Opinion ID: 488806
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cross-Examination of Agent Scott.

Text: 24 The district court sustained the government's objection to appellant's attempt to ask Agent Scott whether he knew an individual named Mark Gilstrap. Appellant maintains that this was prejudicial error because an affirmative answer would have been additional evidence from which the jury could have inferred the cocaine seized from appellant's carriagehouse did not belong to appellant. 25 Under Fed.R.Evid. 611(b), the district court has broad discretion in limiting the scope of cross-examination, and will not be reversed unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion and a showing of prejudice to defendant. United States v. Lee, 743 F.2d 1240, 1249 (8th Cir.1984) (citing United States v. Cole, 449 F.2d 194, 199 (8th Cir.1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 975, 92 S.Ct. 1200, 31 L.Ed.2d 250 (1972)). We do not see how Scott knowing Gilstrap would have helped appellant's case. In fact, we agree with the district court that it appears appellant was merely attempting to ascertain, or narrow down the possibilities of the informant's identity. Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in disallowing the question, but reaffirmed the privilege protecting the informant's identity. 26