Opinion ID: 758679
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Extraneous Offense Evidence Against Gage

Text: 209 Gage argues that the district court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of extraneous offenses under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). The government was allowed to introduce evidence that on August 23, 1992, Louisiana officers stopped Kelvin Jackquet's sister for traffic violations. The Chevrolet van she was driving had been rented by Gage. While the officers were talking to her, a Chevrolet Corvette in which Gage was a passenger pulled up. Gage told the officers that he was traveling with the van. A search of the van recovered a black tote bag containing $24,985. The government also introduced the testimony of Tom Burgess that in November of 1992 he delivered 30 kilograms of cocaine to Gage, as well as recorded telephone conversations from December of 1992 in which Gage, Burgess, and others discussed the purchase of cocaine by Gage. 210 Gage concedes that evidence of extraneous offenses is admissible if relevant to an issue other than the defendant's character. He also concedes that a defendant's plea of not guilty in a criminal case raises the issue of intent allowing the government to use evidence of extrinsic acts to prove the defendant's intent. He contends, however, that the district court abused its discretion in admitting this extraneous offense evidence without considering that other evidence had already been admitted to establish his intent. See United States v. Roberts, 619 F.2d 379, 383 (5th Cir.1980) (stating that the district court must consider 'the extent to which the defendant's unlawful intent is established by other evidence'  (quoting United States v. Beechum, 582 F.2d 898, 914 (5th Cir.1978) (en banc ))). In this case the district court did just that. In an order entered on July 8, 1993, the court concluded that the evidence the government sought to offer was relevant to the issue of Gage's intent and that, notwithstanding Gage's overkill argument, such evidence would not unduly prejudice Gage. The district court also minimized the risk of undue prejudice by twice giving a detailed limiting instruction that the extraneous evidence was only to be considered to show Gage's intent. The district court carefully complied with the requirements of Beechum, and we find no error in the court's rulings. 211