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RENDERED: DECEMBER 14, 2001; 2:00 p.m.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth Of Kentucky

Court Of Appeals

NO. 2001-CA-000059-MR

DEON LEE HUNT APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT

v. HONORABLE REBECCA M. OVERSTREET, JUDGE
ACTION NOS. 00-CR-01000 & 00-CR-01162

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE

OPINION
AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: COMBS, JOHNSON, and SCHRODER, Judges.

COMBS, JUDGE: Appellant, Deon Hunt, appeals from a judgment
based on a jury verdict finding him guilty of possession of a
simulated controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence,
and possession of drug paraphernalia, for which he received
concurrent sentences of twelve months in jail and two fines of
$250.00. We affirm.

The events leading to Hunt's indictment and conviction
occurred in the early morning hours of August 2, 2000. Working
undercover, Detective Byron Smoot of the Lexington Police
Department encountered Hunt and asked him for a "twenty" -- a
twenty-dollar piece of crack cocaine. Hunt responded, "I got it.

It's tight. Come on up." The two men talked only briefly before
Hunt recognized the narcotic squad's back-up team and fled.
During the melee that followed, Hunt appeared to swallow what
police believed was contraband. Hunt was arrested and searched.
Under the insole of his left shoe, Hunt carried $795.00 in cash,
consisting mostly of twenty-dollar bills. He told police that
the money came from the sale of his car. Plastic sandwich bags
and razor blades were recovered from his apartment. While Hunt
gave his correct name to police, he originally gave his address
as Cincinnati, Ohio. He later said that he was from Detroit.

Hunt was tried in Fayette Circuit Court on November 9,
2000. The jury found him guilty of the three charges previously
noted. This appeal followed.

Hunt contends that the trial court erred by failing to
grant his motions in limine. In a motion filed on November 2,

2000, Hunt argued that information linking him to Detroit was

irrelevant and unduly prejudicial. He requested that the court

prohibit the Commonwealth and its witnesses from:

making any reference to Detroit, Michigan at

the trial of this action including - but not
limited to - the conspicuously incorrect and
implicitly derogatory pronunciation "DEE

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