Opinion ID: 160828
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Testimony Regarding James McBride

Text: 53 During the presentation of its case, the government introduced testimony regarding James McBride and his views. Because Mr. Magleby objected to the admission of this evidence at trial, we review for abuse of discretion. Mills, 194 F.3d at 1113. 54 Mr. McBride is allegedly a racist and member of a hate group. Mr. Magleby testified that he had only met Mr. McBride once and that he did not know him and was not friends with him. One of Mr. Magleby's friends testified that they had conversations about Mr. McBride in Mr. Magleby's presence, but that they had not spoken to Mr. Magleby directly about Mr. McBride or his views [3:495-98]. Another of Mr. Magleby's friends testified that he had once taken Mr. McBride to a party at Mr. Magleby's where Mr. McBride could have given racist CDs, racist literature, and information regarding a hate group to Mr. Magleby, but that he did not know if Mr. McBride had in fact provided Mr. Magleby with such materials. Tr. at 316-17. Mr. Magleby argues that the district court erred in admitting this evidence because it was irrelevant and highly prejudicial. The government argues that this evidence was relevant because it was probative of Mr. Magleby's racial animus. 55 Because this testimony raises concerns similar to those raised by Dr. Gerlach's testimony, we find its admission troubling. There is no evidence in the record that Mr. Magleby even discussed Mr. McBride's views with him or anyone else, let alone that he shared them. There is also no evidence that Mr. Magleby belonged to or sympathized with the Church of the Creator, the hate group to which Mr. McBride allegedly belonged. Moreover, there was no evidence that Mr. McBride attended Mr. Magleby's party on the night that Mr. Magleby burned the cross. It is difficult to see how the admitted testimony regarding Mr. McBride had any relevance to Mr. Magleby's intent on the evening he burned the cross. Furthermore, Mr. McBride's testimony also comes dangerously close to inviting the jury to find Mr. Magleby guilty by association. 56 Notwithstanding our doubts regarding the relevance of this testimony, we need not decide whether the district court abused its discretion in admitting it because we find that it was harmless error. The admission of the testimony regarding Mr. McBride did not affect any of Mr. Magleby's substantial rights because we conclude it did not affect the outcome of the trial. See Rivera, 900 F.2d at 1469. As discussed in detail above, the record contains extensive evidence of Mr. Magleby's attitudes toward African-Americans. We are confident that the jury would have found that Mr. Magleby acted with racial animus even without the testimony regarding James McBride.