Opinion ID: 2094056
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: reference to gang membership

Text: Finally, Myers argues that the district court erred in failing to sustain his motion in limine in regard to gang references. Prior to trial, Myers moved in limine to keep the State from introducing evidence or testimony relating to gangs or gang activity, specifically the 19th Street gangs or the Murder Town Gangsters. Myers claims that the evidence was irrelevant, that the prejudicial effect to Myers far outweighed any probative value, and that any prejudice could not be corrected by instructing the jury. At trial, police officers for the city of Omaha testified that Myers and members of the Murder Town Gangsters were under investigation. Certain individuals who had participated in the intercepted telephone conversations testified to gang-related references in the telephone conversations. For instance, the number 19 entered into a pager meant 19th Street to a member of the Murder Town Gangsters. Myers asserts that the nature and quantity of the gang evidence served merely to inflame the jury and was not necessary to the State's case. Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-401 (Reissue 1995). Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-403 (Reissue 1995) excludes relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. The State argues that evidence regarding gang membership played a much greater role and was relevant in the overall scheme of the trial. We agree. The evidence established that Myers would sell drugs only to members of his own gang. Myers' nephew testified that the people to whom Myers sold were members of a gang called the 19th Street Murder Town Gangsters. Surveillance of Myers' residence confirmed that not everyone who sought entry was allowed inside even though Myers was observed to be present in the residence. Some members of the gang testified they could reach Myers by dialing his pager number and entering the number 19. The record establishes that the people who associated with Myers were in the same gang and were the people with whom Myers did business. We conclude that the evidence of Myers' gang-related activities is relevant. Generally, the evidence which the State offers against a criminal defendant is prejudicial. The issue is whether the evidence was unfairly prejudicial. We conclude that the evidence regarding Myers' gang-related activity did not create an undue prejudice. His gang affiliation was part of the drug-dealing activities and conspiracy which were under investigation by police. Evidence established that Myers did business only with gang members. Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting testimony regarding Myers' activity within the gang.