Opinion ID: 1024346
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Video and Audio Tape Evidence

Text: Hicks next contends the district court erred in denying his motion in limine to preclude the Government from introducing into evidence the video tape of the September 9 controlled buy. Hicks maintains this evidence should have been excluded because it was irrelevant and because “admission of the tape allowed the government to put on evidence that mislead [sic] the jury into believing that a drug transaction had taken place even though the tape did not support such a transaction.” This court reviews the admission of evidence for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Forrest, 429 F.3d 73, 79 (4th Cir. 2005). “[A]n abuse [of discretion] occurs only when it can be said that the trial court acted arbitrarily or irrationally in admitting evidence.” United States v. Williams, 445 F.3d 724, 732 (4th Cir.) - 4 - (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 314 (2006). Despite Hicks’ protestations to the contrary, the videotape remains relevant even if the cocaine base was not visible on the tape. The video recordings taken on September 9 depicted the actual events that formed the basis for the criminal charge and corroborated Prayear’s account of Hicks’ actions on the day in question. Accordingly, we reject Hicks’ contention that the district court abused its discretion in finding this evidence relevant and admitting it.