Opinion ID: 496615
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: evidence of prior illegal conduct

Text: 35 Woolbright's final contention is that the trial court erred in admitting, under Rule 404(b), the testimony of Deputy Sheriff Joseph McWilliams of the Los Angeles County Police Department. McWilliams testified about the circumstances surrounding his December 20, 1984, arrest of Woolbright in California for possession of cocaine. 36 The district court may admit evidence of past crimes or bad acts relevant to any issue at trial other than propensity. United States v. Simons, 767 F.2d 524, 526 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1013, 106 S.Ct. 545, 88 L.Ed.2d 474 (1985); Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). To be admissible (1) the evidence of the bad act must be admissible on a material issue raised; (2) the evidence must be similar in kind and reasonably close to the charge at trial; (3) the evidence of the other crime or bad act must be clear and convincing; and (4) the probative value of the evidence must not be outweighed by its prejudice. United States v. Marshall, 683 F.2d 1212, 1215 (8th Cir.1982) (citations omitted). The district court has broad discretion under Rule 404(b). United States v. Mays, 822 F.2d 793, 797 (8th Cir.1987); United States v. Paul, 810 F.2d 774, 776 (8th Cir.1987) (citation omitted). 37 McWilliams testified that Woolbright was in possession of cocaine, ledger sheets indicative of recorded drug transactions, and was traveling under an alias when arrested. This evidence was admissible on the material issue of intent, see 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1), and relevant to refuting Woolbright's contention of mistake. See United States v. Miller, 725 F.2d 462, 466 (8th Cir.1984) (when intent is an element of the crime or crimes charged, evidence of other acts tending to establish that element is generally admissible) (citation omitted); United States v. Fuel, 583 F.2d 978, 988-89 (8th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1127, 99 S.Ct. 1044, 59 L.Ed.2d 88 (1979). 38 McWilliams' testimony concerned an offense identical in nature to the offense here and was established by clear and convincing evidence. The passage of seventeen months between the arrests, although not a short time, does not make the earlier incident inadmissible. Finally, we hold the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the danger of undue prejudice was outweighed by the probative value of this evidence. See generally Paul, 810 F.2d at 776-77; Llach v. United States, 739 F.2d 1322, 1327 (8th Cir.1984); Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) Advisory Committee's note subdivision (b). 39 McWilliams' identification of the white powder in Woolbright's possession as cocaine was properly admitted under Rule 702 based on McWilliams' experience and training. The fact that Woolbright's conviction stemming from the 1984 arrest was on appeal at the time of this trial was irrelevant to the admissibility of McWilliams' testimony. Cf. Drummond v. United States, 350 F.2d 983, 990 (8th Cir.1965), cert. denied, 384 U.S. 944, 86 S.Ct. 1469, 15 L.Ed.2d 542 (1966); Newman v. United States, 331 F.2d 968, 973 (8th Cir.1964), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 975, 85 S.Ct. 672, 13 L.Ed.2d 566 (1965); Fed.R.Evid. 609(e). 40 The judgment of conviction is affirmed.