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293 S.C. 101

State v. Kimbrell

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided August 10, 1987

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1987-08-10

Relies on State v. Sullivan · State v. Wilcox. · Tucker v. State

Decided 1987-08-10

Per Curiam:

¶1Appellant was convicted of trafficking in marijuana and trafficking in cocaine. We affirm.

¶2At trial, appellant attempted to introduce evidence that while waiting for a bond reduction hearing, he did not try to escape from the custody of law enforcement officials, even though he had an opportunity to do so. Appellant claims that the trial court should not have excluded this testimony because it was evidence tending to show he was innocent.

¶3We hold that evidence showing an accused did not escape, even though he had the opportunity to do so, is irrelevant to the issue of guilt or innocence, and inadmissible. This holding is in accord with the rule applied in other jurisdictions which have addressed this issue. See Tucker v. State, 170 Ga. App. 782, 318 S. E. (2d) 147 (1984); State v. Wilcox, 132 N. C. 1120, 44 S. E. 625 (1903); 29 Am. Jur. (2d) Evidence § 287 (1967); 22A C. J. S. Criminal Law § 631 (1961); Wharton’s Criminal Evidence § 154 (14th ed. 1985).

¶4Appellant’s second exception was not argued in his brief and is deemed abandoned. State v. Sullivan, 277 S. C. 35, 282 S. E. (2d) 838 (1981). His remaining exception is without merit and is disposed of under Supreme Court Rule 23. Accordingly, appellant’s convictions are

¶5Affirmed.

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