Opinion ID: 2550501
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Use of minute order to show predisposition

Text: Warren argues that the district court abused its discretion by permitting the State to use a certified minute order of his California conviction to show predisposition if he presented an entrapment defense. Specifically, he argues that the minute order was inaccurate and that the State had no proof that he was the person referenced in the minute order. Warren further contends that the court's ruling precluded him from presenting his intended defense and from testifying at trial. We conclude that substantial evidence demonstrates that Warren was the individual referenced in the minute order and that the certified minute order was proper evidence of predisposition in rebuttal to an entrapment defense. In Foster v. State , we determined that raising an entrapment defense places a defendant's character directly in issue for purposes of NRS 48.055. [27] Under NRS 48.055, proof of specific instances of a defendant's prior conduct may be used when character is an essential element of the defense. [28] The statute does not limit the manner in which specific instances of prior conduct may be evidenced. Thus, we hold that the State's intended use of a certified minute order of Warren's prior conviction in California was an appropriate method to show predisposition. Also in Foster, this court outlined a three-part analysis to be used by courts in determining whether evidence of a prior conviction should be admitted to show predisposition to rebut an entrapment defense: (1) the other crime is of a similar character to the offense on which the defendant is being tried; (2) the other crime is not too remote in time from the offense charged; and (3) the probative value of the other crime is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. [29] Substantial evidence supports the district court's express or implied findings on all three factors. We therefore hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion by permitting the State to use the minute order to show predisposition if Warren presented an entrapment defense.