Dorman v. State

In Dorman v. State, 622 P.2d 448 (Alaska 1981) the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the admission of evidence showing the defendant's involvement in the illegal drug trade. The court observed that the evidence was relevant to show the "affirmative link" between the defendant and the victim in "an illegal and violence-prone business" and was not offered merely to show the defendant's general propensity to commit crime. The Court held that it was plain error for the prosecutor to ask the jury to infer guilt from the fact that the defendant remained silent for the eight minutes between his arrest and the time he was advised of his Miranda rights.