When a lay person has a prior conviction for the same crime for which the appellant is being tried, is that prior conviction barred?

When a prior conviction is identical to the crime for which appellant is being tried, exclusion is mandated. (People v. Fries, supra, 24 Cal.3d 222, 155 Cal.Rptr. 194, 594 P.2d 19; People v. Spearman, supra, 25 Cal.3d 107, 157 Cal.Rptr. 883, 599 P.2d 74.) Exclusion is likewise warranted where, as here, a lay person might view the offenses as substantially similar to the offense charged, and the danger of confusion outweighs the probative value of the prior.