Opinion ID: 685669
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence of Franchi's Prior Conviction

Text: 25 Lorenzo argues that he should have been allowed to use Franchi's 1981 felony conviction for impeachment purposes. The district court found the conviction time-barred pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 609(b). The resolution of this question calls for construction of the Federal Rules of Evidence and is therefore subject to de novo review. United States v. Cuozzo, 962 F.2d 945, 947 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 978, 113 S.Ct. 475, 121 L.Ed.2d 381 (1992). 26 Franchi was convicted of a felony in December of 1981 and sentenced to probation. The indictment against Lorenzo was returned in May, 1992, ten years and five months after Franchi's conviction. Lorenzo argues that the government's investigation of him was complete in September, 1990, however, and that the period from then until the date of indictment should have been tolled. If that period had been tolled, Franchi's prior conviction would have been admissible under Rule 609(b). 27 Lorenzo relies upon United States v. Mullins, 562 F.2d 999 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 906, 98 S.Ct. 1452, 55 L.Ed.2d 496 (1978), to support his argument. This reliance is misplaced. In Mullins the defendant fled after being indicted. Two years later he was apprehended and tried. The Fifth Circuit held that a prior conviction, which at the time of trial was more than ten years old, but which would have been less than ten years old at the time of his trial had he not fled, could be used as impeachment evidence. The court found that it would not allow a criminal to benefit by fleeing his trial: By his voluntary wrongful act, he cannot gain the protection of Rule 609(b), which otherwise he would not have had. 562 F.2d at 1000. The court analogized the situation to 18 U.S.C. § 3290, in which Congress stated: No statute of limitations shall extend to any person fleeing from justice. 562 F.2d at 1000. In contrast, there is no allegation in this case that the government acted unlawfully or in badfaith. Rather, the indictment was delayed because Franchi was still involved in undercover operations. Accordingly, we hold that the evidence of Franchi's prior conviction was properly excluded.