Opinion ID: 689910
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony Regarding Addiction

Text: 22 At trial, McChristian offered the testimony of a Dr. Terrell that McChristian was a drug addict. Terrell's opinion was based on his interview with McChristian and investigative reports submitted to Terrell by defense counsel. Terrell also examined a videotape of the reverse sting police used to snare McChristian and Ingram. Terrell did not have McChristian's past medical records. On cross, the district court allowed the prosecutor to elicit a statement from Terrell that drug addicts may participate in drug conspiracies but are generally relegated to minor roles such as sampling or carrying drugs. 23 McChristian argues that this last testimony was improper. In support, McChristian cites to numerous cases holding that evidence that a particular defendant fits a drug courier profile is inadmissible to show the defendant's guilt or innocence, e.g., United States v. Lui, 941 F.2d 844, 847 (9th Cir.1991). McChristian also argues that Terrell's testimony fits within none of the exceptions to no-profile rule. E.g., United States v. Gomez-Norena, 908 F.2d 497, 501 (9th Cir.) (background material exception), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 947, 111 S.Ct. 363, 112 L.Ed.2d 326 (1990); United States v. White, 890 F.2d 1012, 1014 (8th Cir.1989) (modus operandi exception), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1010, 110 S.Ct. 3254, 111 L.Ed.2d 763 (1990); United States v. Beltran-Rios, 878 F.2d 1208, 1212 (9th Cir.1989) (allowing drug courier profile evidence in rebuttal). McChristian contends Terrell in effect testified that, because McChristian fit the profile of an addict in a drug conspiracy, he was part of the conspiracy. 24 We reject McChristian's arguments. Evidentiary rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Catabran, 836 F.2d 453, 456 (9th Cir.1988). Terrell did not mention drug courier profiles. No evidence shows he was qualified to testify as to drug courier profiles. Nor was Terrell asked whether drug addiction is a characteristic of a drug courier. Instead, he was asked the inverse: whether a drug addict could carry drugs or otherwise function in a drug conspiracy. Thus, the cited no-profile cases are inapposite. 25 Moreover, the prosecutor's question was not intended to show McChristian's guilt or innocence; rather, it was intended to preclude any argument by McChristian that he was innocent because he was a drug addict. McChristian admits that his entire defense was based ... on the argument ... that he was [present at the drug transaction] as a dependent drug addict hoping for some scraps of drugs to fall from the conspirator's drug table and not ... as a participant to or in the negotiation for purchase of drugs. Terrell was brought to testify in support of this defense. The prosecutor's question aimed to elicit testimony that McChristian had the capacity to participate in a drug conspiracy even though an addict. The question was related to Terrell's testimony on direct and went to the heart of McChristian's defense. For these reasons, Terrell's testimony was admissible.