Opinion ID: 758092
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence of two prior attempts to burn restaurant

Text: 30 Vaux testified that, at the appellant's request, Vaux had attempted to set fire to the restaurant on two previous occasions, in 1991 and in 1992. The appellant's counsel objected to the admissibility of this evidence prior to trial. At the hearing, counsel conceded that the 1991 evidence was admissible, but challenged the 1992 evidence. The district judge ruled that the two prior attempts to burn the restaurant were inextricably intertwined with the 1993 fire or, alternatively, were admissible under Fed. R. Evid 404(b) to prove appellant's intent. 31 Evidence of other acts inextricably intertwined with the underlying offense is admissible under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). See Warren, 25 F.3d at 895. Other act evidence is inextricably intertwined with the charged crime if (1) it constitutes a part of the transaction that serves as a basis for the criminal charge; or (2) it was necessary to ... permit the prosecutor to offer a coherent and comprehensible story regarding the commission of the crime. United States v. Vizcarra-Martinez, 66 F.3d 1006, 1012-13 (9th Cir.1995). The first category applies to this case. Other act evidence may be relevant in conspiracy cases to show the background and development of the conspiracy. United States v. Hill, 953 F.2d 452, 457 (9th Cir.1991). The government is not prohibited from introducing such evidence simply because the defendant 'is indicted for less than all of his actions.'  United States v. Williams, 989 F.2d 1061, 1070 (9th Cir.1993) (internal quotation and citation omitted). 32 Vaux's testimony about his prior unsuccessful attempts to burn the restaurant at the appellant's request explained both the nature of their conspiratorial relationship, and how and why the fire was set in the manner that it was. 4 Therefore, the district court correctly admitted the prior arson attempts as inextricably intertwined with the charged arson and conspiracy counts. See Ripinsky, 109 F.3d at 1442 (9th Cir.), as amended, 129 F.3d 518 (9th Cir.1997) cert. denied --- U.S. ----, 118 S.Ct. 870, 139 L.Ed.2d 767 (1998). 33 AFFIRMED.