Opinion ID: 2995304
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the evidence is directed toward

Text: establishing a matter in issue other than the defendant’s propensity to commit the crime charged, (2) the evidence shows that the other act is similar enough and close enough in time to be relevant to the matter in issue, (3) the evidence is sufficient to support a jury finding that the defendant committed the similar act, and (4) the evidence has probative value that is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Denberg, 212 F.3d at 992-93. Calhoun has failed to support his contention that the district court abused its discretion in admitting Officer Degenhardt’s testimony about the May 1999 seizure with case law, much less citation to the record. Calhoun contends that there is no identity of the seizure of the wine-making material with the assault. But this statement defies reasonable explanation. The government’s theory of the case was that Bogan and Calhoun were cellmates at the time Degen hardt seized the intoxicants in May 1999 and were upset that Degenhardt had once again thwarted their underground wine- making and selling enterprise. According to the government’s theory, Bogan and Calhoun hoped to prevent future interference by Degenhardt with a violent assault upon him. In other words, the May 1999 seizure explains Calhoun’s motive for beating Degenhardt, for after all, the September 1999 seizure was from only Bogan’s cell, not Calhoun’s. Accordingly, Degenhardt’s testimony regarding the May 1999 seizure satisfies the first prong of the test. Calhoun also alleges that the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Again, Calhoun offers little in the way of case law in support of his conjecture. Instead, Calhoun merely argues that the evidence of prior wine making was prejudicial without ever offering an explanation for his assertion. United States v. McClellan, 165 F.3d 535, 550 (7th Cir. 1999) (We repeatedly have made clear that perfunctory and undeveloped arguments . . . are waived [on appeal]) (citation omitted). In any event, we note that relevant evidence is inherently prejudicial. Lloyd, 71 F.3d at 1265. In this instance, the evidence of Degenhardt’s seizure of the defendants’s wine-making materials was exceedingly probative of Calhoun’s motive to assist Bogan in the attack upon Officer Degenhardt. We remain unconvinced (as did the trial judge) that the evidence of the wine-making activity would serve to induce a jury to decide the case upon emotion, rather than upon the evidence presented. Accordingly, we are satisfied that the trial court carefully considered the admissibility of the May 1999 seizure and did not abuse her discretion in admitting Degenhardt’s testimony.