United States v. Joseph Silva

MEMORANDUM

Joseph and Georgia Silvas’ consolidated appeal seeks review of the district court’s reasoned determination to permit the admission of “other acts” testimony, and exclude evidence of the Silvas’ state trial proceedings, in the Silvas’ federal trial in which a jury convicted each Appellant for interference with the federally protected activity of another resulting in injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 245 (b)(2)(B). The Silvas also challenge the district court’s finding that sufficient evidence supported their convictions.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the material, similar, and timely testimony, under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), of Tanvir Hussain, Ashley Kelly, and Gregory Parnow, as “other act” evidence bearing on the Silvas’ intent and motivation toward the victim in this matter. See United States v. Mayans, 17 F.3d 1174, 1181 (9th Cir.1994). The district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the Silvas’ state proceedings as irrelevant to the instant federal charges and as unnecessarily confusing for the jury. See United States v. Spencer, 1 F.3d 742, 744 (9th Cir.1992). Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the…