Opinion ID: 764743
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Other Acts by Carver

Text: 22 Carver argues that his conviction should be reversed because the district court improperly allowed the police to testify that he had been observed participating in drug transactions at 2622A West Medford Avenue on January 17, 1995, and that he was arrested that day. The district court admitted the evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) for the purpose of showing Carver's intent to join the conspiracy. We review the district court's determination for abuse of discretion, noting that [a]ppellants who challenge evidentiary rulings of the district court are like rich men who wish to enter the Kingdom: their prospects compare with those of camels who wish to pass through the eye of the needle. United States v. Emenogha, 1 F.3d 473, 477 (7th Cir.1993) (citing United States v. Glecier, 923, F.2d 496, 503 (7th Cir.1991)). See Matthew 19:24. Rule 404(b) states in pertinent part: 23 Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. 24 Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). Evidence of other acts is admissible under Rule 404(b) if: (1) it is directed toward establishing a matter other than the defendant's propensity to commit the crime, (2) the evidence was sufficient to support a jury finding that the defendant committed the similar act, (3) the other act is similar enough and close enough in time to be relevant to the matter in issue, and (4) the probative value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Emenogha, 1 F.3d at 478. See also United States v. Lewis, 110 F.3d 417, 420 (7th Cir.1997). In this case, the parties agree that the first three prongs have been met. The only issue is whether the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. 25 At the outset, we note that all probative evidence is prejudicial to the party against whom it is introduced. United States v. Adames, 56 F.3d 737, 742 (7th Cir.1995). Therefore, our focus must be on unfair prejudice. Id. Unfair prejudice refers to the capacity of some concededly relevant evidence to lure the factfinder into declaring guilt on a ground different from proof specific to the offense charged. See Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172, 180, 117 S.Ct. 644, 650, 136 L.Ed.2d 574 (1997). 26 In this case, evidence of Carver's activities at 2622A West Medford Avenue was probative of his intent to participate in the conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Moreover, the evidence in question was a drop in the fairly large bucket of evidence of Carver's involvement in drug trafficking. Thus, any prejudice was harmless. Also, the district judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence only for the purpose of determining Carver's intent. (Tr. vol. 18 at 2063.) This limiting instruction served to minimize the potential for prejudice. See Lewis, 110 F.3d at 420-21. For these reasons, the district judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting evidence of Carver's January 17, 1995 arrest.