Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Sadiki Roger

Louisville, Kentucky, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with first-degree rape.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

On August 27, 2022, around 7:00 p.m., Roger and another man went to an apartment in search of Roger's friend Frederick. Residing in the apartment at the time were Frederick, his family, and another family consisting of L.O., her husband Israel, and their infant child. When Roger arrived, L.O. was home alone with the baby while Israel was attending a concert. Roger waited inside the apartment for Frederick to return while the other man departed.

* * *

"The task of weighing the probative value and undue prejudice of proffered evidence is inherently factual and, therefore, within the discretion of the trial court." Burdette v. Commonwealth, 664 S.W.3d 605 (Ky. 2023) (citing Ross v. Commonwealth, 455 S.W.3d 899, 910 (Ky. 2015)); see KRE[4] 403. As such, rulings on admissibility of evidence are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. English, 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles. Id.; see also Lopez v. Commonwealth, 459 S.W.3d 867, 872-73 (Ky. 2015).

The Defendant was found guilty.

Affirmed on appeal