Opinion ID: 490025
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Appellant's Prior Deportation and Conviction For Reentry after Deportation

Text: 25 Appellant argues that the admission in evidence of his prior deportation and conviction for reentry after deportation deprived him of a fair trial. The argument is without merit. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) provides that: 26 Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. 27 The government introduced evidence of appellant's prior deportation and conviction for reentry after deportation for the purpose of proving appellant's motive, intent and knowledge in willfully and knowingly giving Inspector Radig a fictitious name and providing fictitious identification to him. 28 The prior immigration records were relevant to appellant's knowledge of immigration procedures and the required documentation for entry. The records also were probative of appellant's motive and intent in willfully using a false identity at the Noyes port of entry. Evidence of appellant's prior deportation and conviction for reentry after deportation therefore was properly admitted pursuant to Rule 404(b).