Opinion ID: 1287369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: alleged gang membership

Text: Poe claims error occurred when the State presented irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial testimony of his alleged membership in a street gang. During Harper's testimony, he was asked if he knew whether Poe was a member of a gang. Harper testified that he had met Poe in 2000 or 2001 while they were at the same high school. Harper said that when he used to hang out on 29th Street in Omaha, he would see Poe there. Harper said there was a gang associated with that area and that he knew Poe was a member of that gang. Poe's objection on foundation and relevance was overruled. Harper testified without objection that Reed, his cousin, and Lockett, also a relative, were members of the 29th Street gang. Harper denied that he was a member of the 29th Street gang. Harper stated that Poe admitted he had committed the robbery and shooting at Lee's home with Reed and Lockett. Harper also said that he was afraid of Lockett's brother. [13, 14] Poe claims his gang membership was not relevant. Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without evidence. Neb. Evid. R. 401. In considering the admission of relevant evidence, a trial court, when requested to do so, is required to weigh the danger of unfair prejudice against the probative value of the evidence. See State v. Duncan, 265 Neb. 406, 657 N.W.2d 620 (2003). The court was not asked to consider whether the evidence was unfairly prejudicial under Neb. Evid. R. 403. Poe's objection was based solely on whether the evidence was relevant. This court has previously been asked to find that the suggestion of a defendant's gang ties results in prejudicial error. In State v. Iromuanya, 272 Neb. 178, 191, 719 N.W.2d 263, 279 (2006), the defendant cited to cases from other jurisdictions which held that purposefully elicited testimony directly indicating gang membership was highly prejudicial, citing Ex parte Thomas, 625 So.2d 1156 (Ala.1993). However, we found that the Iromuanya case differed significantly because the record contained no explicit reference to street gangs. It is true that [g]enerally, the evidence which the State offers against a criminal defendant is prejudicial, but this court must consider whether evidence is unfairly prejudicial. See State v. Myers, 258 Neb. 272, 292, 603 N.W.2d 390, 405 (1999). In that case, evidence of gang-related activity was offered, and we concluded that it did not create undue prejudice because the defendant's gang affiliation was related to the drug-dealing activities and conspiracy which were under investigation by police. We found no abuse of discretion in the admission of testimony about the defendant's gang activity. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has noted that while evidence of gang membership is admissible if it is relevant to an issue in dispute, gang affiliation evidence is not admissible where it is meant merely to prejudice the defendant or prove his guilt by association with unsavory characters. U.S. v. McKay, 431 F.3d 1085, 1093 (8th Cir.2005). The appellate court found no abuse of discretion in allowing limited gang-related testimony, because it was relevant to the reasons the government did not attempt a controlled buy. In addition, the court cautioned the jury against using gang affiliation as a ground for conviction. [15] We determine in the case at bar that evidence of Poe's alleged gang membership was relevant to the issues at trial. It demonstrated a connection or relationship among Poe, Reed, and Lockett, who were all implicated in the robbery and shooting death of Lee. The evidence also was relevant to Harper's credibility. It demonstrated Harper's initial reluctance to cooperate with police because he was afraid of Lockett's brother, who was also a member of the gang. The jury was instructed that in determining the credibility of any witness, it could consider [a]ny other evidence that affects the credibility of the witness or that tends to support or contradict the testimony of the witness. The exercise of judicial discretion is implicit in determinations of relevancy under Neb. Evid. R. 401, and a trial court's decision regarding them will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. See State v. Gutierrez, 272 Neb. 995, 726 N.W.2d 542 (2007). We find no abuse of discretion in the admission of the evidence related to Poe's gang affiliation.