Opinion ID: 773307
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Snitch Witnesses

Text: 23 The defendants challenge the admission of the testimony of two cooperating witnesses, Quincy Burrell and Terence Hampton, as irrelevant, unreliable, and substantially more prejudicial than probative. They further contend that the government failed to give proper Rule 404(b) notice of this testimony. The district court admitted the testimony as relevant to the defendants' motive and to provide the context and details of the plan to kill Ross. 24 A district court's admission of evidence is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Davis, 154 F.3d 772, 778 (8th Cir. 1998). We give deference to the district court's decision concerning the prejudicial effect and the probative value of evidence. Id. at 780. Questions of the reliability and consistency of witness testimony are within the province of the jury. United States v. Aguayo- Delgado, 220 F.3d 926, 935 (8th Cir. 2000). 25 Burrell had first-hand knowledge of the St. Joseph robbery and testified about admissions Peoples made to him regarding the Omaha robberies, although he was unsure of the exact dates of the Omaha robberies. Our review of the record satisfies us that the government introduced sufficient evidence that Burrell's testimony related to the robberies for which Rule 404(b) notice was given to the defendants. Because his testimony was relevant and reliable and because its probative value substantially outweighed any danger of unfair prejudice, it was properly admitted. 26 Hampton testified that Lightfoot had offered to sell him items taken in the Omaha robberies and that he had previously purchased stolen jewelry from Lightfoot. Lightfoot argues that this testimony was an improper bolstering of the witness's testimony and was unfairly prejudicial and irrelevant to the conduct charged. The testimony, however, was necessary to explain the nature of Hampton's relationship with Lightfoot and the source of Hampton's knowledge about the robbery. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that Hampton's testimony was probative and was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.