Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-19-60240/USCOURTS-ca5-19-60240-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Willie Charles Blackmon Jr.
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-60240

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

WILLIE CHARLES BLACKMON, JR.,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Mississippi

USDC No. 3:17-CR-75-1

Before KING, GRAVES, and WILLETT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Willie Charles Blackmon Jr. was convicted by a jury of two counts of sex 

trafficking of minors by force and two counts of interstate and foreign travel in 

aid of racketeering. Blackmon raises a single issue: whether the district court 

violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause by admitting hearsay 

statements of the victim, A.Z. The Government argues that any error was 

harmless. 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

March 3, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

Case: 19-60240 Document: 00515329838 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/03/2020
No. 19-60240

2

Outside of the challenged testimony, there was overwhelming evidence 

presented against Blackmon at trial. Thus, the record reflects that the hearsay 

statements did not substantially influence the jury’s verdict. See United States 

v. Flores, 640 F.3d 638, 643 (5th Cir. 2011). The judgment is AFFIRMED.

Case: 19-60240 Document: 00515329838 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/03/2020