Opinion ID: 790772
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony Regarding Reasons for Referral to Secondary Inspection

Text: 24 Finally, Munoz argues that the district court erroneously allowed the government to elicit testimony regarding Jimenez's reasons for referring Munoz to secondary inspection. We review for abuse of discretion a district court's decision to admit evidence challenged under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. United States v. Montgomery, 384 F.3d 1050, 1061(9th Cir.2004). 25 In response to a question asking why she referred Munoz to secondary inspection, Jimenez testified as follows: 26 I had a couple of reasons. One, I observed her behavior; to me she appeared nervous; the fact that she did not or was not the registered owner of the vehicle; and three, which was the most important one, was the fact that the plastic cover in the bottom of the van sat very low and it was a nonfactory part to that vehicle that I believed should have been, you know, furtherly [ sic. ] inspected. 27 Munoz objects to the district court's admission of this testimony, claiming it was irrelevant and prejudicial. 28 While Munoz is correct in observing that Jimenez's state of mind was not at issue because Munoz did not challenge the decision to refer her to secondary inspection, admission of the testimony was nevertheless appropriate. The inspector's observations were relevant circumstantial evidence of Munoz's state of mind and the explanation of her reasons for referral gave the jury context in which to assess the significance of Munoz's subsequent behavior towards her. See United States v. Gutierrez-Espinosa, 516 F.2d 249, 250 (9th Cir.1975) (The facts observed by the customs agent (the new paint job on the appellant's car, the strong odor of room deodorizer, the trembling of appellant's hands) were relevant circumstantial evidence of appellant's knowledge of the presence of the marijuana in the vehicle. Even though the agent's state of mind was not itself relevant, his testimony that he referred appellant for secondary inspection was admissible and his statement that he took this action because of the facts observed was self-evident and surely harmless.). Jimenez had already testified as to each of the observations summarized in the challenged testimony and, as in Gutierrez-Espinosa, her statement that these observations formed the basis for her referral to secondary inspection was self-evident and surely harmless. Id. 29 Munoz cites United States v. Dean, 980 F.2d 1286(9th Cir.1992), and United States v. Nielsen, 371 F.3d 574 (9th Cir.2004), for the proposition that an agent's motives in performing investigative tasks are irrelevant. These cases are readily distinguishable, however, in that they both involve hearsay statements admitted in violation of the defendant's Confrontation Clause rights. Munoz raises no such objection to Jimenez's testimony. 30 The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the challenged testimony.