Opinion ID: 599011
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence of Informant's Prior Conviction

Text: 39 Rodriguez asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to permit the introduction of Huaro's previous drug conviction which occurred in 1975. Rodriguez contends that this conviction was relevant as affecting Huaro's credibility and that its probative value substantially outweighed any prejudicial effect. 40 As a general rule, evidence of a conviction over ten years old is inadmissible. However, as this court indicated in United States v. Jefferson, 925 F.2d 1242, 1250 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 238, 116 L.Ed.2d 194 and cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 239, 116 L.Ed.2d 194 (1991), the district court has discretion to permit the introduction of convictions which fall outside of the ten year period if the court determines, in the interests of justice, that the probative value of the conviction supported by specific facts and circumstances substantially outweighs its prejudicial effect. Fed.R.Evid. 609(b), 28 U.S.C. 41 Huaro's conviction occurred more than sixteen years prior to this trial, making the conviction too remote to relate to his present credibility. Further, no specific facts or circumstances indicate that the probative value of this evidence would substantially outweigh its prejudicial effect. We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding evidence of Huaro's prior conviction.