Opinion ID: 517671
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: PRIOR BAD ACT EVIDENCE. (Marin)

Text: 47 Marin argues that the district court erred in allowing into evidence testimony that he had been involved in drug transactions with Thomas Mario Palis and Karen Bordonaro for a period of time prior to the occurrence of the transactions at issue here. Evidence that Marin distributed drugs in the past is evidence of prior bad acts and is not admissible to prove that because Marin was involved in illegal activity in the past, he is guilty of the current charges. See Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) and United States v. Lanier, 838 F.2d 281, 285 (8th Cir.1988) (per curiam). The government contends that the evidence is admissible, however, to prove identity, intent, knowledge or as res gestae evidence. See Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). 48 Evidence of prior bad acts is admissible when it is relevant to an issue in question other than the character of the defendant, there is sufficient evidence to support a finding by the jury that the defendant committed the prior act, and the potential unfair prejudice does not substantially outweigh the probative value of the evidence. Huddleston v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 1496, 1502, 99 L.Ed.2d 771 (1988). This circuit views Rule 404(b) as a rule generally of inclusion, and a trial court's broad discretion in admitting wrongful act evidence will not be disturbed unless the defendant can show that the proof in question clearly had no bearing upon any of the issues involved. United States v. Estabrook, 774 F.2d 284, 287 (8th Cir.1985). 49 Here, knowledge, intent and identity were material issues both because these are essential elements of the crime and because the defense was a general denial. See United States v. Burkett, 821 F.2d 1306, 1309 (8th Cir.1987) and United States v. Gilmore, 730 F.2d 550, 554 (8th Cir.1984). Additionally, identity became a contested issue when defense counsel cross-examined the witnesses identifications of Marin's voice. The government certainly was entitled to use evidence of prior dealings with Marin to lay a foundation for such identification and to show the course of conduct leading to the events which form the basis of the crime charged and is admissible on these grounds. United States v. Robbins, 613 F.2d 688, 694 (8th Cir.1979). The proffered evidence was relevant to the issues and related to wrongdoing similar in kind. See United States v. Weber, 818 F.2d 14, 15 (8th Cir.1987). 50 There is sufficient evidence to support a finding by the jury that the defendant committed the similar act and the potential for unfair prejudice does not clearly outweigh the probative weight of the evidence. The court gave an instruction properly limiting the use of such evidence. We therefore affirm the district court's admission of the prior bad act evidence.