Opinion ID: 445280
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Erroneously Included Evidence

Text: 47 Both Lester and McGill claim prejudicial error in the trial court's admission, without limiting instructions, of evidence of Mitchell's narcotics operation and their connection to it. Because Lester and McGill insist that this evidence is only relevant to show their knowledge, motive, or intent under Rule 404(b), they argue that the trial court should have balanced specifically the probativeness of the evidence against its prejudicial effect and given a limiting instruction to cure any possible prejudice that remained. The trial court found the Mitchell narcotics ring evidence to be relevant to the proof of the conspiracy. It specifically rejected Rule 404(b) as the basis for admissibility. Therefore, no Rule 404(b) limiting instruction was required. Moreover, it is clear from the record as a whole that the trial judge conformed to Rule 403 by weighing the probative value of the evidence against the possibility of prejudice. See United States v. Bradshaw, 690 F.2d 704, 708-09 (9th Cir.1982), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 103 S.Ct. 3543, 77 L.Ed.2d 1392 (1983). 48 Lester also argues that the admission of testimony as to his possession of guns was irrelevant and unduly prejudicial in an obstruction of justice case not predicated on violence. The government referred to Lester's possession of weapons, however, only after the defense had brought up various shootings in cross-examining the government's witness. In this context, the district court's decision to admit evidence of Lester's possession of weapons cannot be viewed as so prejudicial as to be an abuse of discretion. 49 Lester next complains that the admission of Annie MacDonald's hearsay statement was unduly prejudicial. 12 However, had Brigham merely testified, first, that McGill asked MacDonald if Lester had left anything for him and, second, that MacDonald then gave McGill a sum of money--which is the substance of his testimony once the hearsay is excised--the probative effect would have been essentially the same. Thus, the marginal prejudicial effect of admitting the hearsay was slight and was clearly outweighed by its probative value in establishing Lester's participation in the conspiracy. 50 Finally, Lester objects to the prejudicial impact of Brigham's testimony that his brother had been murdered five years earlier by the Mitchell mob. The government adduced this evidence only after the defense implied that Brigham had voluntarily gone to San Diego. The evidence was therefore probative on the issue of whether the San Diego trip was indeed aimed at obstructing justice by interfering with a witness. Its admission does not constitute an abuse of discretion.