State v. Scott

¶1 Evidence of street gang affiliation is admissible in a criminal trial if there is a nexus between the crime and gang membership. The trial court admitted gang evidence in Joshua Scott’s trial subject to the prosecution providing evidence of the connection. That evidence was never produced. We conclude that this error was not harmless, reverse the defendant’s convictions, and remand for a new trial.

FACTS

¶2 Mr. Scott was a methamphetamine dealer. He supplied Mr. Shannon Younger who, in turn, sold drugs to others. One of Mr. Younger’s clients was Wendy Grey *522Vannauker, whom he also dated.1 At…