United States v. Patrick Blasingame , 219 F. App'x 934 ( 2007 )

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
March 9, 2007
No. 04-11281
THOMAS K. KAHN
________________________ CLERK
D. C. Docket No. 02-00377-CR-4-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
PATRICK BLASINGAME,
NICHOLAS BRADLEY,
Defendant-Appellants.
________________________
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia
_________________________
(March 9, 2007)
Before TJOFLAT and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges, and LAWSON,* District Judge.
PER CURIAM:
*
Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia,
sitting by designation.
Following a jury trial, Patrick Blasingame and William Nicholas Bradley
were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit the robbery of a
business involved in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, and one
count of using or possessing a firearm in the commission of a violent felony, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Blasingame was sentenced to a total of nineteen
years imprisonment, and Bradley was sentenced to a total of sixteen years and two
months imprisonment. Blasingame independently raises two issues on appeal: (1)
the district court plainly erred in allowing the introduction of a non-testifying co-
defendant’s confession, which implicated Blasingame; and (2) the district court
erred in allowing the admission of a photograph depicting Blasingame’s gunshot
wound and tattoo.
Bradley independently raises five issues on appeal: (1) the district court
informed the jury of Bradley’s incarceration in violation of his due process rights;
(2) the district court erred in denying Bradley’s Motion for Severance; (3) the
district court erred in allowing a government agent to testify that a witness refused
to testify out of fear; (4) the district court erred in allowing prosecutors to
improperly cross examine Bradley’s alibi witnesses; and (5) the district court erred
in allowing the prosecutors to read several witnesses’ prior testimonies aloud. In
addition, both Defendants appeal their sentences pursuant to United States v.
2
Booker, 543 U.S. __, 125 S. Ct. 738, 160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005). For the reasons
explained herein, we find no reversible error and affirm both Defendants’
convictions and sentences.
I. BACKGROUND
On April 8, 2003, a federal grand jury returned a two-count superseding
indictment charging Defendants Blasingame and Bradley along with five other co-
conspirators1 in Count One with conspiracy to commit robbery of a business
involved in interstate commerce, and in Count Two with using and carrying a
firearm. Both Defendants pled not guilty at arraignment and were incarcerated
pending trial. A jury trial was held beginning October 27, 2003.
At trial, Milton Prince and Paul Sampleton, both employees of Brinks
Armored Car Company, recounted the events that took place during the attempted
robbery of their truck on May 1, 2002. Paul Sampleton, a supervisor at Brinks,
testified that on that particular morning the usual driver for the route did not come
to work and Sampleton had to fill in as driver that day. He arrived at the First
Union Bank on Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur, Georgia at approximately 9 a.m. to
1
Willard Mahan, Andy Marbury, and Michael Davis testified in the present case pursuant to a
plea agreement, and Dwight Elder and Darrell Cooper remain at large.
3
deliver cash to the bank. Although the regular driver usually parked in a particular
area, he noticed that there was an abundance of cars in that area and decided to
back the truck up to the bank on the opposite side of the building. He testified that
after he parked he observed a suspicious gray Suburban circling the parking lot
several times. Minutes later he heard a shotgun blast and saw that his partner,
Milton Prince, had been shot.
Prince testified that he was taking coins off the truck to deliver to the bank
when he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around a man with a ski mask
fired a shotgun at him. Although Prince had been hit, he managed to climb inside
the Brinks truck and yelled for Sampleton to leave. A second masked man
attempted to enter the truck and fired his weapon several times. As the truck pulled
out of the parking lot the second individual fell off the truck and Sampleton was
able to flee the scene. Although no money was taken, Prince was shot in the chest,
arm and foot. He showed the jury where the shot was embedded in his arm and
testified that he continues to experience pain in his foot. Because both robbers were
masked, neither Sampleton nor Prince was able to identify either shooter.
Three cooperating co-defendants, Willard Mahan, Andy Marbury, and
Michael Davis, testified at trial. Mahan testified that as a former employee of
Brinks, he was responsible for devising the plan to rob the truck. He testified that
4
co-conspirator Dwight Elder advised him as to when the truck would be making the
deliveries and how much money would be on the truck because he had a contact
who was still employed with Brinks. Mahan testified that he and others had
attempted to rob the Brinks truck on numerous prior occasions. All attempts failed
and he testified that he recruited Blasingame and Bradley because he felt they were
people on whom he could depend. Marbury testified that he had been in involved in
the conspiracy since the beginning and his account of the events leading up to the
attempted robbery were consistent with Mahan’s testimony.
Davis, who had not met either Blasingame or Bradley until the night before
the attempted robbery, named Defendants as the gunmen on the day of his arrest
before entering into any agreement with the Government. Davis’s account of the
conspiracy and attempted robbery were also consistent with Mahan’s testimony. In
addition, Davis testified that he was threatened by Blasingame while they were in
custody together at the Union City Jail. Davis testified that Blasingame “expressed
to me that he read my testimony and he knew what I said and if I testified, I’d
better stay in jail or he would kill me.”
Mahan, Marbury, and Davis all admitted that they were cooperating with the
Government in order to receive shorter sentences and that they all had used either
marijuana or cocaine. In addition, the following inconsistencies were shown in
5
their testimony: (1) Marbury stated that he did not provide Davis with cocaine or
rum on the day of the robbery, but Davis stated that he did; (2) Mahan told the
Grand Jury that the handgun used in the robbery was not his, but later admitted that
he gave his handgun to Bradley to use during the robbery; (3) A government
agent’s report indicated that Marbury initially stated he used Elder’s Mercedes, yet
Marbury testified at trial that the Mercedes he used belonged to his mother and the
agent was mistaken; (4) Davis called Marbury “Andy Rapper” on one occasion; (5)
Davis initially said he was picked up from his house, but then testified that he was
picked up at the bus stop “right up the street” from his house; (6) Mahan testified
that Marbury was driving his mother’s Mercedes, but he previously indicated
Marbury was driving his mother’s Monte Carlo.
Clifford Wilson, a close friend of both defendants, testified that Defendant
Bradley admitted to him on the day of the robbery that he and Defendant
Blasingame participated in the attempted robbery of the Brinks armored truck.
Wilson testified further that he was told by Defendant Mahan and Defendant
Bradley that they planned to rob a Brinks truck. He also testified that the
conspirators had gathered at Mahan’s home the night before the robbery attempt to
discuss the final details of the robbery, and that Blasingame was present that night.
Wilson also testified about statements allegedly made to him by Bradley in which
6
Bradley stated that he and Blasingame participated in the robbery.
Blasingame chose to testify in his own defense and testified that he did not
know Michael Davis, and that co-defendants Mahan and Marbury were "not in his
social circle.” However, Blasingame could not account for his whereabouts on the
morning of the robbery. He claimed at first to have been at work, but when pressed
could not say for whom, where, or for what period of time he worked that day.
Blasingame then claimed that he could have been working in his yard that morning.
He also claimed that because he had asthma he could not have been one of the
shooters who ran up to the truck during the robbery.
Blasingame called Alexis Bradley who confirmed that Blasingame had
asthma and stated that he could not run. In addition, Toyin Kadiya testified that she
witnessed the attempted robbery and that the shooter she saw through the tinted
window of the vehicle was darker than Blasingame. She first testified that she
ducked into the seat as soon as she saw the man with the gun exit his vehicle, but
then stated that she saw the man with the gun shoot before ducking into her seat.
Further, the jury was shown a picture of a window of a vehicle that had heavily
tinted windows and Kadiya agreed that was what the window of the robber’s car
had looked like when she saw through it.
In his defense Bradley presented the testimony of Ronald Christian and
7
Christian’s nephew, Jeffrey Bernard Christian. Both testified that on May 1, 2002
at 9:15 in the morning while they were cutting the grass in Bradley’s yard they
spoke to Bradley about a party he had thrown. Ronald’s log book, which referenced
cutting Bradley’s grass on that day, was admitted to corroborate his testimony. He
also testified that he knew what time it was when he saw Bradley that day because
his routine was to take his child to school, return to his home to get his lawn
equipment, pick up his nephew, and proceed to the lawn he was cutting on that day.
Bradley also presented the testimony of his fiancee, Larhonda Ward, who
testified that Bradley drove her to work on the day in question, and therefore could
not have been at the scene of the attempted robbery across town. She testified that
she knew it was May 1, 2002, because she was pregnant and suffering from
morning sickness, but had to go to work anyway because it was the first of the
month.
On cross-examination all three witnesses had no recollection of dates and
times of significant events that had occurred in their own lives, but maintained that
they recalled the specific date and time of their conversations with Bradley.
Further, Ward admitted that her son was born exactly nine months after the
attempted robbery, suggesting that it was unlikely that she was suffering from
morning sickness on the morning in question.
8
Upon deliberation the jury convicted Bradley and Blasingame of both counts
in the indictment. Blasingame timely moved for a new trial on four grounds: (1) the
court erred in allowing Wilson to testify about Bradley’s confession; (2) the court
erred in admitting a photograph showing his tattoo; (3) the court sentenced him
pursuant to the unconstitutional sentencing guidelines; and (4) the court’s
comments informed the jury that he was incarcerated. Bradley also timely filed a
Motion for a New Trial arguing that the court should not have used the federal
sentencing guidelines, and that he was prejudiced when the jury was informed that
he was incarcerated. The district court denied both motions.
In determining Blasingame’s sentencing guidelines range with respect to
Count One, the probation officer assigned Blasingame a base offense level of 20,
pursuant to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2B3.1. This base offense level
was increased by two since “the property of a financial institution … was taken, or
… the taking of such property was an object of the offense.” Id. § 2B3.1(b)(1).
Because Blasingame discharged a firearm seriously wounding the Brinks
employee, his base level was further increased by four for causing serious bodily
injury. Id. § 2B3.1(b)(3)(B). Blasingame also received a four-level enhancement
for being an organizer or leader of criminal activity that involved five or more
persons, Id. § 3B1.1(a) and a two-level enhancement for obstructing justice. Id. §
9
3C1.1. With these enhancements, Blasingame’s total offense level was 32, and
when coupled with his Criminal History Category of II, his guidelines range on
Count One was 135 to 168 months. As to Count Two, there were no guidelines
calculations because that offense called for a consecutive statutory mandatory
minimum term of ten years. Id. § 2K2.4, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (2000).
Blasingame objected to the leadership role enhancement, as well as the
obstruction of justice enhancement, on sufficiency of evidence grounds. At
sentencing, the district court overruled Blasingame’s objection to the obstruction of
justice enhancement, but sustained his objection to the leadership enhancement
because there was insufficient evidence that he played a leadership role. Without
that enhancement Blasingame’s new total offense level was 28, and his guidelines
range for Count One was 87 to 108 months. The court sentenced Blasingame to
108 months in prison as to Count One and to a consecutive 120 months prison term
on Count Two for a total sentence of 228 months. In imposing the sentence the
court remarked that it pronounced a sentence at the top of the guidelines range
“because of the aggravating factors in this case; based on the evidence in the case,
there was an actual attempt to kill one of the drivers of the vehicle.” Blasingame
did not raise a constitutional challenge to his sentence based on his Sixth
Amendment right to a trial by jury.
10
In determining Bradley's sentencing guidelines range with respect to Count
One, the probation officer assigned him a base offense level of 20, pursuant to U.S.
Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2B3.1. This base offense level was increased by
two since “the property of a financial institution . .. was taken, or ... the taking of
such property was an object of the offense.” Id. § 2B3.1 (b)(l). Because Bradley
discharged a firearm seriously wounding the Brinks employee, his base offense
level was further increased by four for causing serious bodily injury. Id. § 2B3.1
(b)(3)(B). Bradley also received a four-level enhancement for being an organizer
or leader of criminal activity that involved five or more persons, Id. § 3Bl.l(a), and
a two-level enhancement for obstructing justice. Id. § 3C1.1. As a result of these
enhancements, Bradley's total offense level was 32, and, when coupled with his
Criminal History Category of I, his guidelines range on Count One was 121 to 151
months. As to Count Two, there were no guidelines calculations because that
offense called for a consecutive statutory mandatory minimum term of ten years,
pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4 and § 924(c). Id. § 2K2.4, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (2000).
Bradley objected to receiving the enhancements for being a leader and for
obstructing justice on sufficiency of the evidence grounds. At sentencing, the
district court sustained both of Bradley's objections, which yielded a new total
offense level of 26 and a guidelines range of 63 to 78 months. Bradley then
11
requested a downward departure due to poor pre-trial prison conditions. The
district court denied his request, stating "I don't think a downward departure is
appropriate but I will consider that type of punishment when I impose a sentence
on Count 1." The district court also asked defense counsel to address its "concern"
that Bradley's co-defendant, Patrick Blasingame, seemed to be more of the leader,
and Bradley seemed to be more of the follower. The district court commented that
while Bradley's role would not be "grounds for a downward departure," it would be
a consideration in determining where to sentence Bradley within the guidelines
range. After hearing argument on this point, the district court said "I'm not going to
the bottom of the guideline range but I'm going to the upper level of 74 months."
When the Government attempted to defend the pre-trial prison conditions Bradley
was subjected to, the district court explained that its reason for the "reduction is
more on the grounds that my impression is that Mr. Bradley was more of a follower
in this situation." The court then sentenced Bradley to 74 months on Count One,
120 months on Count Two, to be served consecutively, for a total of 194 months.
Bradley did not raise a constitutional challenge to his sentence based on his Sixth
Amendment right to a trial by jury.
II. DEFENDANT BLASINGAME
A. Bradley’s Confession to Clifford Wilson
12
First, Blasingame argues that his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation
was violated, according to the rule announced in Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S.
123, 88 S. Ct. 1620, 20 L. Ed. 2d 476 (1968), when Bradley’s confession to Clifford
Wilson, which also implicated Blasingame, was entered into evidence. Although
Blasingame admits he did not object to the testimony in the district court, he
nevertheless argues that he did not waive the Bruton issue because the Government
failed to comply with its duty under Rule 14 to notify the district court of a
potential Bruton issue. He argues that Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure imposed an implicit duty upon the Government to make the district court
aware of any potential Bruton issue. Pursuant to that alleged duty, Blasingame
argues that the Government’s failure to put the parties or the district court on notice
that a Bruton issue existed in the case excuses his failure to object in the district
court.
Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that “[b]efore
ruling on a defendant’s motion to sever, the court may order an attorney for the
Government to deliver to the court for in camera inspection any defendant’s
statement that the Government intends to use as evidence.” The text of the rule
clearly imposes a duty upon the Government to notify the court of a potential
Bruton issue only after being ordered to do so by the court. Nothing in the record
13
indicates that the district court ever contemplated or entered such an order.
Accordingly, since the text of Rule 14 does not impose a duty upon the
Government to introduce Bruton issues absent a court order, any failure on the
Government’s part to comply with this nonexistent duty cannot excuse
Blasingame’s failure to object to the testimony. Because Blasingame failed to
object to Wilson’s testimony at trial, he must show that the district court committed
plain error by allowing a non-testifying co-defendant’s confession into evidence.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b).
To establish plain error a defendant must show (1) that the district court
erred, (2) that the error was plain, and (3) that the error was prejudicial. United
States v. Foree, 43 F.3d 1572, 1578 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing United States v. Olano,
507 U.S. 725, 732-36, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 1776-79, 123 L. Ed. 2d 508 (1993)). With
respect to the third element, it “is the defendant rather than the Government who
bears the burden of persuasion with respect to prejudice.” Olano, 570 U.S. at 734,
113 S. Ct. 1778, 123 L. Ed. 2d 508. Further, even if a defendant established all three
elements, an error should only be corrected if it “seriously affect[s] the fairness,
integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Foree, 43 F.3d at 1579
(citing Olano, 570 U.S. at 736-38, 113 S. Ct. 1779-80, 123 L. Ed. 2d 508).
In Bruton, the United States Supreme Court held that the admission of a
14
non-testifying co-defendant’s confession, which directly implicated the defendant,
violated the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation, even if the jury
was given instructions to consider the confession only against the co-defendant.
391 U.S. at 126, 88 S.Ct. at 1622, 20 L. Ed. 2d 476. The Court explained that the
credibility of these types of confessions was not only inherently suspect, but was
especially unreliable when the confession could not be tested on cross-
examination. Id. at 136, 88 S.Ct. at 1628, 20 L. Ed. 2d 476. Here, Clifford Wilson
was allowed to testify that Bradley confessed that he and Blasingame participated
in the attempted robbery. As Bradley did not take the stand, Blasingame was not
allowed the opportunity to cross-examine him about these allegations. Yet, even if
we assume that allowing Wilson’s testimony was error and that the error was
sufficiently plain to satisfy the second prong of the plain error test, Blasingame
cannot meet the hefty burden of showing that the error affected the outcome of the
trial.
In an attempt to satisfy the prejudice element of the plain error test,
Blasingame asserts that Wilson’s testimony was the only incriminating evidence
presented by a witness not cooperating with the Government. He claims that the
three cooperating witnesses who implicated him were “successfully impeached”
and that an eyewitness to the incident could not identify him as one of the robbers.
15
He also points to United States v. Veltmen , 6 F.3d 1483 (11th Cir. 1993), and
United States v. Morales, 477 F.2d 1309 (5th Cir 1973),2 as similar cases in which
a Bruton error amounted to reversible error. Finally, he argues that the prejudice
requirement is satisfied because Wilson’s testimony was by far the most damaging
evidence presented. Contrary to Blasingame’s assertion, the prejudice requirement
of the plain error test is not established merely because the error allowed damaging
evidence to be admitted. Blasingame must show that the error affected the outcome
of the district court proceeding. United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1299,
cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 125 S. Ct. 2935, 162 L. Ed. 2d 866 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing
United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 632 (2002)) (internal citations omitted).
Initially, the cases cited by Blasingame do not advance his argument as they
are inapplicable to the facts of this case. In Veltman, this court reviewed a Bruton
violation under the harmless error standard, not the plain error standard that is
applicable here. 6 F.3d at 1501. Although both standards are similar, the harmless
error standard places the burden on the Government to prove the error did not
affect the outcome of the proceedings, while the plain error standard places the
burden on the defendant to establish that the error did affect the outcome of the
2
Decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit handed down prior to
September 30, 1981 are binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit. Bonner v. City of Pritchard,
661 F.2d 1206, 1207 (11th Cir. 1981).
16
proceeding. Likewise, although the Morales court did review a Bruton error under
the plain error standard, the case was decided before the Supreme Court
established, in Olano, the specific elements and burdens of the plain error standard.
The Morales court rather concluded that the improperly admitted confession
amounted to plain error because the confession was one the major pieces of
evidence that linked the defendant to the crime. 477 F.2d at 1316. Under Olano, a
defendant must establish not only that the improperly admitted confession
contributed to the outcome of the proceeding, but that without the confession the
outcome of the proceeding would have been different. 570 U.S. at 734,113 S. Ct.
1778, 123 L. Ed. 2d 508. Moreover, as the prejudice element of the plain error test
heavily depends on the facts of the particular case, there can be no hard and fast
rule that will apply to every case.
Further, all three cooperating co-conspirators consistently told the same
general story and all identified Blasingame as one of the shooters. Although
defense counsel was able to point out some discrepancies in their testimonies, the
cooperating co-conspirators were far from successfully impeached; any
discrepancies in their testimonies were minor.3 Also, the fact that the three co-
3
Perhaps the most significant discrepancy was that Davis stated that Marbury had given him
some cocaine and rum the day of the robbery and Marbury denied doing so. Mahan did admit that
he lied to the Grand Jury about owning a gun; however, because both Marbury and Davis also
17
conspirators all cooperated with the Government does not, as Blasingame suggests,
mean that their testimony should be summarily ignored in determining whether the
district court’s error prejudiced Blasingame. Although the fact that the co-
conspirators were cooperating with the Government in exchange for shorter
sentences may have made the jury more skeptical of their testimony, there is no
evidence that suggests that the jury completely disregarded their testimony,
especially considering the consistency of their statements. Further, although the
eyewitness stated the man she saw was darker than Blasingame, she saw the man
through the heavily tinted rear window of a vehicle and testified that she ducked
immediately after seeing the gun. Given the overwhelming evidence provided by
the cooperating co-defendants, who each identified Blasingame as one of the
shooters, the jury likely placed little weight in her testimony.
Because the trial transcript establishes that there was substantial independent
evidence of Blasingame’s involvement, we find that Wilson’s testimony regarding
Bradley’s confession was just another cumulative piece of evidence establishing
Blasingame’s guilt. Initially, all three cooperating co-conspirators testified that
Blasingame was one of the shooters during the attempted robbery. In addition,
identify Blasingame as a shooter, it is unlikely that Mahan's lie had any effect on whether or not
the jury believed that Blasingame was one of the shooters.
18
although Blasingame took the stand asserting his innocence, he could not
affirmatively recall where he was or what he was doing the morning of the
attempted robbery. Blasingame first asserted that he was working that morning, but
after he could not recall where or for whom he worked, he admitted that he may
have been at his home.
In addition, the properly admitted remainder of Wilson’s testimony also
established Blasingame’s involvement. Wilson independently testified that
Blasingame was present at Mahan’s home the night before the robbery when the
plans for the robbery were finalized. This testimony confirmed the testimony of all
three cooperating co-defendants that Blasingame was involved in the planning of
the robbery and had been present the night before when the details were finalized.
As there was substantial and overwhelming evidence of Blasingame’s involvement,
independent of Wilson’s testimony, Blasingame cannot meet the prejudice
requirement of the plain error test.
B. Picture of Blasingame’s Tattoo and Wound
Blasingame next argues that the district court erred when it allowed the
Government to introduce into evidence a photograph of his torso, which showed
his tattoo and a gunshot wound. Mahan, one of the cooperating co-conspirators,
testified at trial that in order to help identify the person he knew to be “Pat,” he
19
described to authorities a scar that “Pat” had on his stomach. Agent Fonseca also
testified that Mahan had described “Pat’s” scar and tattoos and recounted Mahan’s
description of the scar for the jury. Over Blasingame’s objection, the district court
admitted a photograph of Blasingame taken at the time of his arrest that depicted a
similar scar and numerous tattoos for the purpose of showing that “Pat” was
Blasingame and to corroborate Mahan’s identification of the defendant as one of
the two masked gunmen who shot the victim. Blasingame argues initially that the
photograph is not relevant and should not have been admitted into evidence. He
asserts that the Government’s proffered reasons for introducing the photograph are
not valid. In the alternative, Blasingame argues that even if the photograph is
relevant in some way, the prejudicial impact of the photograph far outweighed any
probative value it had.
We review a district court’s evidentiary ruling for a clear abuse of discretion
and will only reverse an erroneous ruling if it affected the defendant’s substantial
rights. United States v. Tinoco, 304 F.3d 1088, 1119 (2002). District courts have
broad discretion in admitting relevant evidence. United States v. Terzado-Madruga,
897 F.2d 1099, 1117 (11th Cir. 1990) (citing United States v. Finestone, 816 F.2d
583,585 (11th Cir. 1987)). Thus, “evidence having any tendency to make the
existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more
20
probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence” is generally
admitted. See FED. R. EVID. 401. In contrast, a district court’s discretion under
Rule 403 to exclude relevant evidence because it would be unfairly prejudicial is
limited. Finestone, 816 F.2d at 585. Rule 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is
an extraordinary remedy that should be utilized sparingly. United States v. Elkins,
885 F.2d 775, 785 (11th Cir. 1989). Furthermore, because the balancing test under
Rule 403 should favor admissibility, this court views the evidence “in a light most
favorable to its admission, maximizing its probative value and minimizing its
undue prejudicial impact.” Id. at 785 (citing Finestone, 816 F.2d at 585).
Blasingame first argues that the photograph was not relevant and that the
reasons proffered by the Government for its introduction are not valid. Blasingame
argues that Mahan had known him for over ten years and therefore the photograph
was not needed to prove his identity. Because Mahan’s testimony clearly shows
that he initially identified the shooter as “Pat,” the Government used the
photograph to show that “Pat” was actually Blasingame. Blasingame also contends
that because Mahan did not describe the scar and tattoos to the jury, there was no
evidence to show whether the photograph was consistent with Mahan’s description
of the scar and tattoos. Agent Fonseca, however, recounted Mahan’s description of
the scar for the jury. Thus, the photograph was admitted to allow the jury to see
21
whether the scar in the photograph matched “Pat’s” scar that Mahan described to
Agent Fonseca.
Blasingame also asserts that if the photograph was relevant he was unfairly
prejudiced by it because a jury would be persuaded that a man with a gunshot
wound and graphic tattoos would likely be involved in a conspiracy to commit an
armed robbery. Blasingame argues that any probative value the photograph may
have had was outweighed by its obvious prejudicial effect. Blasingame relies on
United States v. Thomas, 321 F.3d 627 (7th Cir. 2003), for the proposition that the
photograph’s probative value was eclipsed by its prejudicial impact.
Here, the probative value of the photograph of Blasingame’s scar and tattoos
was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Although
Mahan had known Blasingame for over ten years, it is clear from his testimony at
trial that he described Blasingame as “Pat” when he initially spoke to authorities.
Further, Blasingame tried to distance himself from Mahan and the other co-
conspirators by claiming that Mahan and he were not in the same social circle or
friends. Blasingame further testified that Mahan was a liar who had falsely
incriminated him. Therefore, the photograph was used by the Government to show
that Blasingame was the person identified by Mahan as “Pat” and to further
corroborate Mahan’s identification of Blasingame as one of the two masked
22
gunmen who shot the victim.
Blasingame’s reliance on Thomas is mistaken. In Thomas, the district court
allowed the prosecution to admit a photograph of defendant’s gun tattoo for the
purpose of showing that the defendant approved of guns in order to refute the
defendant’s contention that he did not possess the firearm in question. Id. The
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the tattoo of two
crossed revolvers had no probative value because the tattoo only showed that
because the defendant had a pair of guns tattooed on his forearm, he was the kind
of person who was likely to possess guns. Id. The facts of the present case are
strikingly different. Here, unlike the photograph in Thomas, Blasingame’s
photograph had significant probative value. As already discussed, the photograph
was used to identify “Pat” and corroborate Mahan’s identification of Blasingame.
Any unfair prejudice Blasingame may have experienced from the photograph does
not overcome the photograph’s probative value. Moreover, given the presumption
of admissibility under Rule 403, we cannot conclude that the district court abused
its discretion in allowing the photograph to be admitted.
III. DEFENDANT BRADLEY
A. Comments about Defendant’s Incarceration
Bradley first argues that he was denied a fair trial when the jury was
23
informed several times that he was in custody during trial. Bradley claims that he
was denied a fair trial, because: (1) the district court judge made remarks which
informed the jury that he was incarcerated;4 (2) Michael Davis testified that
Blasingame threatened him in jail;5 and (3) Herbert Durham testified that he had
4
The following exchange occurred in open court in the presence of the prospective jury panel:
Court: Have a seat. I want to ask the marshals, why did it take so long to bring the
defendants up?
Marshal: There was a mix-up, Your Honor, probably on my part. I left earlier to
get something and finish it, and I didn’t realize I was suppose to come back.
Court: Do you want to apologize to the jury?
Marshal: I apologize, Your Honor.
The following exchange occurred in open court in the presence of the jury:
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: The government calls Michael Davis to the stand.
Court: If any member of the jury needs a break at any time in the next five, ten,
fifteen, twenty minutes, let me know and we will take a short break, but it looks
like we’re going to go until about 5:15 today.
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Your Honor, apparently, the witness is still on the way up.
Court: All right. The witness is on the way up?
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Yes. He is not up here yet.
Court: All right. All right. Is he in custody?
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Yes, he is in custody.
Court: Well, lets wait a couple of minutes to see if he shows up.
The following is an excerpt of the district court’s cautionary instructions to the jury:
Before I give you the charge I do want to make one point to you, and that is you
might have noticed in the trial a number of Marshals at various times in the
courtroom; at one time, I think we had as many as six. They wore plain clothes,
maybe you didn’t recognize them, but they were over here and there in the back
and inside the bar, but that has absolutely no bearing on the guilt or innocence of
the defendants and you shouldn’t consider that in any way. As a matter of fact,
they were here primarily because we has a number of witnesses who were in
custody . . . .
5
The following is an excerpt from Davis’s direct examination:
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Would you tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury about
that conversation?
Davis: We had a brief meeting in the hallway and he expressed to me that he read
my testimony and he knew what I said and if I testified, I’d better stay in jail or he
would kill me.
24
visited Bradley in jail.6 Bradley also contends that the combination of these
incidents amounted to a constant reminder that he was incarcerated, which
deprived him of the presumption of innocence.
A presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is a basic element of a
fair trial in our system of justice. Estelle v. Williams, 425 U.S. 501, 503, 96 S.Ct.
1691,1692, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1976). That presumption of innocence is impaired and
an accused’s right to a fair trial is violated when the accused is required to attend
trial in prison clothing. Id. at 504, 96 S.Ct. at1693, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126. See also United
States v. Harris, 703 F.2d 508, 509-11 (11th Cir. 1983)(right to a fair trial impaired
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: What did you say?
Davis: I didn’t exchange words with him at all.
The following is an excerpt from Davis’s cross-examination:
Pate: Finally, Mr. Davis, you testified that at some point, Mr. Blasingame told you
you’d better stay in jail and not testify; is that an accurate statement?
Davis: Pretty much accurate.
Pate: Okay. And you say this occurred in the hallway; were you all at the jail at
the time?
Davis: (No response.)
Pate: It’s okay in response to my question if you answer that truthfully.
Davis: Yes.
6
The following is an excerpt from Durham’s cross-examination:
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Now, you have talked to Mr. Bradley recently, have you
not?
Durham: Yes.
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: And he would sometimes call you collect?
Durham: Right.
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: And have you visited him at the jail?
Durham: Yes.
AUSA Sam-Buchanan: Now –
Durham: I’ve visited both of them.
25
when defendant was compelled to attend voir dire in prison clothing). Further, we
have previously noted that whether the jury directly learns of a defendant’s
incarceration from testimony or infers the fact from a defendant’s clothing is of no
consequence. United States v. Villabona-Garnica, 63 F.3d 1051, 1058 (11th Cir.
1995). Yet, “the mere utterance” of the words jail or prison does not automatically
entitle a defendant to a new trial. United States v. Veteto, 701 F.2d 136, 139-40
(11th Cir. 1983)(quoting United States v. Barcenas, 498 F.2d 1110, 1113 (5th Cir.
1974)). Rather, it is the “constant reminder of the accused’s condition” that is “so
likely to be a continuing influence throughout the trial” that presents an
“unacceptable risk” to the presumption of innocence. Estelle, 425 at 504-05, 96
S. Ct. at 1693, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126.
Even assuming that the comments and testimony complained of either
directly informed the jury of defendant’s incarceration or allowed the jury to infer
the fact, the comments and testimony, individually do not raise to the level of a
“constant reminder.” The court’s initial comments at most caused the jury to
speculate about whether the defendant was incarcerated, and the court’s cautionary
instructions to the jury specifically attributed the increased presence of United
States Marshals to the incarcerated witnesses. These comments were not only brief,
but required the jury to make several inferential steps to conclude the defendant
26
was in custody.
Likewise, any comments that indicated Bradley was incarcerated from either
Davis’s testimony or Durham’s testimony were also brief passing comments. None
of these comments rise to the level of reversible error. See United States v. Beasley,
2 F.3d 1551, 1559 (11th Cir. 1993 ) (no reversible error because witness’s response
to a question on cross-examination that he met the defendant in prison was a
passing remark followed by a curative instruction); United States v. Morcovic, 911
F.2d 613, 616 (11th Cir. 1990)(“It is almost frivolous to argue that a mistrial should
have been granted because three jurors saw the defendants in handcuffs when they
were being removed--especially since the court gave cautionary instructions.”).
Furthermore, these four brief comments, which do not independently amount to
reversible error, do not combine to create a “constant reminder” of the defendant’s
incarceration. Even considering the combined effect of these comments, they were
nevertheless brief and occurred sporadically over the course of a multi-day trial.
They simply do not amount to a “constant reminder” or rise to the level of
reversible error.
B. Denial of Bradley’s Motion for Severance
Bradley next argues that he suffered compelling prejudice when the district
court abused its discretion in denying his motion for severance and required him to
27
be jointly tried with Blasingame. Bradley argues that he was prejudiced in two
ways: (1) Davis was allowed to read the transcript of his plea colloquy which
contained assertions that the defendants had threatened him while they were in
custody; and (2) Blasingame pursued a trial strategy which confirmed to the jury
that he was in pre-trial custody. Bradley further argues that because the evidence
against him relied entirely upon word of mouth, with no physical evidence to
corroborate the stories of the co-conspirators, the prejudice he suffered was
compelling.
“The general rule in this circuit is that defendants who are jointly indicted
should be tried together, and this rule has been held to be particularly applicable to
conspiracy cases.” United States v. Alvarez, 755 F.2d 830, 857 (11th Cir. 1985). A
severance under Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure should be
granted only if the defendant can demonstrate that a joint trial would result in
specific and compelling prejudice to the conduct of his defense. United States v.
Marzalkowski, 669 F.2d 655 (11th Cir. 1982). When a district court denies a
defendant’s motion to sever, we review that denial for abuse of discretion. United
States v. Jacoby, 955 F.2d 1527, 1542 (11th Cir. 1992). We will only reverse a
district court’s denial of a severance motion if the denial “result[ed] in compelling
prejudice against which the district court could offer no protection.” United States
28
v. Walser, 3 F.3d 388, 385 (11th Cir. 1993). The test for compelling prejudice is
“whether under all the circumstances of a particular case, as a practical matter, it is
within the capacity of the jury to follow the [instructions] and accordingly . . .
appraise the independent evidence against each defendant’s own acts, statements
and conduct.” United States v. Kabbaby, 672 F.2d 857 (11th Cir. 1982). Further,
even if a defendant can show some prejudice, a defendant is entitled to severance
only if that “prejudice flowing from a joint trial is clearly beyond the curative
powers of precautionary instruction.” United States v. Morrow, 537 F.2d 120, 126
(5th Cir. 1977).
Here, Bradley argues compelling prejudice is established because testimony
of a threat made by Blasingame, that improperly implied that Bradley also
threatened the witness, was admitted and because Blasingame chose to freely admit
to the jury that he was in custody during the trial. First, the district court
specifically instructed the jury that the testimony regarding the threat should only
be considered against Blasingame and not Bradley. Because the district court gave
appropriate instructions to the jury and Bradley has offered no evidence suggesting
that the jury was unable to follow the court’s instructions, the threat testimony does
not establish compelling prejudice. In addition, because compelling prejudice does
not exist merely because there is evidence at trial that is applicable only to a co-
29
defendant, the fact that Blasingame chose to inform the jury that he was in custody
does not establish compelling prejudice either. See United States v. Alvarez, 755
F.2d 830, 857 (11th Cir. 1985) (“defendant does not suffer ‘compelling prejudice’
simply because much of the evidence at trial is applicable only to his
codefendants.”)
C. Agent Fonseca’s Statement that a Witness Refused to Testify out of Fear
Bradley argues that the district court erroneously admitted hearsay evidence
that a witness refused to testify at trial due to fear. Bradley argues the district court
erred in allowing Agent Fonseca to testify that Jeff Ridley, who was involved in
one of the earlier robbery attempts but later withdrew from the conspiracy, was
scared to testify against the defendants. Bradley argues that allowing Agent
Fonseca’s testimony violated the confrontation clause because his statement was
testimonial hearsay. He further argues that because the evidence in the case
consisted solely of the testimony of co-conspirators, without independent
corroboration, the admission of this statement by the non-testifying declarant
cannot be considered harmless, and the conviction should be reversed.
Rule 801 of the Federal Rules of Evidence defines hearsay as “a statement,
other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered
in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” “Statement” is further defined
30
as “(1) an oral or written assertion, or (2) nonverbal conduct of a person, if it is
intended by the person as an assertion.” FED. R. EVID. 801(a). Here, Agent
Fonseca stated, “[Ridley] flat-out did not want to testify; he was scared to testify
against the defendants.” This statement is not hearsay. Agent Fonseca neither
repeats Ridley’s oral statements nor describes Ridley’s nonverbal conduct. Agent
Fonseca simply asserted that in his opinion Ridley refused to testify because he was
scared to testify against the defendant. His statement may have been an irrelevant
opinion;7 however, it is not hearsay.
D. Prosecutors’ Cross-examination of Bradley’s Alibi Witnesses
Bradley argues that counsel for the Government was allowed to ask
Bradley’s alibi witnesses questions regarding events which negatively impacted the
witnesses’ characters. He asserts that the prosecution’s purpose for asking these
damaging questions was not to test the memory of the witnesses regarding dates,
but rather to improperly attack the witnesses’ characters. Yet, the Government
asserts that the questions were designed to demonstrate that the witnesses’
testimonies were unworthy of belief because none could remember significant
7
Although Bradley attempted to argue that Agent Fonseca’s opinion was irrelevant opinion
testimony at oral argument, by failing to raise the argument in his brief, he has waived the issue.
McFarlin v. Conseco Services, LLC, 381 F.3d 1251, 1263 (11th Cir. 2004) (“A party is not
allowed to raise at oral argument a new issue for review.”); Flanigan’s Enterprises, Inc. v. Fulton
County, 242 F.3d 976, 987 n.16 (11th Cir. 2001)(issue not developed in a party’s brief is
waived).
31
events which had occurred in their own lives.
Bradley called three alibi witnesses. The mother of his child, Larhonda
Ward, testified that on the morning of the attempted robbery she was suffering
from such severe morning sickness that Bradley had to drive her to work and he
therefore could not have been at Mahan’s home gearing up for the robbery.
However, on cross-examination, Ward admitted that her son was born exactly nine
months after the attempted robbery, a fact which established that at the time she
claimed to be having morning sickness she was only at the most a few days
pregnant. Jeffrey Christian and Ronald Christian testified that they cut defendant
Bradley’s grass on the day of the robbery and that they recalled that at exactly 9:15
a.m. that day they were talking to him in the backyard. On cross-examination,
Government counsel questioned both men regarding their recollection of events
which had occurred in their personal lives. Ronald Christian was asked about the
birth of his child, an award he received, and a reprimand he had received at work.
Jefferey Christian was questioned about his recollection of a speeding ticket he
received less than one week after the robbery and about his firing by his employer
on suspicion of theft. In each instance the witness had no recollection of the dates
and times of significant events in his own life, but they both maintained that they
recalled the date and specific time at which they had a backyard conversation with
32
Bradley.
“[E]vidence relevant to a material issue is not rendered inadmissible because
it happens to include references to specific bad acts of a witness. Extrinsic evidence
of a witness' prior misconduct should be excluded where that evidence is probative
only of the witness' general propensity for truthfulness.” United States v. Calle, 822
F.2d 1016, 1021 (11th Cir. 1987). The prosecutor’s questions were relevant to
show that it was unlikely that the alibi witnesses could actually remember the exact
time and date of everyday events that occurred over a year prior when the same
witnesses could not remember the exact time and date of significant events that
occurred in their respective lives around the same time. Accordingly, the questions
were not offered solely as evidence of the witnesses’ general propensity for
truthfulness and were properly admitted.
E. Prosecutor’s Recitation of Witnesses’ Prior Testimony
Bradley argues that the district court erred in allowing prosecutors to read
several witnesses’ prior testimony aloud. He argues that the proper method would
have been to ask if a witness recalled the testimony, and if not, to refresh the
witness’s recollection by allowing them to silently review the testimony. While
Bradley is correct in his explanation of the requirements of Rule 612 of the Federal
Rules of Evidence, he neglects to consider Rule 801.
33
Rule 801 provides that a prior consistent statement of a declarant testifying
at trial and subject to cross-examination is admissible when offered "to rebut an
express or implied charge against him of recent fabrication, improper influence or
motive." FED. R. EVID. 801 (d)(1)(B). Thus, to rebut an express or implied charge
that the witness is motivated, has been influenced to testify falsely, or that the
witness’s testimony is a recent fabrication, evidence is admissible that the witness
told the same story before the motive or influence came into existence or before the
time of the alleged recent fabrication. Tome v. United States, 513 U.S. 150, 157,
115 S. Ct. 701, 130 L. Ed. 2d 574 (1995). Moreover, “[w]here credibility has been
challenged on the basis of facts absent from the prior statement, the [prior]
statement [is] admitted when it [is] consistent with the remaining testimony.”
United States v. Hamilton, 689 F.2d 1262, 1273 (6th Cir. 1982) (citing United
States v. Lombardi, 550 F.2d 827, 828 (2nd Cir. 1977)).
Here, defense counsel suggested to the jury that both Mahan and Davis
recently fabricated their testimony because they failed to include specific facts in
prior statements each had given to authorities. Accordingly, this assertion entitled
the Government, under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(1)(B), to respond by
demonstrating, with evidence of the witness’s prior consistent statements to the
court, that the witness had indeed told authorities the specific facts referred to by
34
defense counsel.
IV. SENTENCING
Both Blasingame and Bradley appeal their total 228-month and 194-month
sentences, respectively. Both defendants argue that their sentences under Count
One are unconstitutional as a result of Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124
S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2004), and now United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.
__, 125 S. Ct. 738, 160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005), because their offense levels were
increased due to findings of fact made by the district court and not the jury. They
further challenge their sentences on Count Two by arguing that Blakely overruled
United States v. Gray, 260 F.3d 1267 (11th Cir. 2001), and United States v.
Pounds, 230 F.3d 1317 (11th Cir. 2001), two cases in which this Court held that
whether a defendant brandished or discharged a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§924(c)(1)(A) is a sentencing factor that need not be included in the indictment nor
submitted to a jury. Pounds, 230 F.3d at 1319, Gray, 260F.3d at 1281.
Because Blasingame and Bradley both failed to properly raise their Blakely
claims at sentencing in the district court,8 we review their sentencings for plain
8
Although both defendants filed Motions for a New Trial, which included a Blakely argument,
neither defendant made an objection at sentencing. Because an objection for Booker purposes is
only timely if made at or prior to sentencing, we are limited to the plain error standard. United
States v. Candelario, 240 F.3d 1300, 1304 (11th Cir. 2001)(constitutional objection for Apprendi
purposes is timely if made at sentencing).
35
error. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1298. Under plain error review, the court will not
reverse unless (1) there is error, (2) it is plain, (3) the error affected the defendant’s
substantial rights, and (4) if left uncorrected, would seriously affect the “fairness,
integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. To satisfy the third
prong of the plain error test in the Blakely/Booker context, a defendant must show
that “there is a reasonable probability of a different result if the guidelines had been
applied in an advisory instead of binding fashion by the sentencing judge." Id. at
1301. Even if we assume Defendants can meet the first two elements of the plain
error test, they cannot establish that their sentences would have been any different
had the sentencing guidelines been advisory.
The district court sentenced Blasingame to the maximum possible sentence
available under the guidelines and commented that it imposed this sentence
because of the “aggravating factors in this case,” including “an actual attempt to
kill one of the drivers of the vehicle.” With such commentary by the district court
at sentencing, Blasingame cannot show that there is a reasonable probability of a
different result had the guidelines been advisory. See United States v. Williams,
408 F.3d 745, 755-56 (11th Cir. 2005) (holding that the defendant failed to satisfy
the third-prong of the plain error test because the district court's statements at
sentencing indicated that it had sentenced the defendant at the top of the guidelines
36
range because the facts of that case warranted it, and not because the sentence was
mandated by the guidelines).
The district court also sentenced Bradley near the top of the guidelines, after
carefully considering several factors, including whether he was a leader or a mere
participant. The district court had an opportunity to depart downward in
sentencing, but declined to do so because it thought that would be inappropriate. It
appears that the district court sentenced Bradley near the top of the guidelines
because it believed such a sentence was warranted under the facts of this case, and
not because the guidelines mandated it. The fact that Bradley did not receive the
maximum possible sentence under the guidelines, standing alone, does not mean
there is a reasonable probability that he could receive a lesser sentence. Indeed, this
Court has recently recognized that even a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines
was insufficient, in and of itself, to conclude that the treatment of the guidelines as
mandatory affected the district court's sentence. United States v. Fields, 408 F.3d
1356, 1360-61 (11th Cir. 2005).
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the convictions and sentences of both Blasingame
and Bradley are AFFIRMED.
37
38