UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

SOUTHERN DIVISION

United States of America,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 15-20487

Jabron Thomas, Sean F. Cox

United States District Court Judge

Defendant.

___________________________/

AMENDED OPINION & ORDER 

DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE SEEKING TO EXCLUDE IN-COURT

IDENTIFICATIONS (D.E. NO. 35)

The instant action involves Defendant Jabron Thomas’s (“Defendant”) alleged robbery of

a Huntington Bank in Redford, Michigan on July 14, 2015. At trial, one of the central issues will

be identification of the suspected bank robber. On December 2, 2015, Defendant filed a Motion

in Limine seeking the exclusion of in-court identifications by three eyewitnesses because

Defendant had never been presented to them in a line-up or a photo array. (D.E. No. 35). The

Government opposed the motion. (D.E. No. 40). The Court heard oral argument on December

9, 2015. On December 10, 2015, the Court issued an Opinion and Order granting Defendant’s

motion to the extent that an evidentiary hearing was scheduled to determine whether or not the

identifications were reliable under a totality of the circumstances. (D.E. No. 50). On December

14, 2015 and on December 15, 2015, pursuant to U.S. v. Hill, 967 F.2d 226 (6th Cir. 1992), an

evidentiary hearing was conducted.1

 As in Hill, both the jury and Defendant were removed from

1

 Defendant admitted into evidence previous written statements of each witness. (Def.’s

Ex. A-F). The Government admitted into evidence images of each witness’s encounter with the

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the courtroom. 

The Court has closely considered the five factors propounded in Biggers and has

determined that the testimony of Brenda Pegler, Lenora Robertson, and Tujuana Jones are

sufficiently reliable under a totality of the circumstances. For the reasons set forth below, the

Court shall DENY Defendant’s Motion in Limine seeking to exclude the in-court identifications

of Defendant. 

ANALYSIS

I. Biggers Analysis 

A two-step analysis applies in determining whether or not identification evidence is

admissible. The first step requires the defendant to show that the pre-trial identification

procedure was impermissibly suggestive. Hill, 967 F.2d at 230. If the defendant meets this

initial burden, the second step requires the trial court to determine whether, under a totality of

the circumstances, the testimony was nonetheless reliable and therefore admissible. Id. Five

factors are relevant in determining reliability: “(1) the opportunity to view the perpetrator during

the crime; (2) the witness’s degree of attention to the perpetrator; (3) the accuracy of the

witness’s prior descriptions of the perpetrator; (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the

witness when identifying the suspect; and (5) the length of time between the crime and the

identification.” Id. (quoting Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199-200). These factors are to be weighed

against “the corrupting effect of the suggestive identification itself.” Manson v. Brathwaite, 432

U.S. 98, 114 (1977). “‘As long as there is not a substantial likelihood of misidentification, it is

the function of the jury to determine the ultimate weight to be given to the identification.’” Id.

bank robber. (Gov’t Ex. No. 13A, 15A, 20A). 

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(quoting U.S. v. Causey, 834 F.2d 1277, 1285 (6th Cir. 1987)). 

Because the Court has assumed, without deciding, that for purposes of this case, the incourt identifications of Defendant would be impermissibly suggestive2

, it will apply step two of

the Biggers analysis below. 

A. Brenda Pegler - Witness #1

Brenda Pegler was the first witness to testify. Pegler reviewed video surveillance of the

robbery once with detectives approximately one week prior to her testimony. Pegler provided

statements to the police after the robbery had taken place. At the time of the robbery, Pegler was

working at Huntington Bank as a teller. She testified that she was in the bank when it was

robbed. Pegler stated that a man walked up to her window and that she initially noticed that he

was wearing surgical gloves. Pegler described the man as black, being in his thirties, and

weighing at least 176 pounds. Pegler testified that the man was wearing a black baseball cap

with a D on it. Pegler testified that the man had pulled out a gun and set it on the counter in front

of her. Moreover, Pegler emphasized that, “all the while, I was staring at him, looking at him

right in the eyes...” Pegler stated that she would never forget his eyes, and she described them

as brown, and not large. She added that they were not crooked or set in. Pegler testified that the

man was approximately one foot away from her during their encounter. Pegler testified that the

encounter lasted approximately 20 seconds. 

This Court has determined that the first two Biggers factors have been easily satisfied. 

As to the first factor, Pegler was directly facing the perpetrator during their encounter. The only

thing between the suspect and Pegler was a transparent, bullet-proof glass. Nothing obstructed

2

 See Hill, 967 F.2d at 232.

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her view as evidenced by her testimony. As to the second factor, Pegler’s testimony reflected

that she was focused on the perpetrator throughout the duration of their encounter. Notably,

Pegler testified that she would never forget the man’s eyes. 

The third Biggers factor focuses on the accuracy of the witness’s prior descriptions of the

perpetrator. Defendant argues that there are discrepancies between Pegler’s prior statements to

the police. Specifically, Defendant takes issue with Pegler’s varied descriptions as to

Defendant’s height and weight. After reviewing the record, the Court concludes that, Pegler’s

testimony is sufficiently reliable in this regard. The discrepancies are minor and at worst,

ambiguous. Hill, 967 F.2d at 233.3

 Thus, the third Biggers factor supports the reliability of

Pegler’s identification. 

The fourth Biggers factor focuses on the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness

when identifying the suspect. Here, an identification has not yet taken place. Thus, the Court

finds that this factor is not applicable. However, the Court notes that Pegler appeared to be

certain in her description of the suspect. Again, Pegler testified that she would never be able to

forget the man’s eyes. 

The fifth Biggers factor weighs in favor Pegler’s testimony being sufficiently reliable. At

the time of Pegler’s testimony, only five months had passed since the robbery occurred.4

 

Considering the totality of the circumstances, Pegler’s identification is sufficiently

reliable. Thus, it will be left to the jury to decide what weight to give the witness’s testimony. 

3

 Under this factor, the Court in Hill similarly concluded that testimony was sufficiently

reliable despite slight inaccuracies concerning the Defendant’s height and hair color.

4

 In Hill, five years had passed between the robbery and the in-court identification. 

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B. Lenora Robertson - Witness #2

The next teller to testify at the hearing was Lenora Robertson. Robertson testified that

she was working in the bank at the time of the robbery. Robertson provided statements to the

police after the robbery had taken place. Robertson testified that the perpetrator was in front of

her window when he robbed her at gunpoint. Robertson testified that the man was

approximately one foot away from her during their encounter, and that the encounter lasted

approximately 30 seconds. Robertson noticed that the man was wearing surgical gloves, and a

black baseball cap with a D on it. Through the gloves, Robertson testified that something

appeared wrong with the man’s hands, and that his hands appeared lighter than his face. She

described the man as black, being in his thirties, weighing approximately 170 pounds. 

Robertson testified that the man’s lips were discolored, lighter than his face, and that he had a

goatee. Robertson also testified that during the robbery, her manager was inquiring about the

balance of her drawer. During that time, Robertson stated that she was thinking to herself, “I am

being robbed. I am being robbed. I was trying to get the money out...” 

After a review of Robertson’s testimony, the Court determines that the first Biggers

factor supports the reliability of Robertson’s identification. Robertson had an unobstructed

opportunity to view the perpetrator. The only thing between the suspect and Robertson was a

transparent, bullet-proof glass. The man was approximately one foot away from her throughout

their encounter. 

The second Biggers factor supports a finding of reliability. Defendant argues that

Robertson was distracted as a result of her manager’s inquiries. However, Robertson maintained

that her focus was on the robbery despite her manager’s questions about the balance in her

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drawer. 

The third Biggers factor also weighs in favor of reliability. Robertson’s testimony was

consistent and accurate. She testified as to the suspect’s race, his clothing, the gloves, and the

discoloration she observed.

Since an identification has not yet been made, the Court finds that the fourth Biggers

factor is inapplicable here. However, the Court notes that Robertson was certain in her

descriptions of the suspect, which seems to weigh in favor of reliability. 

Finally, the fact that five months had passed between the time of the robbery and

Robertson’s testimony, supports a finding of reliability. Thus, the fifth Biggers factor has been

satisfied. 

Robertson’s identification is sufficiently reliable under a totality of the circumstances.

Thus, it will be left to the jury to decide what weight to give the witness’s testimony. 

C. Tujuana Jones - Witness #3

The last witness to testify at the evidentiary hearing was Tujuana Jones. Jones was a

customer at the bank on the day of the robbery. Jones provided statements to the police after the

robbery had taken place. Jones testified that she had initially seen footage of the robbery on the

news. In addition to the news footage, Jones reviewed the video surveillance twice with

detectives approximately one week prior to her testimony. Jones testified that she was present at

the bank at the time it was robbed. Jones testified that the man approached her after he had left

the teller window. During their encounter, Jones testified that the man grabbed her arm and

asked her to go with him. Jones testified that the man was approximately one foot away from

her, and that the encounter lasted no longer than thirty seconds. Jones testified that during their

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encounter, her focus was on the man. She described the man as African American with a light to

medium complexion. She testified that he had facial hair around his mouth, and that he was

wearing gloves. 

After a consideration of Jones’s testimony and the record, the first and second Biggers

factors support the reliability of Jones’s identification. As to the first factor, Jones had an

unobstructed opportunity to view the perpetrator. His face was approximately one foot away

from hers. There was nothing in between them. As evidenced by the Government’s exhibit No.

20, Jones stood face-to-face with the perpetrator. As to the second factor, the perpetrator made

physical contact with Jones. Her attention was on him. She did not testify that she had been

distracted by something other than the perpetrator. 

The third Biggers factor also supports the reliability of Jones’s identification. Defendant

argues that Jones’ prior descriptions were general and lacked the specificity contained in her

testimony. However, Jones’ testimony is consistent with her prior statements, which appear to

be accurate descriptions. Although Jones’s prior statements did contain some discrepancies with

regard to the suspect’s height and weight, the discrepancies are not substantial enough to render

Jones’ identification so unreliable as to warrant its exclusion. 

Again, the Court finds that the fourth Biggers factor is inapplicable here because an

identification of Defendant has not yet been made. However, the Court notes that Jones

appeared steadfast in her descriptions and did not appear reluctant in her ability to describe the

suspect. 

Like Pegler and Robertson, the fifth Biggers factor weighs in favor of reliability with

respect to Jones’s testimony. 

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Jones’s identification is sufficiently reliable under a totality of the circumstances. Thus,

it will again be left to the jury to decide what weight to give the witness’s testimony. 

CONCLUSION 

 For the foregoing reasons, the Court shall DENY Defendant’s Motion in Limine and it

shall allow in-court identifications of Defendant by Brenda Pegler, Lenora Robertson, and

Tujuana Jones. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

S/Sean F. Cox 

Sean F. Cox

United States District Judge

Dated: December 16, 2015

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record on

December 16, 2015, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.

S/Jennifer McCoy 

Case Manager

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