Opinion ID: 2980343
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: admission of internet chat transcripts

Text: Delaney argues that the district court erred when it admitted several Internet chat transcripts at trial pursuant to Rule 404(b). 13 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney
A district court determines the admissibility of evidence under Rule 404(b) pursuant to a three-step process: First, the district court must decide whether there is sufficient evidence that the other act in question actually occurred. Second, if so, the district court must decide whether the evidence of the other act is probative of a material issue other than character. Third, if the evidence is probative of a material issue other than character, the district court must decide whether the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by its potential prejudicial effect. United States v. Jenkins, 345 F.3d 928, 937 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing United States v. Haywood, 280 F.3d 715, 719–20 (6th Cir. 2002)). We typically review a district court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Ganier, 468 F.3d 920, 925 (6th Cir. 2006). However, we review the district court’s admission of Rule 404(b) prior acts evidence under the three step analysis we announced in United States v. Gessa, 971 F.2d 1257, 1261–62 (6th Cir. 1992) (en banc). First, we review for clear error the district court’s factual determination that the other acts occurred. Second, “we review de novo whether the district court made ‘the correct legal determination’ that the evidence was admissible for a legitimate [404(b)] purpose.” United States v. Johnson, 27 F.3d 1186, 1190 (6th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1115 (1995) (quoting Gessa, 971 F.2d at 1262). Third, we review for abuse of discretion the determination that the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudicial impact. United States v. Hardy, 228 F.3d 745, 750 (6th Cir. 2000).
Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) allows the government to introduce evidence of “other crimes, wrongs, or acts” committed by the defendant so long as the evidence is not used merely 14 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney to show propensity and if it “bears upon a relevant issue in the case.” United States v. Hardy, 228 F.3d 745, 750 (6th Cir. 2000). The Rule contains a non-exhaustive list of possible purposes: “motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. . .” Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). Such evidence “is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith.” Id.
First, we must determine whether there is “sufficient evidence to support a finding by the jury that the defendant committed” the other act. Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 685 (1988). The fact that the chats occurred is undisputed, so step one is not at issue in this appeal.
Second, we must determine whether the chat transcripts were offered for a proper 404(b) purpose. The transcripts consisted of instant message conversations with three undercover police officers: Detective Linda Findlay, Detective Richard Weise, and Special Agent Jenny Emmons. The government argues that the evidence demonstrated Delaney’s identity, knowledge, intent, and absence of mistake or accident. Considering identity first, Rule 404(b) allows the introduction of other acts evidence to show identity, “provided they are ‘of sufficient distinctive similarity’ with the charges in the indictment to ‘create a pattern or modus operandi.’” United States v. Allen, 619 F.3d 518, 524 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Perry, 438 F.3d 642, 648 (6th Cir. 2006)). While the district court did not rely on these grounds to admit the evidence, we may affirm the admission of evidence on an alternative theory if that theory would justify the admission. See City Mgmt. Corp. v. United States Chem. Co., 43 F.3d 244, 251 (6th Cir. 1994) (finding that this Court may 15 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney affirm on any grounds supported by the record, even though they may be different than those relied upon by the district court). At trial, the government alleged that Delaney met Amanda, the victim in this case, on the Internet and communicated regularly with her using instant messaging from the screen name “Z Camaro Guy.” Delaney’s interactions with the three undercover police officers were the same: He met them on the Internet, communicated with them on instant messaging using the screen name “Z Camaro Guy,” and sent them pictures of himself. These interactions indicate a pattern of behavior that is consistent with the charged offense. Accordingly, the evidence was admissible for purposes of identity. See Perry, 438 F.3d at 648 (affirming admission of other acts evidence that established a distinctive “signature”). Next, the government argues that the evidence was demonstrative of Delaney’s knowledge and intent. This step is governed by United States v. Johnson, 27 F.3d 1186, 1192 (6th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1115 (1995), in which this Court held that “where there is thrust upon the government, either by virtue of the defense raised by the defendant or by virtue of the elements of the crime charged, the affirmative duty to prove that the underlying prohibited act was done with a specific criminal intent, other acts evidence may be introduced under Rule 404(b).” In this case, the government was required to show that Delaney intended to knowingly produce, possess, and distribute images of child pornography. 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), 2252A(a)(2), and 2252A(a)(5)(b). In the chat transcripts, Delaney discussed his sexual interest in young girls, prior possession of child pornography, using his camera to take child pornographic photos, and his knowledge of a file sharing program through which images of child pornography were available for download. In addition, he transmitted images of young girls in bathing suits. All of these statements and acts are 16 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney indicative of Delaney’s intent and knowledge to possess and distribute child pornography. They explain both his interest in the subject, and his past activities to procure it. Accordingly, this evidence was admissible for purposes of intent and knowledge because the acts involved a pattern of particular behaviors that were specifically related to the charged offense. See United States v. Bell, 516 F.3d 432, 443 (6th Cir. 2008) (holding that Rule 404(b) evidence is probative of intent only “when the prior [acts] were part of the same scheme or involved a similar modus operandi as the present offense”); United States v. Hall, 202 F.3d 270 (table), 2000 WL 32010, at  (6th Cir. 2000) (holding that evidence of prior conviction, nude images of children, and sexually explicit emails were admissible to show defendant’s intent and knowledge to receive child pornography). Finally, the government argues that the evidence is probative of absence of accident or mistake. In order for evidence of other acts evidence to be admissible for this purpose, the defendant must assert a defense based on some form of mistake or accident. See United States v. Newsom, 452 F.3d 593, 606 (6th Cir. 2006) (finding absence of mistake not to be a permissible purpose in a felon in possession case, when the defendant’s only defense was that the gun was not his and that he did not know that it was under his seat); United States v. Ward, 190 F.3d 483, 489 (6th Cir. 1999) (finding absence of mistake not to be a permissible purpose for the admission of evidence when the defendant’s “defense was not that she mistakenly thought she was selling powdered sugar instead of cocaine”). Here, Delaney testified that he believed Amanda was 18, not 14. This Court has found that mistake of age is not a defense to alleged violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), United States v. Humphrey, 608 F.3d 955, 962 (6th Cir. 2010), but that it is a defense to alleged violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2251A, United States v. Stout, 509 F.3d 796, 799 (6th Cir. 2007). 17 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney Accordingly, this evidence was admissible for purposes of absence of accident or mistake. As this evidence was admissible for several permissible purposes, we find that the district court did not err in admitting that the chat transcripts for a proper 404(b) purpose.
Third, we must determine whether any unfair prejudicial impact of the evidence substantially outweighs its probative value. The question before us is not whether the instances described in the chat transcripts are “gruesome or disturbing,” United States v. Boyd, 640 F.3d 657, 667–68 (6th Cir. 2011), but whether their prejudicial impact is unfair, see United States v. Sanders, 95 F.3d 449, 453 (6th Cir. 1996) (noting that the evidence must do more than “paint[] the defendant in a bad light” to be unfairly prejudicial). As the risk of prejudice is unavoidably high in prosecutions for child pornography, caution is required. The evidence was probative of Delaney’s methodology in sending and receiving exploitative photographs, and as to whether he had knowledge that the pornographic images he possessed were of children. Additionally, in making this balancing determination, we must consider whether there are alternate sources of proving the same facts. See Haywood, 270 F.3d at 723, United States v. Merriweather, 78 F.3d 1070, 1078–79 (6th Cir. 1996) (“One factor in balancing unfair prejudice against probative value under Rule 403 is the availability of other means of proof.”). At trial, the government needed to prove Delaney’s specific intent and rebut his defense of mistake. Because Delaney testified that he thought Amanda was 18, the government used the chats to counter this defense and show Delaney’s sexual interest in children. Due to the limited evidence of Delaney’s mental state, the transcripts were the least offensive way of shedding light on his state of mind. 18 No. 09-1820 United States v. Delaney Turning to the whether the prejudicial impact was unfair, the chat transcripts at issue describe Delaney’s sexual interests, but they contain few graphic details. Because the conversations are less lurid than the conduct involving Amanda, the risk that the jury gave them undue attention is lessened. Balancing is highly discretionary, and thus the district court “is afforded great deference.” Bell, 516 F.3d at 445. Here, while the transcripts described offensive conduct, the prejudice they may have provoked was not unfair. “‘Unfair prejudice’ . . . does not mean the damage to the defendant’s case that results from the legitimate probative force of the evidence; rather, it refers to evidence which tends to suggest decision on an improper basis.” United States v. Mendez–Ortiz, 810 F.2d 76, 79 (6th Cir.1986). In light of the evidence of the sexual encounter with Amanda, the chat transcripts did not create the risk of unfair prejudice because of their narrow focus and less explicit nature. Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the prejudicial impact of this evidence did not substantially outweigh its probative value. We find that the evidence was properly admitted.3