Opinion ID: 551809
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Suppression of Weapons as Evidence

Text: 14 Decisions regarding the relevancy of evidence are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Lee, 847 F.2d 531, 534 (9th Cir.1988); United States v. Gwaltney, 790 F.2d 1378, 1382. 15 In United States v. Martin, 599 F.2d 880, 889 (9th Cir.1979), and United States v. Crespo de Llano, 838 F.2d 1006, 1018 (9th Cir.1987), we held that possession of firearms can be relevant to show involvement in the narcotics trade. Three of the firearms at issue were found in a storage locker that was under Watson's control. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the firearms found in Watson's storage locker as evidence of Watson's involvement in the selling of narcotics. 16 The nine-millimeter gun discovered in the bedroom of Watson's roommate, however, was not relevant and should not have been admitted as evidence against Watson. Nonetheless, given that four other weapons were properly before the jury as evidence against Watson, the district court's decision to admit the nine-millimeter gun was harmless. 28 U.S.C. 2111; Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(a). 17 AFFIRMED.