Opinion ID: 677313
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Marijuana plants in Hunter's vegetable garden

Text: 62 Hunter challenges the admission of evidence of marijuana plants growing in his vegetable garden. Hunter's mother, Charlene Hunter, a defense witness, testified that her son lived a poor life and had a garden in which he grew food to eat. (Tr. 3331-32). On cross-examination, the government showed Mrs. Hunter photographs of marijuana plants growing in Hunter's garden. Mrs. Hunter testified that she saw only vegetables in the garden and denied seeing any marijuana plants. In rebuttal, an agent from the Drug Enforcement Agency took the stand and testified that while executing a search of Hunter's residence, he found and seized several marijuana plants in the garden. The agent also testified that the photographs accurately depicted part of the marijuana crop seized. 63 Hunter argues that the evidence of the marijuana plants was inadmissible as a Rule 404(b) bad act. This evidence, however, was not introduced against Hunter but against his mother to rebut her testimony about his garden. Once Mrs. Hunter testified that she did not see marijuana plants, the rebuttal evidence became relevant as impeachment. The evidence was also relevant to refute Mrs. Hunter's testimony that her son was too poor to be a drug dealer, and to show that Mrs. Hunter was trying to protect her son. As we have said previously, [t]he proper function of rebuttal evidence is to contradict, impeach or defuse the impact of the evidence offered by an adverse party. United States v. Papia, 560 F.2d 827, 848 (7th Cir.1977). Given the wide discretion afforded the district court in determining the proper scope of rebuttal evidence, we find no error in the admission of the agent's rebuttal testimony against Mrs. Hunter. Id. at 848 n. 16; United States v. Goodwin, 770 F.2d 631, 638 (7th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1084, 106 S.Ct. 858, 88 L.Ed.2d 897 (1986). Moreover, even if the agent's testimony was admitted against Hunter, the presence of marijuana plants in the garden was consistent with Hunter's defense that he grew marijuana as part of a drug business independent of, and in competition with, the Nietupski operation.