Opinion ID: 1248940
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: recordings and transcripts

Text: At the pretrial hearing, the trial court noted that the recordings and transcripts contain information beyond the scope of the hearing, but did not believe that conversations contained in the recordings fit within the category of bad acts. However, the court asked the parties to get together and redact the recordings and transcripts. Despite any attempts to remove references to alleged prior bad acts, the transcripts that the jury read contained references to other bad acts or crimes committed by Aguilar that were not discussed at the 404 hearing. Prior bad act evidence is evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts, aside from the crime charged, which tend to prove the character of a person and to show that he or she acted in conformity therewith when committing the charged crime. State v. Canbaz, 259 Neb. 583, 611 N.W.2d 395 (2000). The tapes and transcripts contain past drug dealings involving purchases and distribution by Aguilar. The trial court overruled Aguilar's objection and did not give a limiting instruction. We conclude that the acts complained of are prior bad acts which would be subject to rule 404. We further conclude that the trial court erred in admitting the prior bad acts contained in the recordings and transcripts at issue, and particularly so in not giving a proper limiting instruction to the jury. The actions discussed by Aguilar were not proved outside of the presence of the jury by clear and convincing evidence. See, State v. Trotter, 262 Neb. 443, 632 N.W.2d 325 (2001); State v. Sanchez, 257 Neb. 291, 597 N.W.2d 361 (1999). Additionally, Aguilar requested, but never received, a proper rule 404 limiting instruction. Having determined that the trial court erred in admitting the transcripts in the manner described above, we now determine if this error is harmless. On each occasion that Rodriguez purchased drugs from Aguilar, Rodriguez was first searched by Mills and then provided money for the purchase. On each occasion, immediately after the purchase, Rodriguez returned to Mills, to whom he turned in the drugs and relayed what had occurred. On most of these occasions, Rodriguez was being directly observed by Mills for a portion of the time. Based on this evidence, we determine that the evidence properly admitted at trial overwhelmingly establishes Aguilar's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, we conclude that the error in admitting that portion of the tapes containing prior bad act evidence did not materially influence the jury in reaching its verdict and was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. As such, we determine that Aguilar's assignment of error as to receipt of the tapes is without merit.