Opinion ID: 2821480
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admission of Videos and Photographs

Text: Hodges contends the district court abused its discretion by admitting videos found on a computer as well as photographs produced from them because the evidence was neither authenticated nor relevant. The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the videos and photographs produced from the videos. First, the Government properly authenticated the videos and photographs. See Fed. R. Evid. 901(a) (explaining before being admitted, evidentiary items must be properly authenticated by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the item is what the proponent claims it is). The Government presented evidence sufficient to establish that the videos and photographs were what the Government claimed they were: videos retrieved from the seized computer or external hard drive founds in Hodges’ house and photographs produced from the videos. Two witnesses with knowledge testified as to the contents and the circumstances of discovery of the videos and photographs. 7 Case: 14-11994 Date Filed: 07/29/2015 Page: 8 of 13 The contents of the videos and photographs also support a finding they were taken from a computer or external hard drive found in Hodges’ house. Second, the evidence was admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). The video showing Hodges sitting beside what appears to be marijuana and a digital scale and the video showing marijuana displayed alongside cash, a digital scale, and guns were relevant to Hodges’ intent to distribute the marijuana found in the house. The remaining video was relevant to Hodges’ intent to exercise control over the guns found outside. The photographs produced from the videos were relevant for the same reasons.