Opinion ID: 625309
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admission of Prior Conviction for Possession of a Machine Gun

Text: Stroud argues that the district court abused its discretion in admitting into evidence his prior conviction for possession of a machine gun. We review evidentiary rulings of the district court for abuse of discretion, and will reverse a district court's decision to admit evidence under 404(b) only if such evidence `had no bearing on the case and was introduced solely to prove the defendant's propensity to commit criminal acts.' United States v. Cowling, 648 F.3d 690, 699 (8th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). Evidence of prior convictions is not permissible to prove that a defendant acted in conformity with a propensity to commit acts of that type, but may be admissible for other purposes, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). The evidence must be (1) relevant to a material issue; (2) similar in kind and not overly remote in time to the crime charged; (3) supported by sufficient evidence; and (4) higher in probative value than prejudicial effect. United States v. Walker, 470 F.3d 1271, 1274 (8th Cir.2006) (quoting United States v. Strong, 415 F.3d 902, 905 (8th Cir. 2005)). Stroud argues that his prior conviction is not relevant to a material issue, is not similar in kind and is too remote in time, and is not more probative than prejudicial. We disagree, for the prior conviction for possession of a machine gun is relevant to Stroud's familiarity with and knowledge that he possessed a firearm, which is an element of the offense and therefore material. Evidence that a defendant possessed a firearm on a previous occasion is relevant to show knowledge and intent. . . . Walker, 470 F.3d at 1274 (citing Strong, 415 F.3d at 905). The conviction for possession of a machine gun is also sufficiently similar to the current offense and close enough in time to meet our standards of reasonableness. See Walker, 470 F.3d 1271 (upholding admission of an 18 year-old conviction for armed robbery in a felon in possession case); Strong, 415 F.3d at 905-06 (upholding admission of 16 year-old conviction for robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm). Stroud's previous conviction for possession of a machine gun also involved illegal possession of a firearm and occurred in 1998, less than seven years before the acts at issue in this case. Finally, the admission of Stroud's prior conviction was more probative than prejudicial. The district court's determination that the probative value of the evidence outweighed any prejudice is afforded substantial deference, and a limiting instruction diminishes the danger of unfair prejudice arising from the admission of the evidence. Walker, 470 F.3d at 1275 (citations omitted). Here, the prior conviction was relevant to an element of the offense, Stroud's knowledge of his possession of the firearm, and the district court instructed the jury regarding the purposes for which the evidence could be considered. Thus, the admission of Stroud's prior conviction for possession of a machine gun was not an abuse of discretion.