Harden v. State

Appellant, Larry Harden, appeals his convictions for sexual battery, false imprisonment, and domestic battery. Because the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of a prior incident of domestic violence that served only to show propensity, we reverse for a new trial. We also write to address an evidentiary issue likely to arise again on retrial.

Appellant was accused of beating and raping his then-girlfriend, K.W., in a motel room following an argument in which appellant accused K.W. of sleeping with someone else. Before trial, the prosecutor notified the trial court that he…