Opinion ID: 691979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: claim of improper impeachment evidence

Text: 55 Yarbrough contends that the district court erroneously ruled that, if he elected to testify, then the government would be allowed to impeach him with evidence of an unrelated capital murder conviction. Yarbrough did not testify. 56 Rule 609(a)(1) provides that evidence that an accused has been convicted of a crime punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year shall be admitted if the court finds that the probative value of admitting this evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to the accused. The court below, on the record, referenced the proper analysis before denying the defendant's request. No abuse of discretion has been shown. See United States v. Turner, 960 F.2d 461, 465 (5th Cir.1992) (trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing government to establish on cross-examination that defendant had been convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, burglary of a habitation, and possession of a deadly weapon in a penal institution); United States v. Barnes, 622 F.2d 107, 109 (5th Cir.1980) (The conviction [for heroin possession] was relevant as evidence of the defendant's criminal nature from which the jury could infer a propensity to falsify testimony.). 17