Can the prosecution introduce evidence of past bad acts to prove criminal disposition?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Molinar, E071698 (Cal. App. 2019):

The prosecution may not introduce evidence of a defendant's prior bad acts to prove a criminal disposition, but such evidence is admissible when "relevant to prove some [other] fact." (Evid. Code, 1101, subds. (a) & (b).) "The trial court has broad discretion in determining the relevance of evidence." (People v. Scheid (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1, 14.)

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