Case ID: f-appx_60/html/0476-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. William J. ENGLE, a/k/a Sonny, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 02-4777.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted Feb. 10, 2003.
    Decided April 1, 2003.
    Mary Lou Newberger, Federal Public Defender, Edward H. Weis, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellant. Kasey Warner, United States Attorney, Lisa A. Green, Assistant United States Attorney, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee.
    Before MICHAEL, MOTZ, and KING, Circuit Judges.
    Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

William J. Engle appeals his conviction and 120 month sentence for conspiracy to distribute dilaudid, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (2000). On appeal, Engle argues that under Fed.R.Evid. 609(b), the district court erred in excluding evidence of a Government witness’ 1987 conviction for drug crimes.

We review this claim for abuse of discretion. United States v. Carter, 300 F.3d 415, 423 (4th Cir.2002). Engle’s claim is meritless. Engle cannot establish that, under Fed.R.Evid. 609, the district court abused its discretion by excluding evidence of the Government witness’s 1987 conviction, because he cannot establish the evidence’s probative value in undermining the Government witness’s credibility substantially outweighed its prejudicial effect. Fed.R.Evid. 609(b); United States v. Beahm, 664 F.2d 414, 418 (4th Cir.1981); United States v. Cavender, 578 F.2d 528, 531 (4th Cir.1978).

Accordingly, we affirm Engle’s conviction and sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not significantly aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.