Rosales v. State

In this case we are asked to determine whether a witness' prior convictions for committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959 ("VICAR offenses") are admissible for witness impeachment under Maryland Rule 5-609. Specifically, the Defendant sought to impeach the State's witness with the witness' conviction of conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and threatening to commit a crime of violence in aid of racketeering. We hold that a witness' prior convictions for VICAR offenses are admissible for witness impeachment.…