Opinion ID: 2996468
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Two photographs

Text: Trial courts have broad discretion to admit or exclude evidence, and we review the district court’s decision to admit trial evidence under an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Spiller, 261 F.3d 683, 688 (7th Cir. 2001). Defendants maintain that the district court abused its discretion in allowing two photographs to be entered as government exhibits which unfairly prejudiced certain defendants. The first was a photograph recovered during the search of Souffront’s apartment which showed Souffront, Martinez, and a third individual, all holding handguns. The second was a twelve-year-old photograph recovered during a search of Martinez’s residence which was taken at the Pontiac Correctional Institution in 1986 showing Colon, who is giving a Latin Kings gang sign with his hand in the photograph, Martinez, and Escobar, along with several other unidentified males. Taped to the top of this photograph are the words “Arriba la Gente,” translated as “Long live the Nation.”7 Taped to the bottom is the word “Gunmen.” Although defendants objected at trial to the admission of the photographs under FED. R. EVID. 403, the district court admitted the photographs as relevant evidence to establish the association between codefendants and their propensity towards violence. The first photograph shows that there is some type of relationship between Souffront and Martinez and that they are familiar and at ease with handguns. The second photograph indicates Colon, Martinez, and Escobar were all criminals with possible gang affiliation who had been incarcerated together, and are identified as gunmen and supporters of the “Nation.” 7 Another photograph, which was not contested by defendants, was of Colon wearing a belt buckle showing the initials ALKN, for the “Almighty Latin King Nation.” Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 21 The photographs were therefore relevant and probative of the allegations in the indictment. Defendants renew their argument that the photographs should have been excluded under Rule 403, which provides, “Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” The court must consider whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial value. See Cook v. Hoppin, 783 F.2d 684, 689 (7th Cir. 1986). However, evidence of gang membership has been admissible in cases where the interplay between the people is central to proving the elements of the conspiracy. See United States v. Thomas, 86 F.3d 647, 652 (7th Cir. 1996). While it is true that all probative evidence is prejudicial to the party against whom it is introduced, in this case the prejudice was not unfair. See United States v. Adames, 56 F.3d 737, 742 (7th Cir. 1995). The photographs of the defendants are not sufficiently shocking or repulsive to necessarily elicit an emotional response from the jury. See id.; see also United States v. Peters, 791 F.2d 1270, 1294 (7th Cir. 1986) (finding that evidence is unfairly prejudicial if it arouses a sense of horror or produces an emotional response that would cause the jury to base its decision on something other than the evidence), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in United States v. Guerrero, 894 F.2d 261, 267 (7th Cir. 1990). Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the photographs into evidence.