Frank Carlino v. United States

The appeal is from a conviction for violation of the Dyer Act ( 18 U.S.C. § 2312 ) growing out of the rental of a 1966 Ford in Los Angeles, California, and subsequent transportation to Tennessee, Alaska and Nevada.

The issues as to appellant’s intent and as to when and where he decided to steal the car were before the jury and decided adversely to appellant by its verdict.

The prosecutor announced he was calling the witness who was the keeper of records at a penal institution. Objection followed, and the prosecutor explained out of the presence of the jury that he was offering proof of prior offenses of a similar nature on the issue of intent. The trial judge refused to admit such testimony, but instructed the jury to disregard the prosecutor’s statement made in the presence of the jury.

No error occurred. Convictions for prior offenses of a similar nature are admissible on the issue of intent. The appellant was in a more favorable position than he would have been had the priors been offered and received in evidence against him.

There is no merit to the venue argument. The jury could infer and find, from appellant’s possession of the car in other states shortly after its…