Opinion ID: 1124360
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Use of Sears credit card

Text: During trial, the State sought to introduce evidence that Rippo had used Lizzi's Sears credit card after the date of the murders. [10] Rippo objected, and following a Petrocelli hearing outside the presence of the jury, the evidence was admitted. See Petrocelli v. State, 101 Nev. 46, 692 P.2d 503 (1985) (before district court may admit evidence of an independent bad act, it must conduct a hearing outside the jury's presence, during which the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant committed the act, and the district court must determine that the evidence is admissible and balance its probative value and prejudicial effect). Rippo argues that the district court abused its discretion in allowing testimony regarding Rippo's use of the Sears credit card. During the Petrocelli hearing, the State introduced a credit card receipt from Sears and the testimony of Carlos Caipa, the sales manager at Sears. Caipa testified that a man resembling Rippo purchased several items with a credit card bearing Lizzi's name. Upon review of the arguments in the record, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence. See Cipriano v. State, 111 Nev. 534, 541, 894 P.2d 347, 352 (1995) (whether to admit or exclude evidence of other wrongs, crimes, or bad acts is within the trial court's discretion). The evidence is relevant to show Rippo's connection with the victims and the scene of the crime, and it tends to prove Rippo's motive of robbery. See NRS 48.045(2) (Evidence of other crimes is admissible to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.). In addition, we conclude that this evidence is more probative than prejudicial. See Armstrong v. State, 110 Nev. 1322, 1323, 885 P.2d 600, 601 (1994) (district court must weigh the probative value of the proffered evidence against its prejudicial effect).