Opinion ID: 1278942
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Burglary and terroristic threats

Text: Angus concedes that the burglary and terroristic threats incidents are shown by clear and convincing evidence. The admissibility of these two incidents turns on each incident's relevance and its probative value weighed against the danger of unfair prejudice. See Asfeld, 662 N.W.2d at 542; Minn. R. Evid. 403. Angus argues that the terroristic threats incident is not relevant to the state's case and that it is highly prejudicial, thereby failing the Spreigl test's fourth and fifth steps. We have held that to determine the relevance and admissibility of Spreigl evidence the district court should focus on the closeness of the relationship between the other crimes and the charged crimes in terms of time, place and modus operandi. The reason for this is that the closer the relationship, the greater is the relevance or probative value of the evidence and the lesser is the likelihood that the evidence will be used for an improper purpose. State v. Frisinger, 484 N.W.2d 27, 31 (Minn.1992) (internal citation omitted); see also State v. Profit, 591 N.W.2d 451, 461 (Minn.1999). There simply is no close relationship between making terroristic threats toward acquaintances and shooting a stranger on a bicycle. In the terroristic threats incident, Angus was accompanied by different companions, the victims were threatened with a gun but no one shot them, the victims were acquaintances and not strangers, and Angus clearly was in charge. The Basta shooting occurred 5 months later. Angus' companions were different, the evidence was that McNeill and not Angus directed the activities (McNeill testified that he decided where to drive and initiated the talk about who would have first blood, and that Stewart chose to be the shooter), all three talked equally about potentially shooting a person and this time Stewart followed through, and Basta was a stranger. Likewise, the burglary of an unoccupied home bears little relationship to a drive-by shooting. The state argues that the burglary was relevant to demonstrate that Angus would follow through on criminal behavior and not just fantasize about it. But using a criminal act to demonstrate a defendant's propensity to commit criminal acts is prohibited. Minn. R. Evid. 404(b). We conclude that on this record it was an abuse of discretion to admit evidence of the burglary and terroristic threats. Reversed and remanded for a new trial. ANDERSON, G. BARRY, J., not having been a member of this court at the time of the argument and submission, took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.