Opinion ID: 710261
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the evidence was relevant;

Text: 66 (3) the trial court made a Fed.R.Evid. 403 determination that the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by its potential for unfair prejudice; and 67 (4) the district court submitted a limiting instruction. 68 Id.; Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 691-92, 108 S.Ct. 1496, 1502, 99 L.Ed.2d 771 (1988). Boyle and Van Pelt assert error only as to the first and third of these requirements--namely, that the prior bad acts evidence was admitted for an improper purpose and that it was unfairly prejudicial under Rule 403. We address these arguments in turn. 69 First, we believe the district court admitted the challenged evidence for a proper purpose. At trial, Boyle and Van Pelt disavowed any criminal intent in connection with the drug conspiracy. They also disputed any ownership or control over the drugs or other contraband. The government thus sought to demonstrate appellants' intent and plan by showing their continued involvement since the late 1970s in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy operating out of Kansas. The testimony of Stewart, Heberly and Conn was admitted for this limited purpose, and the jury was instructed to consider it only in this manner. Our previous cases recognize the probative value of uncharged acts evidence to demonstrate a criminal defendant's intent and plan in the context of a conspiracy prosecution. See United States v. Record, 873 F.2d 1363, 1375 (10th Cir.1989) (collecting cases). We therefore agree with the district court that the evidence was properly admitted to show appellants' intent and plan. 70 Second, Boyle and Van Pelt argue that even if the evidence was admitted for a proper purpose under Rule 404(b), it nevertheless failed to satisfy the balancing test of Rule 403. 12 See United States v. Cuch, 842 F.2d 1173, 1176 (10th Cir.1988) (even if prior bad acts evidence satisfies Rule 404(b), trial court must still balance probative value and prejudicial effect under Rule 403). Specifically, appellants argue that because the incidents to which Stewart, Heberly and Conn testified were unduly remote in time to the crimes charged, the probative worth of the evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. 71 The admission of evidence under Rule 403 is reviewed only for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Rackstraw, 7 F.3d 1476, 1482 (10th Cir.1993). In considering the prejudicial effect of prior bad acts that are temporally remote, we have eschewed any  'absolute rule regarding the number of years that can separate offenses. Rather, the court applies a reasonableness standard and examines the facts and circumstances of each case.'  Cuch, 842 F.2d at 1178 (quoting United States v. Franklin, 704 F.2d 1183, 1189 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 845, 104 S.Ct. 146, 78 L.Ed.2d 137 (1983)). Applying this standard, we conclude that the proffered evidence is probative of a material issue and not unduly prejudicial. Although the bad acts testified to at trial occurred well before the offenses charged in the indictment, the prosecution used this testimony to show a long-standing pattern of drug activity from the late 1970s up until the time of appellants' arrest in 1990. Viewed in this light, the evidence is not unrelated and remote, but is integrally related to the criminal activity charged in the indictment. See United States v. Record, 873 F.2d 1363, 1372 n. 5 (10th Cir.1989) (uncharged prior acts that are inextricably intertwined with the charged crime are admissible); United States v. Misle Bus & Equip. Co., 967 F.2d 1227, 1234-35 (8th Cir.1992) (admission of historical evidence concerning conspiracy did not violate Rule 403 even though it predated the limitations period and was remote in time). Accordingly, we reject appellants' claim that the district court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence. 72