United States v. Vega, No. 11-2437 (8th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CaseDefendant appealed his conviction for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. The court held that the search warrant application in this case supported a finding of probable cause; defendant's statement to the officers that he would take responsibility for the methamphetamine and gun found in his garage was voluntary; and therefore, the district court did not err in denying the motion to suppress. The court also held that the district court did not err in declining to permit defendant to present evidence of his prior acquittals; there was sufficient evidence to sustain the jury's verdict and that the district court did not err in denying the motion for judgment of acquittal; the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's motion for a new trial because the evidence of the January 12, 2010 drug transaction was admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b); and the district court did not err in enhancing defendant's sentence for obstruction of justice or in denying an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction.
Court Description: Criminal case - Criminal law and sentencing. Search warrant application established probable cause to believe that evidence of drug dealing would be found; defendant was given his Miranda rights at the time of his arrest and his statements were voluntary and admissible; no error in admitting testimony regarding acquitted counts at defendant's retrial; this circuit's precedents preclude admission of evidence regarding prior acquittals; evidence was sufficient to support defendant's conviction for drug distribution; no error in enhancing sentence for obstruction of justice or in denying an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction.
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