Opinion ID: 558660
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: prior crimes and bad acts

Text: 31 A. Standard of review. We review a district court's decision on the admissibility of evidence admitted under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) for abuse of discretion. United States v. Feldman, 788 F.2d 544, 557 (9th Cir.1986). We also review a district court's decision on balancing probative value against prejudicial effect under Fed.R.Evid. 403 for abuse of discretion. Id. 32 B. Discussion. Houser claims that evidence of prior convictions for distribution of drugs and testimony of other drug transactions were improperly admitted. Evidence of prior crimes and bad acts can be admitted under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) if it is to show motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake and not to show bad character. We have articulated a four-part test for analyzing evidence admitted pursuant to this rule: (1) there must be proof of the prior bad act based on sufficient evidence; (2) the crimes or acts must not be too remote; (3) the prior conduct must be similar to the acts defendant is charged with; and (4) the evidence must prove an essential element of the offense. United States v. Miller, 874 F.2d 1255, 1268, reh'g denied 884 F.2d 1149 (9th Cir.1989). 33 Here, there is sufficient proof supporting the prior crimes since Houser was convicted of committing them. The other drug transactions were brought into evidence through the testimony of those directly involved with the transactions. This satisfies the low threshold required by part one of this test. 34 Houser was convicted in 1984 of distribution of drugs. This is not a remote conviction and therefore can come within Rule 404(b). Likewise, the drug transactions several witnesses testified about occurred within approximately a year of Houser's arrest. 35 The prior conduct admitted into evidence was clearly similar to the crime appellant was charged with and therefore satisfies part three of the test. 36 Finally, the prior acts were admitted to show intent. See United States v. Sigal, 572 F.2d 1320, 1323 (9th Cir.1978). Intent is a critical element of both the conspiracy aspect of the charge and the distribution aspect. It is particularly important in this case because Houser argues that at most he accidentally walked into the situation and was not otherwise engaged in the distribution of drugs. 37 The evidence is admissible under Rule 404(b). We next analyze whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect under Rule 403. As discussed above, the evidence is quite probative to show Houser's intent. It is always possible that the similarity between the prior acts and the current offense would improperly affect the jury's deliberations, but the district court carefully instructed the jury on the limited purposes for which the evidence was admitted. Balancing the probative value of the evidence against its prejudicial effect and giving deference to the decisions of the district court, we find that the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence.