gregory Dewayne WOODSON v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Page 967

405 So.2d 967

Gregory Dewayne WOODSON v. STATE.

5 Div. 549.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

June 23, 1981.

Rehearing Denied Aug. 4, 1981.

J. Michael Williams, Sr., Auburn, for appellant.

Charles A. Graddick, Atty. Gen., and Thomas R. Allison, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

BOWEN, Judge.

The defendant was indicted and convicted for rape. Sentence was forty years' imprisonment. Two issues are presented on appeal.

I

It is argued that the admission into evidence of the defendant's fingerprint record from the Opelika Police Department constituted error because (1) it indicated that he had a criminal record and (2) it violated his constitutional rights because the record was made when the defendant was a juvenile.

Fingerprints found at the scene of the crime were matched to those of the defendant through the use of a fingerprint record or card on file in the Opelika Police Department. This card was made in 1974 when the defendant was thirteen years old.

A

Before admitting the fingerprint card into evidence, the trial judge ordered that tape be placed over that portion of the card which indicated that charges were placed against the defendant in 1974. We have carefully examined the card itself and find that it does not indicate that it has any connection with any criminal charge against the defendant other than the fact that it is a fingerprint record made by a police department. The portions of the card that would indicate a prior arrest and disposition have been carefully covered with "State's Exhibit" identification stickers in such a manner that it is not obvious that the stickers are concealing information.

During the trial, the prosecution never attempted to show or imply that the defendant had a criminal record. On direct examination, the defendant stated that he had no prior felony convictions. On cross examination the defendant again testified to this same fact. In laying the predicate for the admission of the fingerprint card the State had the police officer who took the defendant's fingerprints in 1974 testify that he did so. None of the circumstances as to why the prints were taken was disclosed. Compare Ralls v. Manson, 375 F.Supp. 1271 (D.Conn.), reversed on other grounds, 503 F.2d 491 (2 Cir. 1974).

In Brown v. State, 369 So.2d 881 (Ala.Cr.App.1979), this Court held that reversible error occurred when the trial court admitted in evidence a fingerprint card which bore information which would permit the jury to infer that the defendant had committed prior offenses. That extraneous and prejudicial information which fostered such inference was the date of arrest, the list of five aliases and an F.B.I. number. Other "references to previous offenses" were deleted.

"We cannot ignore the possible prejudicial effect on the jury in this case from the admission of ... (the fingerprint card). The extraneous information contained on the exhibit reasonably implied the existence of a prior criminal record of the appellant."

"The mere existence of recorded fingerprints does not per se imply the existence of a criminal record. The error in this case was committed by showing the jury the additional extraneous and highly prejudicial information contained on the photostatic copy of the appellant's master card."

"The admission of the master card with the prejudicial matter on it subtly suggested guilt of other offenses. Thus, error is shown." Brown, 369 So.2d at 884.

The general rule, in accordance with what we have stated above, is that the admission of a defendant's fingerprint identification card is not impermissibly prejudicial to the defendant where the card was altered prior to its introduction so that it did not disclose the defendant's criminal record. See Annot. 28 A.L.R.2d 1115 at Section 12 (1953). No prejudicial error has been found where the card does not indicate any prior criminal record or where such has been deleted or obliterated. United States v. Mancini, 396 F.Supp. 75 (E.D.Pa.1975); State v. Ralls, 167 Conn. 408, 356 A.2d 147 (1974); Bradshaw v. State, 132 Ga.App. 363, 208 S.E.2d 173 (1974); Edmonds v. State, 5 Md.App. 132, 245 A.2d 618 (1968); State v. Jackson, 284 N.C. 321, 200 S.E.2d 626 (1973); Lester v. State, 416 P.2d 52 (Okl.Cr.1966); Burton v. State, 471 S.W.2d 817 (Tex.Cr.App.1971).

The date (even if it is before the offense involved in the trial) and the place of taking (the police department) need not be eliminated from the fingerprint record before the card is introduced into evidence. Parrish v. State, 366 So.2d 530 (Fla.App.1979).

Each case of alleged error in the admission of a fingerprint record taken pursuant to another criminal offense and prior to the charge for which the accused is presently on trial must be judged upon its own merits. After carefully scrutinizing the fingerprint card in this case we do not find it as objectionable as the card introduced in Brown, supra. The card itself does not imply the existence of a past criminal record apart from the very fact that...