State v. Russell Levon Johnson

Syllabus

Respondent Russell Levon Johnson was indicted in Marion County on charges of kidnapping and criminal domestic violence in the first degree. The events leading to the indictment began in Marion County and progressed over the course of approximately thirteen hours into Dillon and Marlboro Counties, then back to Marion County. The trial court admitted evidence of Johnson's alleged acts of domestic violence in Dillon and Marlboro Counties and denied Johnson's request for a limiting instruction. Johnson was acquitted of kidnapping but was convicted of criminal domestic violence in the first degree. The court of appeals reversed Johnson's conviction, holding the trial court erred in failing to issue a limiting instruction. State v. Johnson, 432 S.C. 652, 855 S.E.2d 305 (Ct. App. 2021). We reverse the court of appeals and reinstate Johnson's conviction.