Opinion ID: 2821480
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prior Convictions of Others

Text: Finally, the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to admit evidence of the prior convictions of Deundre Carter and Ronnie Moore, two persons who also had access to the house Hodges rented but who were neither defendants nor witnesses at Hodges’ trial. While Moore’s and Carter’s prior convictions were arguably relevant, Hodges presented ample evidence to ply his theory the drugs and guns belonged to someone else (such as evidence other people 6 Case: 14-11994 Date Filed: 07/29/2015 Page: 7 of 13 stayed at the house and marijuana was found there well after Hodges was arrested). Admitting the prior convictions might have created a risk of confusing the issues because doing so would inject into the trial the issue of the potential guilt of third parties not standing trial when the only relevant issue was whether Hodges was guilty, regardless of whether others may have been complicit. Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the evidence.