Opinion ID: 561861
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Other Evidence of Other Offenses.

Text: 13 Appellant's first contention on appeal is that the district court should not have admitted evidence of prior conduct of the appellant that tended to show (1) that the defendant assisted another person in bringing 100 pounds of phenylacetic acid from New Jersey to Arkansas; and (2) that the defendant offered to sell an amphetamine laboratory to an undercover agent approximately two months prior to the alleged offense. The trial court is given great latitude in ruling on the admissibility of prior bad acts and will not be overturned as long as (1) the evidence is relevant to an issue in question; (2) a jury could reasonably find, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant committed the prior acts; and (3) its probative value is not outweighed by potential unfair prejudice. See Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 689-90, 108 S.Ct. 1496, 1501-02, 99 L.Ed.2d 771 (1988); United States v. Schleicher, 862 F.2d 1320, 1322-23 (8th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1058, 109 S.Ct. 1326, 103 L.Ed.2d 594 (1989). 14 The evidence linking Burks to the phenylacetic acid purchase was adduced on cross-examination after Burks denied any involvement with narcotics. Additionally, rebuttal testimony by the Government's chemist revealed that phenylacetic acid is a precursor to amphetamines and is on the Drug Enforcement Administration watch list. Burks' denial of any involvement with amphetamines or narcotics reinforces the admissibility of the evidence in order to establish intent and knowledge to commit the crime charged. See United States v. Lewis, 759 F.2d 1316, 1349 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 994, 106 S.Ct. 406, 88 L.Ed.2d 357 (1985). 15 Burks' further denial of any association with the undercover officer could properly be rebutted by testimony of the officer as to the proposed sale of the laboratory. See United States v. Felix, 867 F.2d 1068 (8th Cir.1989). We fail to see any error on the part of the trial court in the admission of any of this evidence. 16