Opinion ID: 706003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admissibility of Prior Lies Regarding Prior Arson Charges

Text: 28 The district court permitted the government to cross-examine Sherlin regarding statements that he had made to arson investigators in 1990, approximately three years before the arson charged in the instant case, in connection with two unrelated fires. Sherlin's statements to the investigators were recorded. In both of these statements, Sherlin initially denied any knowledge of the fires. After questioning, Sherlin admitted that he had originally lied to the investigators and that he knew who set the fires. 29 The district court permitted the cross-examination pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 608(b), which provides the following: 30 Specific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the purpose of attacking or supporting the witness' credibility, other than conviction of crime as provided in rule 609, may not be proved by extrinsic evidence. They may, however, in the discretion of the court, if probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness, be inquired into on cross-examination of the witness (1) concerning the witness' character for truthfulness or untruthfulness.... 31 Fed.R.Evid. 608(b). The district court specifically found that the evidence was highly probative and not unfairly prejudicial. Fed.R.Evid. 403. At Sherlin's request, the district court instructed the jury that the evidence was not to be used for any purpose other than to assess Sherlin's credibility. 32 Sherlin contends that the district court erred in allowing the government to cross-examine him regarding his involvement in the two previous arsons. Sherlin claims any probative value was greatly outweighed by the prejudicial value of the evidence because he was on trial for arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and perjury. 33 This court has held that [a] trial judge's decision regarding an evidentiary ruling will not be reversed absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion. United States v. Phillips, 888 F.2d 38, 40 (6th Cir.1989). Abuse of discretion exists where the reviewing court is firmly convinced that a mistake has been made. Id. 34 The evidence in question clearly fit within the confines of Rule 608(b). The government inquired into the prior arson investigations on cross-examination of Sherlin, and the admitted lies were obviously probative of Sherlin's character for truthfulness or untruthfulness. Moreover, the evidence was not unfairly prejudicial to Sherlin. See United States v. Rey, 923 F.2d 1217, 1222 (6th Cir.1991). Under these circumstances, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence.