The People of the State of Colorado v. Michael Lee Jones

Summary

The court held that trial courts need not apply the doctrine of chances when determining whether other-acts evidence satisfies the logical-relevance requirements for admission under CRE 404(b) and the governing sexual-offense statute. The trial court properly applied the four-part admissibility test and did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence of two other alleged sexual assaults to show a common plan and rebut consent. The court reversed the court of appeals and remanded for reinstatement of the convictions. Chief Justice Bender, concurring in the judgment, agreed with the result but disagreed with the majority's characterization of the court of appeals' reasoning and emphasized that the required degree of similarity depends on the purpose for which the evidence is offered.