Opinion ID: 77212
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Aimasiko's character witnesses

Text: 52 Aimasiko contends that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the Government to question his three character witnesses regarding a letter that he sent to a female neighbor requesting a get-together. The letter read: 53 I know you are always at home in the morning like myself and I know you do not like loneliness. Would you mind if I keep you company in the morning as my wife will be at work and I know your husband would be working too. Call this number to talk to me today before 2:00 p.m. Or early tomorrow morning. 54 The note included a telephone number, which the case agents determined was Aimasiko's home number. The jury did not see the letter. The questions posed by the Government to the character witnesses were whether it would surprise the witness to learn that during the period of time that he or she considered Aimasiko to be an honest and truthful person, he attempted to have a relationship with a woman who was not his wife, and whether that would change the witness's opinion as to Aimasiko's reputation for honesty and truthfulness. 55 Aimasiko contends that the Government did not have a good faith factual foundation for questioning his character witnesses regarding the letter to his neighbor. Moreover, such a question is akin to asking about a past arrest or prior misconduct and therefore is prejudicial and should be excluded under Rule 403. Aimasiko asserts that the trial court erred in failing to ascertain, out of the jury's presence, a good faith factual foundation for the inquiry and in failing to instruct the jury as to the limited weight given to the cross-examination. He contends that the fact that the Government did not bring the issue to the court outside of the presence of the jury demonstrates bad faith. Moreover, because the character witnesses were being directly questioned regarding Aimasiko's truthfulness, honesty, and whether they would believe him under oath, the cross-examination should have consisted of instances in which Aimasiko had not been truthful and honest-not questions based no rumors. Aimasiko alleges that even if the questions were determined to be relevant, the prejudicial effect of the introduction of this evidence is extreme. 56 The Government contends that Aimasiko's attempt to engage in a surreptitious relationship with a woman who was not his wife was relevant to his honesty and truthfulness, which he had put into issue by calling character witnesses, and the prejudicial effect of the evidence did not outweigh its relevance. 57 The Government notes that after its initial question to the first character witness, the district court took up the matter for consideration outside the jury's presence. Thus, because the court allowed the cross-examination to continue, Aimasiko was not prejudiced by the Government's first question in the presence of the jury. Finally, the Government contends that even assuming the court erred in allowing the cross-examination of Aimasiko's character witnesses as to the note, the error was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence of his knowing participation in the illegal conspiracy. 58 Aimasiko acknowledges that once a witness has testified about a defendant's good character, cross-examination inquiry is allowed as to whether the reputation witness has heard of particular instances of conduct relevant to the trait in question. United States v. Adair, 951 F.2d 316, 319 (11th Cir.1992). A trial court's discretion to control cross-examinations of character witnesses is disturbed only upon a showing of prejudicial abuse of discretion. See id. at 319-20. The Government must have a good faith basis for the instances of conduct inquired about, and the instances must be relevant to the character traits at issue in the case. See id. at 319. 59 The district court should not have permitted the Government to question the character witnesses regarding the letter that Aimasiko apparently sent to his neighbor. As Aimasiko alleges, some of the factual circumstances surrounding the letter are unknown. Moreover, while the letter does perhaps suggest that Aimasiko was not being entirely candid with his wife, it does not directly relate to the Appellant's truthfulness and honesty. Accordingly, there was a significant danger of unfair prejudice to the Appellant in allowing these questions. 60 We conclude, however, that the district court's error was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence against Aimasiko. This included the testimony of Fall and individuals who Aimasiko assisted in obtaining Social Security cards. It also included Aimasiko's own testimony and various Social Security and Immigration certified records. The evidence regarding Aimasiko's knowing participation in the conspiracy was overwhelming. 61 It is also worth noting that two of the three character witnesses testified their opinion of Aimasiko's reputation for character and truthfulness would not have changed. At oral argument, moreover, counsel for the Government stated that the Government did not reference the character evidence in its closing argument. 62 We conclude that the error in this case was harmless. The district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the questions.