Case Name: STATE of Maine v. Raymond SMITH
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1988-12-09
Citations: 551 A.2d 449
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE of Maine v. Raymond SMITH.
Judges: Before McKUSICK, C.J., and ROBERTS, WATHEN, GLASSMAN, CLIFFORD, HORNBY and COLLINS, JJ.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 551
Pages: 449–449

Head Matter:
STATE of Maine v. Raymond SMITH.
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
Argued Nov. 16, 1988.
Decided Dec. 9, 1988.
James E. Tierney, Atty. Gen., Leanne Robbin (orally), Augusta, for plaintiff.
Ronald L. Bourget (orally), Bourget & Bourget, Augusta, for defendant.
Before McKUSICK, C.J., and ROBERTS, WATHEN, GLASSMAN, CLIFFORD, HORNBY and COLLINS, JJ.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION.
A Superior Court jury (Cumberland County, Fritzsche, J.) convicted Raymond Smith of theft by unauthorized taking, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 353 (1983), violating the Charitable Solicitations Act, 9 M.R.S.A. § 5014 (1980 & Supp.1986), and witness tampering, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 454 (Supp. 1986). Contrary to defendant's contention, admission of evidence of defendant's prior convictions for violating the Charitable Solicitations Act did not constitute obvious error. The challenged evidence was admissible as relevant to defendant's knowledge, motive, and intent. See M.R.Evid. 404(b); State v. DeLong, 505 A.2d 803, 806 (Me.1986). Furthermore, the court properly found that the danger of unfair prejudice did not outweigh the probative value of the evidence. See M.R.Evid. 403; State v. Hurd, 360 A.2d 525, 527 n. 5 (Me.1976).
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
All concurring.