People v. Smith

Defendant, Charles E. Smith, was charged with residential burglary, theft (under $300), and battery in connection with an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of September 2, 1988. During jury selection, defendant made an oral motion in limine to exclude evidence from two other cases against him involving similar offenses in the same general area and time period which the State intended to introduce to demonstrate modus operandi. The circuit court of Jackson County granted defendant’s motion on the basis the attacks against the other two victims did not possess any distinctive…