Opinion ID: 701770
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Purpose for Admission

Text: 43 Next, Pierce claims that the district court improperly admitted his previous crimes under Rule 404(b). Rule 404(b) only bars evidence of 'prior bad acts,' such as a criminal conviction, that are offered to show criminal disposition or propensity. If the evidence has an independent purpose, its admission is not prohibited by Rule 404(b). See Ushery, 968 F.2d at 580. In this case, the government explained that it sought to introduce the evidence under Rule 404(b) for the following two reasons: (1) to show that Tackett's motive to burn the Church was to keep in Pierce's good graces; and (2) to show that Pierce utilized his economic control over Tackett to make him burn the Church. 44 At trial, the government developed a theory that presented Tackett as financially dependent upon Pierce. Pierce allegedly wanted the Church burned down. The only way for the government to prove Tackett's motive and Pierce's intent was to establish their relationship. 45 This case closely parallels our decision in United States v. White, 788 F.2d 390 (6th Cir.1986). In White, four men conspired and set fire to an African-American family's house in their Tennessee neighborhood. The district court allowed prior bad acts to come in against two defendants who were tried together, White and Castile. Id. at 393. At White and Castile's trial, the district court admitted evidence of check kiting and fraudulent credit card transactions. The Sixth Circuit affirmed on the basis that these activities went to motive. Id. at 393. White's willingness to submit phony American Express charges for Castile tends to explain why Castile would be asked and would--without pay--want to help White with his 'problem.'  Id. 46 Rule 404(b) does not prevent the government from establishing how members of a conspiracy are related, solely because doing so would include evidence of prior criminal activities. Rule 404 prohibits such introduction only when the acts are being introduced to show propensity or conformity with past criminal activity. The crimes of theft and trafficking stolen property do not show a propensity to commit arson. Accordingly, this evidence is permissible under Rule 404(b) to establish Tackett's motive and Pierce's intent.