Court Opinion

ID: 9469851
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:50:39.508286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:35.939834
License: Public Domain

MURNAGHAN, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
The evidence of Melia’s connection with previous illegal ventures was extremely relevant on the issue of whether Melia was (a) just another innocent duped by the prospect of a dazzling bargain and motivated only by understandable human greed, or (b) an experienced and intending fence, preying inhumanly on his fellow man. It is difficult to imagine how better to go about proving a necessary ingredient of the crime charged.
While it is true that, in this, as in almost all things, excess is to be avoided, I do not believe that we should, in advance, tie the district court’s hands as to what, and how much, evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts might properly be admissible under F.R.Evid. 404(b) in the course of the new trial which we have ordered.
Therefore, I disassociate myself from section II of the majority opinion and from the conclusion that admission of the other crimes evidence was “less egregious but nevertheless erroneous.” A decision on that point is not required in view of the other reasons mandating a remand for a new trial so tellingly presented in Judge Sprouse’s opinion. If a decision is to be made, it should be deferred until the question is presented under the actual circumstances of a new trial, and not dealt with in terms of a trial flawed for other reasons and not presenting the conditions in which the question will actually arise.
Since the balance of the opinion has my ready concurrence, and leads inexorably to the result of reversal and remand for a new trial, I concur.