Opinion ID: 659953
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fed.R.Evid. 404(b)--The Videotape

Text: 8 Pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), the district court admitted into evidence the videotape of the indoor marijuana growing operation conducted in Maine. Rule 404(b) provides, in relevant part: 9 Other crimes, wrongs, or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident ... 10 We review the district court's decision to admit evidence of prior acts under Rule 404(b) for abuse of discretion. United States v. Poole, 929 F.2d 1476, 1479 (10th Cir.1991); United States v. Record, 873 F.2d 1363, 1373 (10th Cir.1989). 11 Dean argues that the videotape was improperly admitted because it was never established that he had participated in the Maine growing operation. According to Dean, the videotape does not actually show him in the growing room or participating in the planting, growing, or harvesting of the marijuana. Further, Dean testified that he did not live in the house during the Maine growing operation, although he did visit and was aware of it. Thus, Dean argues that the government should have been made to show the defendant not only had knowledge that an operation was underway, but that he was an active participant. 12 In Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 108 S.Ct. 1496, 99 L.Ed.2d 771 (1988), the Supreme Court set forth the criteria for admission of prior act evidence. In accordance with Huddleston, this Circuit has established the following four requirements for admission of evidence under Rule 404(b): 13 (1) the evidence must be offered for a proper purpose; 14 (2) the evidence must be relevant; 15 (3) the trial court must make a rule 403 determination of whether the probative value of the similar acts is substantially outweighed by its potential for unfair prejudice; and 16 (4) pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 105, the trial court shall, upon request, instruct the jury that the evidence of similar acts is to be considered only for the proper purpose for which it was admitted. 17 United States v. Poole, 929 F.2d at 1481 (quoting United States v. Jefferson, 925 F.2d 1242, 1258 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, ----, 112 S.Ct. 238, 239, 116 L.Ed.2d 194 (1991)). United States v. Record, 873 F.2d at 1374-75. See also Huddleston, 485 U.S. at 691-92, 108 S.Ct. at 1502. This court has described the parameters of Rule 404(b) admission in an inclusive sense holding that 'it would allow admission of uncharged illegal acts unless the only purpose for their admission is to prove the criminal disposition of the defendant.'  United States v. Record, 873 F.2d at 1373 (quoting United States v. Nolan, 551 F.2d 266, 271 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 904, 98 S.Ct. 302, 54 L.Ed.2d 191 (1977)). 18 The record shows that these requirements were satisfied with respect to the videotape. First, the government offered the videotape for the proper purpose of showing knowledge, intent, and the presence of a common scheme or plan. Second, the jury (which saw Dean testify) could reasonably conclude from the totality of the evidence--including a still photograph of Dean in the Maine house with a large amount of marijuana and the presence on the videotape of a man who may have been Dean--that Dean was a participant in the Maine growing operation. Thus, the evidence was relevant. Third, while the district court did not expressly find that the videotape's probative value outweighed any unfair prejudice, the issue was argued before the court, and we are satisfied that [b]y denying the motion to exclude the evidence, the court, in essence, rejected the defendant's prejudice argument. United States v. Fingado, 934 F.2d 1163, 1166 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 320, 116 L.Ed.2d 262 (1991). Finally, the district court instructed the jury without objection on the limited purposes for which the videotape was introduced. 19 With regard to Edward, the argument for admitting the videotape was even stronger, since it was conceded that he was pictured in it. Edward also contends that the district court erred in admitting the videotape because the government failed to articulate the theory upon which the evidence was offered, as required by United States v. Kendall, 766 F.2d 1426, 1436 (10th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1081, 106 S.Ct. 848, 88 L.Ed.2d 889 (1986). The argument is without merit. We are satisfied that the government established a proper purpose for the evidence, and that there was no abuse of discretion under Huddleston.