State of Minnesota v. Domenico Nicolai Newton

Syllabus

Domenico Newton, whose prior crime-of-violence conviction rendered him ineligible to possess a firearm, lost about $700 to an acquaintance gambling on a video game and then, brandishing a handgun, demanded the money back. In advance of Newton's consequent trial for illegal possession of a firearm, the district court granted the state permission to impeach Newton with his prior felony convictions if he chose to testify. Newton did not testify and now appeals, arguing that the district court made its impeachment decision in error. Because the district court acted within its discretion to admit the impeachment evidence, we affirm.