Opinion ID: 3001171
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bailey’s Presence at the Drug Sales

Text: Bailey also appeals the district court’s decision to admit testimony that Bailey accompanied Williams on trips to Mickle’s father’s house for drug sales. John T. Williams testified that Bailey would accompany Shane Williams to purchase crack cocaine from Mickle. He said that Bailey would wait in the car, rather than join Williams inside because, as a Vice Lord, he was unwelcome in the home of a Black Disciple’s father. On appeal, Bailey argues that this evidence was not probative of the conspiracy and that it was unduly prejudicial. Bailey characterizes his behavior as innocent and argues that it shows no involvement in the drug conspiracy. 18 Nos. 07-1182, 07-1190 & 07-1191 Federal Rule of Evidence 402 provides that all relevant evidence is admissible. FED. R. EVID. 402. Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” FED. R. EVID. 401. Where the admitted evidence fills a “chronological and conceptual void” in the government’s case, it is relevant. United States v. Pulido, 69 F.3d 192, 202 (7th Cir. 1995) (quoting United States v. Vretta, 790 F.2d 651, 656 (7th Cir. 1986)). A district court can exclude relevant evidence “if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” FED. R. EVID. 403. Unfair prejudice occurs if the evidence “will induce the jury to decide the case on an improper basis, commonly an emotional one, rather than on the evidence presented.” Pulido, 69 F.3d at 202 (quoting Vretta, 790 F.2d at 655). This calculus falls squarely in the lap of the district court. This Court will disturb the district court’s decision to admit evidence only when it abuses its discretion. Id. at 201. The district court properly admitted the testimony. The fact that Bailey waited in the car was relevant to Bailey’s involvement in Williams’ drug purchases. The evidence established that Bailey was not unfamiliar with Williams’ frequent visits to Mickle’s father’s home to purchase crack, which was the nature of the alleged conspiracy. Bailey is correct that sitting in the car and occasionally knocking on the door are otherwise innocent behavior. Mere presence does not prove a conspiracy. United States v. Saadeh, 61 F.3d 510, 525 (7th Cir. 1995). But when viewed in the context of Williams’ drug purchases, this evidence is certainly relevant. Bailey’s presence shows both an association between Bailey and Williams’ illicit business and that Williams trusted Bailey enough to bring him along. Though not conclusive, Bailey’s presence at these drug deals makes the existence of the conspiracy Nos. 07-1182, 07-1190 & 07-1191 19 “more probable.” In addition, the evidence was not unfairly prejudicial. The prejudice that results from Bailey’s presence at Williams’ drug purchases is pretty clear. However, the testimony was unlikely to cause the jury to convict the defendant on an impermissible or emotional basis. It would not be irrational for a jury to conclude that Bailey was part of an ongoing conspiracy to distribute drugs based, in part, on his presence in the car during Williams’ purchases. We therefore find no error in the district court’s conclusion and affirm Bailey’s conviction.