Opinion ID: 513484
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Kinslow's Prior Criminal Record.

Text: 30 Kinslow contends that the government should not have been permitted to cross-examine him regarding his 1978 murder convictions, a past escape from a Wyoming jail, and a prior conviction for armed robbery. The testimony regarding the 1978 murder convictions was introduced by Kinslow on direct examination and was plainly reflected in the indictment. Moreover, the jury received a limiting instruction on the use of this evidence. Thus, the admission of this evidence was not an abuse of discretion. 31 The questions relating to Kinslow's escape from a Wyoming jail were permissible to rebut Kinslow's testimony on direct examination that he was not a desperate man out to do any harm. Finally, the evidence of Kinslow's prior robbery conviction was proper impeachment under Federal Rule of Evidence 609, which authorizes impeachment by convictions involving dishonesty or false statement. Fed.R.Evid. 609. We have held that armed robbery is a crime that involves dishonesty and is thus always relevant to the question of a defendant's credibility. United States v. Oaxaca, 569 F.2d 518, 527 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 926, 99 S.Ct. 310, 58 L.Ed.2d 319 (1978). Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the government to cross-examine Kinslow on his prior conviction for robbery.