Opinion ID: 492349
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony Regarding Defendants' Prior Imprisonment

Text: 54 Appellants argue that the district court erred in denying their motion for mistrial after the government witness, Montaner, testified that defendants Impemba and Carvajal met at the Federal Penitentiary. We disagree. 55 Prior to the start of the second day of trial, defense counsel made an anticipatory objection to prohibit any testimony regarding Impemba and Carvajal having previously met while incarcerated. The court ruled that under Federal Rule of Evidence 403 the prejudicial effect of such evidence outweighed any possible probative value it might have. The United States attorney instructed the witness on two occasions to omit that reference. 56 The trial involved 21 days of testimony during a seven week period. On the second day of trial, the government's witness, Montaner, began his testimony. When Montaner testified they met up ..., appellants objected and a bench conference ensued. The court overruled the objection and directed that the question be re-read. The prosecutor asked the witness if he was finished, and he replied, May I have a second with counsel? Can I? Defense counsel objected and the witness' request was denied. Montaner then said, The answer, should I continue? That he also told me that he knew Guido and he met him at the Federal Penitentiary. Defense counsel immediately moved for a mistrial, which was denied. The court found that Montaner had become confused and that there had been no deliberate introduction of prior bad acts. The trial judge gave explicit curative instructions telling the jury to completely disregard the testimony, and then repeated the instructions two other times that day. The record indicates that in a poll of the jury, only half of the jury had heard Montaner's statement. 57 We agree with the district court that the government's evidence of prior incarceration was inadmissible due to its highly prejudicial character. The issue here is whether it was necessary to retry the case or whether a cautionary instruction was adequate. To require a new trial, we must conclude that, despite the trial judge's instructions, Montaner's reference to prior incarceration was likely to have affected the jury verdict. United States v. Johnston, 784 F.2d 416, 424 (1st Cir.1986) (comments by government witness at trial of defendants charged with conspiracy to import marijuana, that defendants were involved in other deals, was cured by cautionary instructions; any remaining prejudice could not have affected outcome). We must examine the context of the improper remark, whether it was deliberate or accidental, the likely effect of the curative instruction, and the strength of the evidence against the appellants. United States v. Capone, 683 F.2d 582, 586 (1st Cir.1982) (prosecutor's closing remarks were improper but did not require reversal). 58 First, Montaner's comment was isolated. It was the only reference made to the defendants' prior incarceration during a seven week trial and Montaner's testimony itself comprised the majority of it. See United States v. Johnston, supra; United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310 U.S. 150, 60 S.Ct. 811, 84 L.Ed. 1129 (1939); United States v. Capone, supra, 683 F.2d at 586. 59 Second, as the trial court found, Montaner's remark was inadvertent and does not seem to have been made in bad faith. Nor did the prosecutor deliberately elicit this remark. United States v. Capone, supra, 683 F.2d at 586. 60 Third, the trial judge gave a strong, explicit cautionary instruction to completely disregard the statement. This instruction was sufficient to counteract prejudice that may have flowed from Montaner's remark. United States v. Johnston, supra, 784 F.2d at 425. 61 Finally, any remaining prejudice could not have affected the outcome of this case. The evidence against the two defendants 10 was very strong if the jury believed Montaner. His testimony was detailed, basically consistent, and corroborated by government surveillance and documents. 11 The jury's verdicts could hardly have been the result of Montaner's isolated remark, but rather were based upon lengthy testimony and a reasonable belief that Montaner was credible. United States v. Johnston, supra, 784 F.2d at 425; see also United States v. Capone, supra, 683 F.2d at 587. We therefore find that Montaner's remark about prior incarceration did not prejudice appellants Impemba and Carvajal.