Opinion ID: 2967475
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of Evidence of Oles' Flight

Text: Bollin further contends that the district court abused its discretion by excluding evidence that co-defendant Stephen Oles absconded. Bollin argues that the evidence of Oles' flight would have shown Oles to be a man who manipulated Bollin into participating in the events in this case, and would have been highly probative of Bollin's intent. Although a co-defendant's flight may be relevant to show the guilt of that defendant, see United States v. Porter, 821 F.2d 968 (4th Cir. 1987), it does not tend to show that another defendant is innocent, at least not where, as here, there can be more than one guilty party. See United States v. Ortland, 109 F.3d 539, 545 (9th Cir. 1997). Further, any probative value of Oles' flight was substantially outweighed by the danger of confusing the issues where Oles was not being tried with the rest of the defendants. See Fed. R. Evid. 403. The district court did not abuse its discretion.