Opinion ID: 480956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: propriety of cross-examination

Text: 23 Eaton next argues that the district court erred in permitting the Government, over defendant's objections, to inquire into (1) the specific circumstances of Eaton's plea agreement in a prior conviction; and (2) Eaton's prior use of drugs. 24 (A) Circumstances of Prior Conviction 25 During the direct examination of Eaton, his counsel inquired into a 1985 conviction on charges of receiving stolen property. Eaton acknowledged the charges. Defense counsel than asked whether Eaton pleaded guilty to the charges or stood trial. Eaton replied, I pleaded. I was guilty. The clear purpose of this line of questioning was to imply that Eaton acknowledges his guilt when he is in fact guilty and that if he were guilty in the present case he would have pleaded guilty. On cross-examination, the Government sought to rebut this inference by inquiring into the particulars of Eaton's plea agreement. After a bench conference, the court allowed the Government to proceed with inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the plea agreement. The cross-examination revealed that pursuant to the plea agreement, the prosecution had dropped several burglary charges and a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon. 26 (B) Prior Drug Use 27 The Government sought to cross-examine Eaton on his prior drug use because it perceived a general theme in Eaton's testimony that he lacked knowledge of or familiarity with drugs. The court agreed that Eaton's testimony gave the impression that he was unfamiliar with drugs and allowed the Government to cross-examine Eaton concerning his prior drug use and his familiarity with drugs. Cross-examination resulted in Eaton's denial of any prior drug use and association with drugs or drug users. 28 Later, Eaton's attorney discovered that Eaton had perjured himself with respect to his prior drug use and association with drugs. Counsel properly advised the court. The court allowed counsel to recall Eaton to the stand. In his testimony during the recall, Eaton admitted to having previously used drugs and having familiarity with phenmetrazine. 29 Eaton contends that the cross-examination on Eaton's prior conviction and prior drug use was unfairly prejudicial. We agree with the district court that Eaton's direct examination opened the door for the Government's cross-examination and hold that the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the Government's cross-examination. 30 Both the challenged lines of inquiry involve what has been called bad acts evidence. Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence prohibits the use of other bad acts to prove bad character and conforming conduct. Such evidence, however, is admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). Rule 404(b) is read in light of Rule 403. United States v. James, 555 F.2d 992, 999 (D.C.Cir.1977). Rule 403 precludes the introduction of otherwise admissible evidence where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. 31 In United States v. Bailleaux, 685 F.2d 1105 (9th Cir.1982), the court addressed the question of whether the circumstances of a prior conviction could be used to rebut the same type of direct testimony as was given in this case. The court held that there was no need to determine whether the circumstances of the prior conviction might be unfairly prejudicial because the defendant brought the prior conviction into the case during his direct examination. Id. at 1110. [H]aving opened the subject in his direct testimony, [the defendant could] not object to the Government's subsequent inquiries into the relevant aspects of his prior conviction. Id. 32 In Bailleaux, as in this case, the Government inquired into the defendant's prior conviction to rebut the inference that the defendant would have pleaded guilty to the charged offense if he were in fact guilty. We agree with the holding in Bailleaux. Having relied on the circumstances surrounding the prior conviction to infer his responsible character, Eaton cannot claim that the Government was precluded from fully developing those circumstances on cross-examination to rebut that inference. Any resulting prejudice is due to Eaton's tactical error--not a misapplication of the rules of evidence. The district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the cross-examination. 33 The Government's cross-examination on Eaton's prior drug use and familiarity with drugs was also a result of Eaton's testimony during direct examination. As the district court correctly noted, Eaton's direct testimony was calculated to create the impression that he was ignorant of, or at least inexperienced with, narcotics use. As with the circumstances surrounding the prior conviction, Eaton opened the door for inquiry into his alleged inexperience with drugs and drug use. 34 Knowledge is an element of the offense charged. See United States v. Freeze, 707 F.2d 132, 135-36 (5th Cir.1983). In addition, evidence of knowledge is one of the express exceptions to the general prohibition of bad acts evidence. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). Eaton's testimony addressed the knowledge element. The Government had a right to rebut that evidence through cross-examination. The Government's inquiry cannot be unfairly prejudicial, because the defendant himself is responsible for bringing the subject into evidence. Moreover, the balancing of probative value and prejudicial effect is left to the sound discretion of the trial court. We agree with the district court that the prejudicial impact of Eaton's prior drug use did not substantially outweigh its probative value. See United States v. Harrison, 679 F.2d 942, 948 (D.C.Cir.1982).