AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The Defendant, along with Angel Saiz and Tyler Kelley, was involved in two shootings targeting Agapito Araujo, resulting in Araujo being shot in the leg during one of the incidents. Initially, Araujo did not identify his attackers but later named the Defendant as one of the shooters after learning of his incarceration. The case involved the admission of propensity evidence suggesting the Defendant's involvement in other unrelated shootings, which was challenged on appeal.

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• Appellant: Argued that the admission of propensity evidence related to the Defendant's possible involvement in other shootings warranted a mistrial.
• Appellee: Contended that the Defendant's motion for a mistrial was properly denied, suggesting that the evidence of the Defendant's guilt was overwhelming and that any error in admitting the propensity evidence was harmless.

Legal Issues

• Whether the admission of propensity evidence related to the Defendant's possible involvement in other shootings warranted a mistrial.

Disposition

• The court reversed the Defendant's convictions and remanded for a new trial.

Reasons

• The court, consisting of Judges Gerald E. Baca, Megan P. Duffy, and Shammara H. Henderson, unanimously found that the admission of propensity evidence was not harmless and contributed to the Defendant's conviction. The court determined that the evidence suggesting the Defendant's involvement in other shootings allowed the jury to improperly infer a propensity for criminal conduct, which prejudiced the Defendant's right to a fair trial. The court also noted that the district court's attempt to cure the prejudice through subsequent testimony was insufficient. The denial of the Defendant's motion for a mistrial was deemed an abuse of discretion, leading to the reversal of the convictions (paras 1-27).