Opinion ID: 2373555
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Admission of Torrey's Forgery Conviction

Text: We find no merit in Torrey's contention that the court erred by allowing the State to impeach his testimony with evidence of his past conviction for forgery. We review the admissibility of prior convictions for impeachment to see whether the court applied the correct legal standard or whether it abused its discretion. State v. Hanscome, 459 A.2d 569, 572 (Me.1983). Torrey concedes, as he must, that because the conviction was less than fifteen years old and involved dishonesty, it was admissible under M.R.Evid. 609(a)(2) and (b). There is nothing in this record to suggest that the court did not properly balance the probative value of this evidence against its prejudicial effect or that it abused its discretion in allowing the introduction of Torrey's conviction.