F ILED

United States Court of

Appeals

Tenth Circuit



### Septem ber 1 1 , 2 0 2 0

Christopher M. Wolpert

Clerk of Court U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

T E N T H C I R C U I T

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

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P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l e e

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v

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W I N T E R H A W K G O O D M A N

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D e f e n d a n t

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O R D E R A N D J U D G M E N T *

B e f o r e B A C H A R A C H

, B A L D O C K

, a n d M U R P H Y

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

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I

. I N T R O D U C T I O N

D e f e n d a n t

, W i n t e r h a w k G o o d m a n

, w a s c o n v i c t e d b y a j u r y o f t h r e e c o u n t s

o f i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r a n d o n e c o u n t o f a s s a u l t r e s u l t i n g i n s e r i o u s b o d i l y

i n j u r y

. T h e j u r y f

o u n d G o o d m a n w a s d r i v i n g a p i c k u p t r u c k t h a t r a n a s t o p s i g n

a n d s t r u c k a m i n i v a n

. A n o c c u p a n t o f t h e v e h i c l e G o o d m a n w a s d r i v i n g a n d t w o

o c c u p a n t s o f t h e m i n i v a n w e r e k i l l e d

. G o o d m a n ’ s s e n t e n c e o f 1 4 4 m o n t h s ’

* T h i s o r d e r a n d j u d g m e n t i s n o t b i n d i n g p r e c e d e n t e x c e p t u n d e r t h e

d o c t r i n e s o f l a w o f t h e c a s e

, r e s j u d i c a t a

, a n d c o l l a t e r a l e s t o p p e l

. I t m a y b e c i t e d

, h o w e v e r

, f

o r i t s p e r s u a s i v e v a l u e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 2

. 1 a n d 1 0 t h

C i r

. R

. 3 2

. 1

.i n c a r c e r a t i o n i s m o r e t h a n s i x t y p e r c e n t h i g h e r t h a n t h e h i g h e n d o f t h e a d v i s o r y

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

.

G o o d m a n c h a l l e n g e s b o t h h i s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d s e n t e n c e

. H e a s s e r t s t h e

e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t h i s c o n v i c t i o n s b e c a u s e i t

f a i l e d t o s h o w h e w a s d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. H e d i d

n o t f i l e a m o t i o n f

o r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i t t a l p r i o r t o t a k i n g t h i s a p p e a l

. G o o d m a n

f u r t h e r a s s e r t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f o n e w i t n e s s w a s a d m i t t e d i n v i o l a t i o n o f h i s S i x t h

A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s

. H e f a i l e d t o o b

j e c t t o t h e c h a l l e n g e d t e s t i m o n y d u r i n g t r i a l

.

A s t o h i s s e n t e n c e

, G o o d m a n a r g u e s i t i s b o t h p r o c e d u r a l l y a n d s u b s t a n t i v e l y

u n r e a s o n a b l e

.

E x e r c i s i n g j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r 2 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 2 9 1 a n d 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 7 4 2 ( a )

,

t h i s c o u r t a f f

i r m s G o o d m a n ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d s e n t e n c e

. W e c o n c l u d e t h e

e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o s h o w G o o d m a n w a s d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k

a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. F u r t h e r

, t h e t e s t i m o n y i d e n t i f i e d b y G o o d m a n a s

v i o l a t i n g h i s S i x t h A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s w a s n o t o f f e r e d i n t o e v i d e n c e f

o r t h e t r u t h

o f t h e m a t t e r a s s e r t e d

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, i t w a s n o t h e a r s a y a n d d i d n o t i m p l i c a t e t h e

C o n f r o n t a t i o n C l a u s e

. G o o d m a n ’ s a b o v e

- g u i d e l i n e s s e n t e n c e i s n o t u n r e a s o n a b l e

.

I I

. B A C K G R O U N D

I n N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6

, a p i c k u p t r u c k t r a v e l i n g a t a h i g h s p e e d t h r o u g h t h e

W i n d R i v e r I n d i a n R e s e r v a t i o n i g n o r e d a s t o p s i g n a n d s t r u c k a m i n i v a n

. T h e r e

-2-w e r e f

o u r o c c u p a n t s i n t h e t r u c k : d e f e n d a n t G o o d m a n

, L e s l i e S i x t o e s

, D r e w

B l a c k b u r n

, a n d W i l l i a m C ’ B e a r i n g

. N o o n e i n t h e t r u c k w a s w e a r i n g a s e a t b e l t

.

C ’ B e a r i n g d i e d s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e c r a s h

. T w o i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e m i n i v a n a l s o d i e d

.

A t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

, i t w a s u n c l e a r w h o w a s d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k

b e c a u s e t h e o c c u p a n t s w e r e n o t r e s t r a i n e d a n d t h e y w e r e e j e c t e d f r o m t h e i r s e a t s

.

A t t h e s c e n e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

, D r e w B l a c k b u r n t o l d D e p u t y D o n o v a n D e t i m o r e o f

t h e F r e m o n t C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e t h a t h e w a s t h e d r i v e r

. L a t e r t h a t n i g h t

,

h o w e v e r

, B l a c k b u r n r e c a n t e d h i s s t a t e m e n t a n d i d e n t i f i e d G o o d m a n a s t h e d r i v e r

.

G o o d m a n a l s o m a d e s t a t e m e n t s i m p l i c a t i n g h i m s e l f a s t h e d r i v e r

, t e l l i n g t h e

o c c u p a n t o f t h e m i n i v a n a t t h e s c e n e t h a t “ h e d i d n ’ t s e e t h a t c a r c o m i n g

. ” H e t o l d

a p o l i c e o f

f i c e r e m p l o y e d b y t h e B u r e a u o f I n d i a n A f f a i r s t h a t h e w a s t h e d r i v e r

b u t s u b s e q u e n t l y r e c a n t e d t h a t s t a t e m e n t

. G o o d m a n t o l d a n o t h e r o f f i c e r “ h e

t h o u g h t h e h a d k i l l e d h i s a u n t

, L e s l i e S i x t o e s ” a n d “ t h a t h e h a d k i l l e d p e o p l e ” a n d

“ t h a t h e h a d b e e n t h e d r i v e r o f t h e c a r

. ” F u r t h e r

, a f t e r a n F B I v i c t i m s p e c i a l i s t

i n f o r m e d G o o d m a n t h a t C ’ B e a r i n g h a d d i e d i n t h e c r a s h

, G o o d m a n s a i d

, “ S o I

k i l l e d m y u n c l e

. ”

A p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e y e a r a f t e r t h e a c c i d e n t

, G o o d m a n w a s c h a r g e d w i t h

t h r e e c o u n t s o f i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r a n d o n e c o u n t o f a s s a u l t r e s u l t i n g i n

s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n

j u r y

. A t t r i a l

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t p r e s e n t e d v i d e o e v i d e n c e s h o w i n g

G o o d m a n d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k e a r l i e r i n t h e e v e n i n g

. A n a c c i d e n t

-3-r e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x p e r t o p i n e d t h a t G o o d m a n w a s d r i v i n g a t t h e t i m e o f t h e

a c c i d e n t

, C ’ B e a r i n g w a s t h e f r o n t

- s e a t p a s s e n g e r

, a n d S i x t o e s a n d B l a c k b u r n w e r e

i n t h e b a c k s e a t

. T h e f

o r e n s i c p a t h o l o g i s t w h o a u t o p s i e d C ’ B e a r i n g ’ s b o d y

t e s t i f i e d t h a t C ’ B e a r i n g “ w a s m o s t l i k e l y i n t h e p a s s e n g e r s e a t

. ” A p a r t i a l l y

b u r n e d s h o e

, f

o u n d b y t h e p a s s e n g e r s e a t f r a m e

, w a s e x a m i n e d b y a n F B I f o r e n s i c

e x a m i n e r w h o t e s t i f

i e d t h e s h o e w a s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h o s e C ’ B e a r i n g h a d b e e n

w e a r i n g t h e e v e n i n g b e f o r e t h e c r a s h

, a n d n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e s h o e s w o r n b y

G o o d m a n

, B l a c k b u r n

, o r S i x t o e s

. T h i s s u g g e s t e d C ’ B e a r i n g w a s s i t t i n g i n t h e

f r o n t p a s s e n g e r s e a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c r a s h

. A n o t h e r e x p e r t w i t n e s s f o r t h e

p r o s e c u t i o n

, D r

. B i l l S m o c k

, r e v i e w e d t h e p o l i c e r e p o r t s

, t h e t r u c k

, a n d t h e

m e d i c a l r e c o r d s o f t h e t r u c k ’ s o c c u p a n t s

. H e t e s t i f i e d t h a t C ’ B e a r i n g “ w a s i n t h e

r i g h t f r o n t s e a t ” a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c r a s h b e c a u s e h i s e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l i n j u r i e s

w e r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h i m p a c t i n g t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e p a s s e n g e r d o o r

. D r

. S m o c k a l s o

c o n c l u d e d G o o d m a n w a s t h e d r i v e r

.

L i n d s a y J o h n s o n

, P h

. D

. , a n e x p e r t i n i n j u r y b i o m e c h a n i c s r e t a i n e d b y

G o o d m a n

, t e s t i f

i e d t h e i n j u r i e s s u s t a i n e d b y C ’ B e a r i n g w e r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h

i n j u r i e s t h a t w o u l d b e s u s t a i n e d b y a d r i v e r

. D r

. J o h n s o n a l s o o p i n e d t h a t

G o o d m a n w a s i n t h e f

r o n t p a s s e n g e r s e a t

, S i x t o e s w a s i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e b a c k

s e a t

, a n d B l a c k b u r n w a s i n t h e l e f t r e a r s e a t

. T h e p r o s e c u t i o n c a l l e d S t e v e n

R u n d e l l

, P h

. D

. , i n r e b u t t a l

. D r

. R u n d e l l a g r e e d t h a t S i x t o e s a n d B l a c k b u r n w e r e

-4-s e a t e d i n t h e b a c k o f t h e t r u c k b u t h e o p i n e d t h a t C ’ B e a r i n g w a s t h e r i g h t f r o n t

p a s s e n g e r a n d G o o d m a n w a s t h e d r i v e r

.

T h e j u r y c o n v i c t e d G o o d m a n o n a l l c o u n t s

, r e j e c t i n g h i s t h e o r y t h a t

C ’ B e a r i n g w a s t h e d r i v e r

. A P r e s e n t e n c e I n v e s t i g a t i o n R e p o r t ( “ P S R ” ) w a s

p r e p a r e d p r i o r t o s e n t e n c i n g

. B a s e d o n a t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l o f t w e n t y

- s i x a n d a

c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I I

, t h e P S R c a l c u l a t e d a n a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f

s e v e n t y t o e i g h t y

- s e v e n m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

. T h e P S R

, h o w e v e r

, i d e n t i f i e d

s e v e r a l f a c t o r s t h a t m i g h t s u p p o r t a n u p w a r d d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e a d v i s o r y

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

, i n c l u d i n g t h e f a c t t h a t m u l t i p l e p e o p l e w e r e k i l l e d o r i n j u r e d i n

t h e c r a s h a n d G o o d m a n ’ s c o n d u c t o n t h e n i g h t o f t h e a c c i d e n t w a s e x t r e m e l y

d a n g e r o u s

. S e e U S S G § § 5 K 2

. 1 a n d 5 K 2

. 2

. T h e P S R a l s o n o t e d t h a t G o o d m a n ’ s

c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a l c u l a t i o n l i k e l y u n d e r s t a t e d t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f h i s p r i o r

c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t y b e c a u s e t h e c a l c u l a t i o n d i d n o t c o n s i d e r G o o d m a n ’ s t r i b a l c o u r t

c o n v i c t i o n s

, i n c l u d i n g t w e l v e p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n s f o r p u b l i c i n t o x i c a t i o n a n d n i n e

p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n s f

o r d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t o r d i s t u r b i n g t h e p e a c e

. S e e U S S G

§ 4 A 1

. 3 ( a )

. G o o d m a n f i l e d a w r i t t e n o b j e c t i o n t o a n y u p w a r d d e p a r t u r e o r

v a r i a n c e

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, h o w e v e r

, s e n t e n c e d G o o d m a n t o t h i r t y

- s i x m o n t h s

f o r t h e m a n s l a u g h t e r o f e a c h o f t h e t w o i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e m i n i v a n

, t w e n t y

- f o u r

m o n t h s f o r t h e m a n s l a u g h t e r o f C ’ B e a r i n g

, a n d f o r t y

- e i g h t m o n t h s f

o r t h e a s s a u l t

o n t h e p a s s e n g e r i n t h e m i n i v a n

. T h e s e n t e n c e s w e r e r u n c o n s e c u t i v e t o o n e

-5-a n o t h e r

, r e s u l t i n g i n a n a g g r e g a t e s e n t e n c e o f 1 4 4 m o n t h s

, w h i c h i s f i f t y

- s e v e n

m o n t h s h i g h e r t h a n t h e h i g h e n d o f t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

.

G o o d m a n a p p e a l s b o t h h i s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d h i s s e n t e n c e

.

I I I

. D I S C U S S I O N

A

. S u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e E v i d e n c e

G o o d m a n a s s e r t s h i s c o n v i c t i o n s s h o u l d b e r e v e r s e d b e c a u s e i n s u f f i c i e n t

e v i d e n c e w a s p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l t o s u p p o r t t h e j u r y ’ s f i n d i n g t h a t h e w a s t h e

d r i v e r

. A l t h o u g h h e c o n c e d e s i n h i s o p e n i n g b r i e f t h a t h e d i d n o t c h a l l e n g e t h e

s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e i n d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, h e a d v o c a t e s f o r d e n o v o r e v i e w o f

t h e i s s u e

. D e n o v o r e v i e w

, h o w e v e r

, a p p l i e s o n l y t o s u f f i c i e n c y c l a i m s t h a t w e r e

p r o p e r l y r a i s e d i n a m o t i o n f o r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i t t a l

. S e e F e d

. R

. C r i m

. P

. 2 9 ;

U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. G o o d e

, 4 8 3 F

. 3 d 6 7 6

, 6 8 0 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ( h o l d i n g t h e F e d e r a l

R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e d o n o t a l l o w a d e f e n d a n t t o w a i t u n t i l a p p e a l t o

r a i s e a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s e v i d e n c e )

. I t i s s e t t l e d

l a w i n t h i s c o u r t t h a t a d e f e n d a n t w h o f

a i l s t o m o v e f

o r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i t t a l

f o r f e i t s h i s s u f

f i c i e n c y c l a i m a n d t h e s t a n d a r d o f a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w i s p l a i n e r r o r

.

I d

. a t 6 8 1 a n d 6 8 1 n

. 1 ( e n b a n c f o o t n o t e )

. G o o d m a n ’ s o p e n i n g b r i e f

, h o w e v e r

,

d o e s n o t r e f

e r e n c e t h e p l a i n

- e r r o r s t a n d a r d a n d c o n t a i n s n o d i s c u s s i o n o f w h y h e

i s e n t i t l e d t o r e l i e f u n d e r t h a t d o c t r i n e

. W e h a v e r e c e n t l y h e l d t h a t i f a c r i m i n a l

d e f e n d a n t s e e k s a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f a f o r f e i t e d s u f f i c i e n c y c l a i m b u t f

a i l s t o

-6-a r g u e f

o r p l a i n e r r o r r e v i e w i n h i s o p e n i n g b r i e f

, t h i s c o u r t m a y d e e m t h e i s s u e

w a i v e d

. U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L e

f f l e r

, 9 4 2 F

. 3 d 1 1 9 2

, 1 1 9 8

- 9 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 9 )

. T h e

g o v e r n m e n t a r g u e s t h a t a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f G o o d m a n ’ s s u f f i c i e n c y c l a i m i s

w a i v e d u n d e r L e

f f l e r

.

G o o d m a n a c k n o w l e d g e s L e f f l e r i n h i s r e p l y b r i e f a n d c o n c e d e s h e m a y

o n l y b e e n t i t l e d t o p l a i n e r r o r r e v i e w o f h i s s u f f i c i e n c y c l a i m s

, 1 e x p l a i n i n g w h y

1 G o o d m a n a l s o c o n t i n u e s t o a d v o c a t e f o r d e n o v o r e v i e w b e c a u s e h e “ d i d

n o t k n o w i n g l y a n d v o l u n t a r i l y w a i v e h i s i n s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e a r g u m e n t

i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

. ” A p p e l l a n t ’ s R e p l y B r

. a t 4

. G o o d m a n ’ s a r g u m e n t e x p o s e s

h i s m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t h a t f l o w f r o m w a i v e r a n d f

o r f e i t u r e i n

c r i m i n a l m a t t e r s

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. M

a l o n e

, 9 3 7 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 5

, 1 3 2 7 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 9 ) ( “ W a i v e r o c c u r s w h e n a p a r t y d e l i b e r a t e l y c o n s i d e r s a n i s s u e a n d m a k e s a n

i n t e n t i o n a l d e c i s i o n t o f o r g o i t

. W h i l e f

o r f e i t u r e c o m e s a b o u t t h r o u g h n e g l e c t

,

w a i v e r i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y i n t e n t

. ” )

. “ [ A ] p a r t y t h a t h a s f o r f e i t e d a r i g h t b y

f a i l i n g t o m a k e a p r o p e r o b j e c t i o n m a y o b t a i n r e l i e f f o r p l a i n e r r o r ; b u t a p a r t y

t h a t h a s w a i v e d a r i g h t i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o a p p e l l a t e r e l i e f

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. T e a g u e

, 4 4 3 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 0

, 1 3 1 4 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 ) ( q u o t a t i o n a n d e m p h a s i s o m i t t e d )

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w h i l e w a i v e r o f t h e s u f f i c i e n c y i s s u e w o u l d f

o r e c l o s e a p p e l l a t e

r e v i e w c o m p l e t e l y

, f

o r f e i t u r e o f t h e i s s u e e n t i t l e s G o o d m a n t o p l a i n e r r o r r e v i e w

,

n o t d e n o v o r e v i e w a s G o o d m a n s u g g e s t s i n h i s r e p l y b r i e f

. S e e i d

.

T h e g o v e r n m e n t a r g u e s G o o d m a n w a i v e d t h e s u f f i c i e n c y i s s u e i n d i s t r i c t

c o u r t a n d

, t h u s

, i s f

o r e c l o s e d f

r o m s e e k i n g a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w u n d e r a n y s t a n d a r d

. T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s a r g u m e n t i s p r e m i s e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t m a d e b y

d e f e n s e c o u n s e l a t t h e c l o s e o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a s e

- i n

- c h i e f :

Y o u r H o n o r

, j u s t s o t h e r e c o r d ’ s c l e a r

, n o w w o u l d b e t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

t i m e f o r m e t o m a k e a R u l e 2 9 m o t i o n [ f o r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i t t a l ]

,

a n d c e r t a i n l y I d o n o t m a k e t h a t m o t i o n a t t h i s t i m e

. I u n d e r s t a n d

t h a t i f I d o n ’ t m a k e i t n o w

, I m a y n o t b e a b l e t o m a k e i t l a t e r

. B u t

i t ’ s j u s t t h e f

a c t s a n d t h e e v i d e n c e

— d o n o t s u p p o r t a m o t i o n l i k e

t h a t

. I r e c o g n i z e

— I r e c o g n i z e t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t ’ s b e e n p r e s e n t e d

,

a n d I c h o o s e

— I c h o o s e n o t t o m a k e t h a t m o t i o n

. ( c o n t i n u e d

. . . )

-7-h e f

a i l e d t o a d v o c a t e f

o r t h e p l a i n e r r o r s t a n d a r d i n h i s o p e n i n g b r i e f

. 2 D e s p i t e

g l a r i n g s h o r t c o m i n g s i n G o o d m a n ’ s o p e n i n g a n d r e p l y b r i e f s

, w e c o n c l u d e h i s

a d v o c a c y f

o r t h e p l a i n e r r o r s t a n d a r d i n h i s r e p l y b r i e f i s s u f f i c i e n t t o p r e s e r v e

a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w

. S e e i d

.

G o o d m a n ’ s s u f

f i c i e n c y c h a l l e n g e i s s o l e l y f o c u s e d o n w h e t h e r t h e

g o v e r n m e n t m e t i t s b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g h e w a s d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k a t t h e t i m e

o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. H i s a r g u m e n t s h a v e a c o m m o n t h e m e : t h e y a l l i n v o l v e a

c h a l l e n g e t o t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s w i t n e s s e s o r h i g h l i g h t t h e f a c t

1 (

. . . c o n t i n u e d )

W e a g r e e t h a t c o u n s e l ’ s s t a t e m e n t t o t h e c o u r t w a s a k n o w i n g a n d v o l u n t a r y

w a i v e r o f G o o d m a n ’ s r i g h t t o c h a l l e n g e t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e a t t h e

c l o s e o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a s e

- i n

- c h i e f

. T r i a l c o u n s e l f u l l y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e

c l o s e o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a s e w a s a n a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e t o b r i n g a m o t i o n f o r

j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i t t a l p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 2 9 o f t h e F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l

P r o c e d u r e a n d h e u n a m b i g u o u s l y i n f o r m e d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t h e d i d n o t i n t e n d t o

b r i n g s u c h a m o t i o n a t t h a t t i m e

. B e c a u s e a R u l e 2 9 m o t i o n c a n a l s o b e b r o u g h t

l a t e r i n t h e c r i m i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s

, h o w e v e r

, w e w i l l n o t t r e a t c o u n s e l ’ s s t a t e m e n t

a s f o r e c l o s i n g a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w b e c a u s e t h e r e i s n o i n d i c a t i o n i n t h e r e c o r d t h a t

a n y s u b s e q u e n t r e l i n q u i s h m e n t o f t h e r i g h t t o r a i s e t h e s u f f i c i e n c y i s s u e w a s a l s o

a w a i v e r r a t h e r t h a n a f o r f e i t u r e

.

2 G o o d m a n

, i n t e r a l i a

, a s s e r t s h e p r e s e r v e d a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f h i s

s u f f i c i e n c y c l a i m b y a r g u i n g f o r d e n o v o r e v i e w i n h i s o p e n i n g b r i e f b e c a u s e t h e

p l a i n e r r o r s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w i n s u f f i c i e n c y c a s e s i s n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l t o t h e d e

n o v o s t a n d a r d

. C

f

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. G o o d e

, 4 8 3 F

. 3 d 6 7 6

, 6 8 1 n

. 1 ( e n b a n c

f o o t n o t e ) ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ( “ [ A ] c o n v i c t i o n i n t h e a b s e n c e o f s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e

o f g u i l t i s p l a i n l y a n e r r o r

, c l e a r l y p r e j u d i c e d t h e d e f

e n d a n t

, a n d a l m o s t a l w a y s

c r e a t e s m a n i f

e s t i n j u s t i c e

. ” )

. A q u i c k r e a d i n g o f L e f f l e r r e v e a l s t h a t t h i s

e x p l a n a t i o n f

o r a f a i l u r e t o a r g u e p l a i n e r r o r r e v i e w i n a n o p e n i n g b r i e f h a s b e e n

s p e c i f i c a l l y r e j e c t e d b y t h i s c o u r t b e c a u s e t h e t w o s t a n d a r d s a r e n o t i d e n t i c a l

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L e

f f l e r

, 9 4 2 F

. 3 d 1 1 9 2

, 1 1 9 9 n

. 1 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 9 )

.

-8-t h a t c o n t r a d i c t o r y e v i d e n c e w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e j u r y

. 3 F o r e x a m p l e

, G o o d m a n

a s s e r t s t h e r e w a s c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t h a t e i t h e r B l a c k b u r n

, S i x t o e s

, o r C ’ B e a r i n g

w a s d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. E v e n a s s u m i n g s u c h

e v i d e n c e w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e j u r y

, t h e r e w a s a l s o s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e t o t h e

c o n t r a r y

. T w o g o v e r n m e n t w i t n e s s e s t e s t i f i e d t h a t S i x t o e s a n d B l a c k b u r n w e r e

s e a t e d i n t h e b a c k s e a t o f t h e t r u c k

. G o o d m a n ’ s o w n e x p e r t a l s o o p i n e d t h a t

S i x t o e s a n d B l a c k b u r n w e r e i n t h e b a c k s e a t

. A n F B I f o r e n s i c e x a m i n e r t e s t i f

i e d

t h a t a p a r t i a l l y b u r n e d s h o e f o u n d w e d g e d u n d e r t h e p a s s e n g e r s e a t f r a m e w a s

c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e s h o e s w o r n b y C ’ B e a r i n g

, s u g g e s t i n g h e w a s t h e f r o n t

- s e a t

p a s s e n g e r

, n o t t h e d r i v e r

. T h e g o v e r n m e n t a l s o p r e s e n t e d v i d e o e v i d e n c e

s h o w i n g G o o d m a n d r i v i n g t h e p i c k u p t r u c k i n t h e h o u r s b e f o r e t h e a c c i d e n t

. A

j u r y c o u l d c e r t a i n l y i n f e r f r o m t h i s e v i d e n c e t h a t G o o d m a n w a s a l s o d r i v i n g a t

t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. S u c h a n i n f e r e n c e i s s u p p o r t e d b y t h e t e s t i m o n y o f

3 G o o d m a n a l s o b r i e f

l y r e f e r e n c e s t e s t i m o n y h e c h a r a c t e r i z e s a s

i n a d m i s s i b l e h e a r s a y a n d n o n

- M i r a n d i z e d s t a t e m e n t s h e m a d e t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t

. A p p e l l a n t ’ s B r

. a t 2 8 n

. 6

, 2 9 n

. 7

. I t i s u n c l e a r w h e t h e r h e i s i n d e p e n d e n t l y

c h a l l e n g i n g t h i s t e s t i m o n y o r a r g u i n g i t c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d w h e n a s s e s s i n g t h e

s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s e v i d e n c e

. I f i t ’ s t h e f o r m e r

, t h e a r g u m e n t s a r e

w a i v e d b e c a u s e o f i n a d e q u a t e b r i e f i n g o n w h e t h e r a d m i s s i o n o f t h e e v i d e n c e

d e p r i v e d h i m o f h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t t o a f a i r t r i a l

. S e e M

a c A r t h u r v

. S a n J

u a n

C t y

. , 4 9 5 F

. 3 d 1 1 5 7

, 1 1 6 0

- 6 1 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 )

. I f t h e l a t t e r

, i n u n d e r t a k i n g

r e v i e w f o r s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e

, t h i s c o u r t m u s t c o n s i d e r a l l e v i d e n c e

a d m i t t e d a t t r i a l

, w h e t h e r a d m i t t e d p r o p e r l y o r i m p r o p e r l y

. M c D a n i e l v

. B r o w n

, 5 5 8 U

. S

. 1 2 0

, 1 3 1 ( 2 0 1 0 ) ( p e r c u r i a m ) ( h o l d i n g t h a t a c o u r t r e v i e w i n g a

c o n v i c t i o n f

o r s u f f i c i e n c y “ m u s t c o n s i d e r a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e a d m i t t e d a t t r i a l

,

r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h a t e v i d e n c e w a s a d m i t t e d e r r o n e o u s l y ” ( q u o t a t i o n

o m i t t e d ) )

.

-9-s e v e r a l w i t n e s s e s w h o h e a r d G o o d m a n m a k e s t a t e m e n t s s u g g e s t i n g h e w a s t h e

d r i v e r

. A n d

, m o r e d i r e c t l y

, t h e r e w a s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t w o g o v e r n m e n t e x p e r t s

w h o o p i n e d t h a t G o o d m a n w a s t h e d r i v e r

.

T h e e x i s t e n c e o f c o n f

l i c t i n g e v i d e n c e i s c o m m o n d u r i n g c r i m i n a l t r i a l s a n d

a d e f e n d a n t i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o r e v e r s a l o f h i s c o n v i c t i o n a s a r e s u l t

. T o t h e

c o n t r a r y

, w h e n r e v i e w i n g a s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c l a i m t h i s c o u r t r e s o l v e s

a n y p o s s i b l e c o n f

l i c t s i n t h e e v i d e n c e i n f a v o r o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d a s s u m e s t h e

j u r y f o u n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s e v i d e n c e c r e d i b l e

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. W

i l l i a m s o n

,

5 3 F

. 3 d 1 5 0 0

, 1 5 1 6 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 5 )

. F u r t h e r

, t h i s c o u r t “ d o e s n o t w e i g h

c o n f l i c t i n g e v i d e n c e o r c o n s i d e r w i t n e s s c r e d i b i l i t y

, a s t h a t d u t y i s d e l e g a t e d

e x c l u s i v e l y t o t h e j u r y

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. C a s t o r e n a

- J a i m e

, 2 8 5 F

. 3 d 9 1 6

, 9 3 3

( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 2 )

. A r e a s o n a b l e j u r y c o u l d h a v e r e s o l v e d a l l c r e d i b i l i t y a n d

r e l i a b i l i t y i s s u e s a g a i n s t G o o d m a n

.

H a v i n g r e v i e w e d a l l t h e e v i d e n c e a d m i t t e d a t t r i a l u n d e r t h e a p p l i c a b l e

s t a n d a r d s

, t h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h i s e v i d e n c e i s s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e j u r y ’ s

c o n c l u s i o n t h a t G o o d m a n w a s d r i v i n g t h e t r u c k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

. I t i s

c l e a r t h e r e w a s n o e r r o r

, l e t a l o n e p l a i n e r r o r

.

B

. S i x t h A m e n d m e n t

G o o d m a n a l s o r a i s e s a S i x t h A m e n d m e n t c h a l l e n g e t o t e s t i m o n y g i v e n b y

D e p u t y D e t i m o r e a t t r i a l

, a r g u i n g D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y v i o l a t e d h i s

-10-c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t t o c o n f r o n t D r e w B l a c k b u r n

. T h e c h a l l e n g e d t e s t i m o n y

i n v o l v e d D e t i m o r e ’ s r e c o u n t i n g o f B l a c k b u r n ’ s s t a t e m e n t t h a t G o o d m a n w a s

d r i v i n g t h e t r u c k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

.

T h e S i x t h A m e n d m e n t ’ s C o n f r o n t a t i o n C l a u s e b a r s a c o u r t f r o m a d m i t t i n g

t e s t i m o n i a l h e a r s a y s t a t e m e n t s a g a i n s t a d e f e n d a n t a t t r i a l u n l e s s t h e d e f e n d a n t

h a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n f r o n t t h e d e c l a r a n t

. C r a w f o r d v

. W a s h i n g t o n

, 5 4 1 U

. S

.

3 6

, 6 8

- 6 9 ( 2 0 0 4 )

. G o o d m a n d i d n o t o b j e c t t o D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y a t

t r i a l o r a s k f

o r a c o n t i n u a n c e w h e n D r e w B l a c k b u r n f a i l e d t o a p p e a r t o t e s t i f

y

.

“ W h e r e a C o n f

r o n t a t i o n C l a u s e o b j e c t i o n i s n o t e x p l i c i t l y m a d e b e l o w

, [ t h i s

c o u r t ] w i l l n o t a d d r e s s t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i s s u e i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a c o n c l u s i o n t h a t

i t w a s p l a i n e r r o r f

o r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o f a i l t o r a i s e t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i s s u e s u a

s p o n t e

. ” U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. I

b a r r a

- D i a z

, 8 0 5 F

. 3 d 9 0 8

, 9 1 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 5 )

( q u o t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

. T h e r e w a s n o e r r o r h e r e

, b e c a u s e D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s

t e s t i m o n y i s n o t h e a r s a y

.

T h e c h a l l e n g e d t e s t i m o n y w a s g i v e n w h e n t h e p r o s e c u t o r w a s q u e s t i o n i n g

D e p u t y D e t i m o r e a b o u t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d a c t i o n s a t t h e s c e n e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

.

S p e c i f i c a l l y

, D e p u t y D e t i m o r e t e s t i f i e d a s f o l l o w s a b o u t h i s d e c i s i o n t o s e e k a

w a r r a n t t o d r a w G o o d m a n ’ s b l o o d :

Q : D i d y o u e v e r a s k t h a t a n y b o d y e l s e ’ s b l o o d b e t a k e n t h a t

n i g h t ?

-11-A : I d i d

. U p o n a r r i v a l t o t h e S a g e W e s t L a n d e r H o s p i t a l

, D r e w

B l a c k b u r n r e c a n t e d h i s s t a t e m e n t a n d a d v i s e d t h a t i t w a s

W i n t e r h a w k G o o d m a n t h a t w a s d r i v i n g

. Q : A n d w h a t d i d y o u d o a b o u t t h a t ?

A : I s e n t R i v e r t o n P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t t o [ t h e h o s p i t a l ] a n d

n o t i f i e d

– a t t h a t t i m e M s

. J a h n k e w a s o n s c e n e

. Q

. T h e F B I a g e n t ?

. . . A

. Y e a h

. Y e s

, m a ’ a m

. A n d t h e F B I a g e n t a n d I t a l k e d a b o u t

s e c u r i n g a w a r r a n t f

o r b l o o d f

o r W i n t e r h a w k G o o d m a n

.

A s t h i s t r a n s c r i p t i o n m a k e s c l e a r

, t h e p u r p o s e o f D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y

w a s t o e x p l a i n w h y h e t o o k t h e i n v e s t i g a t i v e s t e p o f o b t a i n i n g a w a r r a n t t o d r a w

G o o d m a n ’ s b l o o d

. T h i s c o u r t h a s “ l o n g r e c o g n i z e d t h a t a n o u t o f c o u r t s t a t e m e n t

i s n o t h e a r s a y i f i t i s o f

f e r e d f o r t h e l i m i t e d p u r p o s e o f e x p l a i n i n g w h y a

g o v e r n m e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s u n d e r t a k e n

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. E d w a r d

s

, 7 8 2 F

. 3 d

5 5 4

, 5 6 0 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 5 ) ( q u o t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

. H e r e

, B l a c k b u r n ’ s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

o f G o o d m a n a s t h e d r i v e r w a s n e v e r o f f e r e d b y t h e p r o s e c u t i o n a s p r o o f t h a t

G o o d m a n w a s

, i n f

a c t

, t h e d r i v e r ; 4 i t w a s g r a t u i t o u s l y p r e s e n t e d b y D e p u t y

D e t i m o r e t o e x p l a i n w h y G o o d m a n ’ s b l o o d w a s d r a w n e v e n t h o u g h B l a c k b u r n

h a d p r e v i o u s l y t o l d D e t i m o r e h e w a s d r i v i n g

. 5 A c c o r d i n g l y

, i t i s n o t h e a r s a y a n d

4 T h e p r o s e c u t i o n n e v e r r e f e r e n c e d B l a c k b u r n ’ s r e c a n t a t i o n w h e n

s u m m a r i z i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n i t s o p e n i n g a n d c l o s i n g a r g u m e n t s

.

5 T h e c o n c u r r e n c e s u g g e s t s D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y w a s i n a d m i s s i b l e

h e a r s a y b e c a u s e t h e r e a s o n h e d r e w G o o d m a n ’ s b l o o d w a s n o t a t i s s u e

. G o o d m a n

h i m s e l f

, h o w e v e r

, h a s n e v e r a r g u e d t h e t e s t i m o n y w a s i r r e l e v a n t b e c a u s e t h e

r e a s o n f o r t h e t e s t w a s n o t a t i s s u e

. A n d

, t h e r e i s n o a u t h o r i t y f r o m t h i s c o u r t f

o r

t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t t e s t i m o n y r e l a t e d t o i n v e s t i g a t o r y s t e p s t a k e n d u r i n g a

( c o n t i n u e d

. . . )

-12-t h e C o n f

r o n t a t i o n C l a u s e d o e s n o t a p p l y

. 6 S e e i d

. ( “ T h e [ C o n f r o n t a t i o n ] C l a u s e

d o e s n o t b a r t h e u s e o f s t a t e m e n t s ( e v e n t e s t i m o n i a l s t a t e m e n t s ) t h a t a r e n o t

h e a r s a y

, i

. e

. , t h a t a r e o f f e r e d f o r p u r p o s e s o t h e r t h a n e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e t r u t h o f t h e

m a t t e r a s s e r t e d

. ” )

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t c o m m i t r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r b y f a i l i n g t o s u a s

p o n t e

i n t e r v e n e w h e n D e p u t y D e t i m o r e t e s t i f i e d a b o u t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f B l a c k b u r n ’ s

5 (

. . . c o n t i n u e d )

c r i m i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s i r r e l e v a n t u n l e s s t h e r e a s o n b e h i n d t h o s e s t e p s i s a t i s s u e

i n t h e c a s e

. T o t h e c o n t r a r y

, t h i s c o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t b a c k g r o u n d e v i d e n c e i s

a d m i s s i b l e i f i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o e x p l a i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e p o l i c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. H

i n s o n

, 5 8 5 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 8

, 1 3 3 7 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 9 ) ( l o o k i n g a t

w h e t h e r t h e “ b a c k g r o u n d e v i d e n c e i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o b e a b l e t o

t e l l a c o h e r e n t s t o r y a b o u t i t s i n v e s t i g a t i o n ” )

. H e r e

, D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y

w a s g i v e n w h i l e h e w a s b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t d r a w i n g b l o o d f r o m t w o

i n d i v i d u a l s d u r i n g a t i m e i n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w h e n p o l i c e h a d n o t y e t a s c e r t a i n e d

w h o w a s d r i v i n g

. T h e c h a l l e n g e d t e s t i m o n y e x p l a i n e d w h y G o o d m a n ’ s b l o o d

d r a w w a s o r d e r e d b y l a w e n f o r c e m e n t

.

6 T h e c o n c u r r e n c e o p i n e s t h a t D e p u t y D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y w a s h e a r s a y a n d

g o e s o n t o o p i n e t h a t t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o s u a s p o n t e s t r i k e t h e

t e s t i m o n y w a s p l a i n e r r o r

. T h e m a j o r i t y d o e s n o t u n d e r t a k e p l a i n e r r o r a n a l y s i s

. I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t a c u r s o r y r e v i e w c a s t s s e r i o u s d o u b t o n w h e t h e r

G o o d m a n ’ s s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s w e r e a f f e c t e d b y t h e s i n g l e g r a t u i t o u s p h r a s e i n

D e t i m o r e ’ s t e s t i m o n y t o w h i c h t h e p r o s e c u t i o n m a d e n o r e f e r e n c e d u r i n g t h e t r i a l

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. W

e i s s

, 6 3 0 F

. 3 d 1 2 6 3

, 1 2 7 4 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 2 ) ( “ A n e r r o r

o n l y a f f e c t s s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s w h e n i t i s p r e j u d i c i a l

, m e a n i n g t h a t t h e r e i s a

r e a s o n a b l e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t

, b u t f o r t h e e r r o r c l a i m e d

, t h e r e s u l t o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g

w o u l d h a v e b e e n d i f

f e r e n t

. ” ( q u o t a t i o n s o m i t t e d ) )

. T h e e v i d e n c e t h a t G o o d m a n

w a s d r i v i n g w a s s t r o n g a n d t h e r e h a s b e e n n o s h o w i n g h o w t h a t s i n g l e p h r a s e

a f f e c t e d t h e j u r y ’ s v e r d i c t

. G o o d m a n a s s e r t s t h a t w i t h o u t t h e s t a t e m e n t “ t h e j u r y

w o u l d o n l y k n o w t h a t D r e w B l a c k b u r n a d m i t t e d h e w a s t h e d r i v e r a t t h e s c e n e o f

t h e c r a s h

. ” T h a t a r g u m e n t f o r p l a i n e r r o r

, h o w e v e r

, f a l l s f l a t i n t h e f

a c e o f

G o o d m a n ’ s o w n t h e o r y

, p r e s e n t e d t h r o u g h h i s e x p e r t

, D r

. J o h n s o n

, t h a t C ’ B e a r i n g

w a s t h e d r i v e r

.

-13-r e c a n t a t i o n

. 7

C

. S e n t e n c i n g

G o o d m a n a s s e r t s t h e 1 4 4

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d b y t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s

u n r e a s o n a b l e

. A p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f a d e f e n d a n t ’ s s e n t e n c e

c a n i n v o l v e b o t h p r o c e d u r a l a n d s u b s t a n t i v e c o m p o n e n t s

. 8 S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

A d a m s

, 7 5 1 F

. 3 d 1 1 7 5

, 1 1 8 1 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 4 )

. “ T h e p r o c e d u r a l c o m p o n e n t

c o n c e r n s h o w t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c a l c u l a t e d a n d e x p l a i n e d t h e s e n t e n c e

, w h e r e a s

7 G o o d m a n ’ s M o t i o n t o S u p p l e m e n t t h e R e c o r d o n A p p e a l i s d e n i e d

. T h e

s u p p l e m e n t a l m a t e r i a l s w e r e n o t p r e s e n t e d t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a n d t h e y p r o v i d e

n o s u p p o r t f

o r G o o d m a n ’ s S i x t h A m e n d m e n t c l a i m

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. W

a l k e r

, 7 6 1 F

. A p p ’ x 8 2 2

, 8 3 2 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 9 ) ( u n p u b l i s h e d d i s p o s i t i o n c i t e d f o r

p e r s u a s i v e v a l u e p u r s u a n t t o 1 0 t h C i r

. R

. 3 2

. 1 )

.

8 I n t h e i r a p p e l l a t e b r i e f i n g

, t h e p a r t i e s s o m e t i m e s r e f e r t o G o o d m a n ’ s

a b o v e

- g u i d e l i n e s s e n t e n c e a s a d e p a r t u r e a n d s o m e t i m e s a s a v a r i a n c e

. G o o d m a n

a d v o c a t e s f

o r t h e s t a n d a r d o f a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w a p p l i c a b l e t o v a r i a n c e s

. “ O u r

r e v i e w o f a s e n t e n c e o u t s i d e t h e g u i d e l i n e s ’ r e c o m m e n d e d r a n g e h i n g e s o n t h e

m e t h o d b y w h i c h t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s e l e c t s t h e p a r t i c u l a r s e n t e n c e

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s

v

. A d a m s

, 7 5 1 F

. 3 d 1 1 7 5

, 1 1 8 1 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 4 ) ( q u o t a t i o n o m i t t e d ) ( d i s c u s s i n g

t h e d i f f e r e n t s t a n d a r d s o f a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w )

. T h e g o v e r n m e n t a d v o c a t e d f o r b o t h

a v a r i a n c e a n d a d e p a r t u r e a n d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t u s e d b o t h t e r m s d u r i n g t h e

s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e f e r e n c e d t h e d e p a r t u r e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e

S e n t e n c i n g G u i d e l i n e s d u r i n g t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g

, b u t w h e n i t i m p o s e d

G o o d m a n ’ s s e n t e n c e t h e c o u r t s t a t e d :

P u r s u a n t t o t h e S e n t e n c i n g R e f o r m A c t o f 1 9 8 4 a n d t h o s e f a c t o r s

e n u m e r a t e d u n d e r T i t l e 1 8

, S e c t i o n 3 5 5 3

, i t i s t h e j u d g m e n t a n d

s e n t e n c e o f t h i s C o u r t t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t

, W i n t e r h a w k G o o d m a n

, i s

h e r e b y s e n t e n c e d t o a t e r m

— t o t a l t e r m o f 1 4 4 m o n t h s

.

B a s e d o n o u r r e v i e w o f t h e r e c o r d

, i n c l u d i n g t h e s e n t e n c i n g t r a n s c r i p t

, w e

c o n c l u d e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t v a r i e d f r o m t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e b a s e d o n t h e

§ 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f

a c t o r s

.

-14-t h e s u b s t a n t i v e c o m p o n e n t c o n c e r n s w h e t h e r t h e l e n g t h o f t h e s e n t e n c e i s

r e a s o n a b l e i n l i g h t o f t h e s t a t u t o r y f a c t o r s u n d e r 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. ” I d

. H e r e

,

o u r r e v i e w i s l i m i t e d t o t h e s u b s t a n t i v e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f G o o d m a n ’ s s e n t e n c e

. 9

W e r e v i e w t h e s u b s t a n t i v e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f a s e n t e n c e “ w h e t h e r i n s i d e

,

j u s t o u t s i d e

, o r s i g n i f

i c a n t l y o u t s i d e t h e G u i d e l i n e s r a n g e u n d e r a d e f e r e n t i a l

a b u s e

- o f

- d i s c r e t i o n s t a n d a r d

. ” G a l l v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 5 5 2 U

. S

. 3 8

, 4 1 ( 2 0 0 7 ) ;

U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. H

u c k i n s

, 5 2 9 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 2

, 1 3 1 7 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

. W h e n

r e v i e w i n g a d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o v a r y u p w a r d f r o m t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s

r a n g e

, w e “ c o n s i d e r t h e e x t e n t o f t h e d e v i a t i o n ” b u t g i v e “ d u e d e f e r e n c e t o t h e

9 G o o d m a n ’ s o p e n i n g b r i e f i s a m b i g u o u s a s t o w h e t h e r h e i s r a i s i n g a

p r o c e d u r a l r e a s o n a b l e n e s s c h a l l e n g e t o h i s s e n t e n c e

. W h e n h e a r t i c u l a t e s t h e

s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w

, h e r e f e r e n c e s o n l y s u b s t a n t i v e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s

. A p p e l l a n t ’ s

B r

. a t 3 7

- 3 8

. Y e t

, h e a l s o a r g u e s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f a i l e d t o a d d r e s s a r g u m e n t s h e

m a d e i n f

a v o r o f a s e n t e n c e w i t h i n t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

. S e e U n i t e d

S t a t e s v

. W

i r e m a n

, 8 4 9 F

. 3 d 9 5 6

, 9 6 2

- 6 3 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 7 ) ( “ [ W ] h e n a d i s t r i c t

c o u r t h a s v a r i e d u p w a r d s f r o m t h e G u i d e l i n e s

, o u r c a s e s h a v e g e n e r a l l y r e q u i r e d

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o s p e c i f i c a l l y a d d r e s s a n d r e

j e c t t h e a r g u m e n t s t h e d e f e n d a n t

m a d e f o r a m o r e l e n i e n t s e n t e n c e

. ” )

. G o o d m a n ’ s a r g u m e n t o n t h i s p o i n t i s

c o n f i n e d t o t h e f

o l l o w i n g t w o s e n t e n c e s i n h i s o p e n i n g b r i e f : “ D e f e n d a n t m a d e

c o g e n t

, n o n

- f

r i v o l o u s a r g u m e n t s f

o r a G u i d e l i n e s s e n t e n c e

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d

n o t a d d r e s s t h e s e a r g u m e n t s a n d r e j e c t t h e m

. ” A p p e l l a n t ’ s B r

. a t 4 0

. G o o d m a n ’ s

b r i e f f a i l s t o e v e n i d e n t i f

y t h e “ c o g e n t

, n o n

- f

r i v o l o u s a r g u m e n t s ” h e a l l e g e d l y

r a i s e d b e f

o r e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, l e t a l o n e e x p l a i n h o w t h e y w e r e r e l e v a n t a n d n o t

f r i v o l o u s

. F u r t h e r

, G o o d m a n d i d n o t r a i s e a p r o c e d u r a l o b j e c t i o n a t s e n t e n c i n g

w h i c h m e a n s w e r e v i e w t h e p r o c e d u r a l r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f h i s s e n t e n c e f o r p l a i n

e r r o r o n l y

. W

i r e m a n

, 8 4 9 F

. 3 d a t 9 6 2

. G o o d m a n

, h o w e v e r

, d o e s n o t m e n t i o n t h e

p l a i n e r r o r s t a n d a r d i n h i s a p p e l l a t e b r i e f i n g

, m a k i n g i t i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h i s c o u r t

t o c o n s i d e r t h e c l a i m

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, a n y p r o c e d u r a l r e a s o n a b l e n e s s c l a i m

G o o d m a n i n t e n d e d t o r a i s e i s w a i v e d d u e t o i n a d e q u a t e b r i e f i n g

. S e e A d l e r v

. W a l

- M a r t S t o r e s

, I

n c

. , 1 4 4 F

. 3 d 6 6 4

, 6 7 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ( “ A r g u m e n t s

i n a d e q u a t e l y b r i e f

e d i n t h e o p e n i n g b r i e f a r e w a i v e d

. ” )

.

-15-d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t h a t t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s

, o n a w h o l e

, j u s t i f y t h e e x t e n t

o f t h e v a r i a n c e

. ” G a l l

, 5 5 2 U

. S

. a t 5 1

. T h i s s t a n d a r d r e q u i r e s u s t o “ r e c o g n i z e

t h a t i n m a n y c a s e s t h e r e w i l l b e a r a n g e o f p o s s i b l e o u t c o m e s t h e f a c t s a n d l a w a t

i s s u e c a n f

a i r l y s u p p o r t ; r a t h e r t h a n p i c k a n d c h o o s e a m o n g t h e m o u r s e l v e s

, w e

w i l l d e f e r t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s j u d g m e n t s o l o n g a s i t f a l l s w i t h i n t h e r e a l m o f

t h e s e r a t i o n a l l y a v a i l a b l e c h o i c e s

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. M

c C o m b

, 5 1 9 F

. 3 d 1 0 4 9

,

1 0 5 3 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 )

. I t i s w e l l

- s e t t l e d t h a t t h i s c o u r t w i l l “ d e e m a s e n t e n c e

u n r e a s o n a b l e o n l y i f i t i s a r b i t r a r y

, c a p r i c i o u s

, w h i m s i c a l

, o r m a n i f e s t l y

u n r e a s o n a b l e

. ” U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. G a n t t

, 6 7 9 F

. 3 d 1 2 4 0

, 1 2 4 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 2 )

( q u o t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

.

G o o d m a n ’ s a r g u m e n t f o c u s e s e x c l u s i v e l y o n 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) ( 6 )

, t h e

s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n r e q u i r i n g a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o c o n s i d e r “ t h e n e e d t o a v o i d

u n w a r r a n t e d s e n t e n c e d i s p a r i t i e s a m o n g d e f e n d a n t s w i t h s i m i l a r r e c o r d s w h o

h a v e b e e n f

o u n d g u i l t y o f s i m i l a r c o n d u c t

. ” I n G o o d m a n ’ s o p e n i n g b r i e f

, h e

s u m m a r i z e s f

o u r t r a f f i c

- f a t a l i t y c a s e s d e c i d e d b y t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t s i n w h i c h t h e

s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d w a s l o w e r t h a n t h e o n e h e r e c e i v e d

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

W i s e m a n

, 7 4 9 F

. 3 d 1 1 9 1

, 1 1 9 6 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 4 ) ( h o l d i n g “ § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) ( 6 ) a p p l i e s

o n l y w h e n a d d r e s s i n g s e n t e n c i n g d i s p a r i t i e s a m o n g a n d b e t w e e n f e d e r a l

d e f e n d a n t s

. ” )

. A p a r t f

r o m s u m m a r i z i n g t h e f

a c t s o f t h e s e c a s e s

, G o o d m a n m a k e s

-16-n o o t h e r a r g u m e n t t y i n g t h o s e c a s e s t o t h e s u b s t a n t i v e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f h i s

s e n t e n c e

. 1 0

G o o d m a n ’ s a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e l e n g t h o f h i s s e n t e n c e i s u n r e a s o n a b l e

b e c a u s e f

e d e r a l d e f

e n d a n t s i n f

o u r o t h e r c a s e s r e c e i v e d s h o r t e r s e n t e n c e s e v e n

t h o u g h t h e y w e r e a l s o c o n v i c t e d o f i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r i n D U I c a s e s

i n v o l v i n g m u l t i p l e f

a t a l i t i e s i s m e r i t l e s s

. T h e c a s e s o n w h i c h h e r e l i e s d o n o t

e s t a b l i s h a n u n w a r r a n t e d d i s p a r i t y b e c a u s e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) ( 6 ) r e q u i r e s a d i s t r i c t c o u r t

t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t s e n t e n c e s i m p o s e d n a t i o n w i d e o n d e f e n d a n t s w i t h s i m i l a r

r e c o r d s a n d a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e c a l c u l a t i o n s

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. V

e r d i n

- G a r c i a

, 5 1 6

1 0 G o o d m a n a c c u s e s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o f f a i l i n g t o m e n t i o n o r d i s c u s s

§ 3 5 5 3 ( a ) ( 6 )

. W e c o n s t r u e t h i s a s a p r o c e d u r a l r e a s o n a b l e n e s s a r g u m e n t t h a t w a s

n o t r a i s e d i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

. G o o d m a n h a s w a i v e d a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f t h i s

c l a i m t h r o u g h i n a d e q u a t e b r i e f i n g a n d f a i l u r e t o a r g u e h o w h e i s e n t i t l e d t o r e l i e f

u n d e r t h e p l a i n e r r o r s t a n d a r d

. S e e s u p r a n

. 6

. I n a n y e v e n t

, t h i s c o u r t h a s h e l d

t h a t “ a s a g e n e r a l r u l e [

, ]

. . . w h e n a c o u r t c o n s i d e r s w h a t t h e g u i d e l i n e s s e n t e n c e

( o r s e n t e n c i n g r a n g e ) i s

, i t n e c e s s a r i l y c o n s i d e r s w h e t h e r t h e r e i s a d i s p a r i t y

b e t w e e n t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s s e n t e n c e a n d t h e s e n t e n c e s i m p o s e d o n o t h e r s f o r t h e

s a m e o f f e n s e

. ” U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. G a n t t

, 6 7 9 F

. 3 d 1 2 4 0

, 1 2 4 8

- 4 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 2 )

. H e r e

, G o o d m a n c o n c e d e d a t t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g t h a t h i s a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s

s e n t e n c e w a s c o r r e c t l y c a l c u l a t e d

, s t a t i n g t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t : “ W e h a v e a

p r e s e n t e n c e r e p o r t t h a t h a s b e e n p r o p e r l y c a l c u l a t e d

, e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y t h o r o u g h

, o f

w h i c h I e x p e c t e d n o t h i n g l e s s

, a n d i t g i v e s u s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s e n t e n c e

. ” B e f o r e

i m p o s i n g s e n t e n c e

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e f e r e n c e d t h e h i g h e n d o f t h e a d v i s o r y

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e a n d r e p e a t e d l y s t a t e d i t w a s n o t s u f f i c i e n t g i v e n t h e f

a c t s a n d

c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f G o o d m a n ’ s c r i m e

. B a s e d o n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s r e c i t a t i o n o f t h e

f u l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e o f f e n s e

, i t i s c l e a r t h e c o u r t c o n s i d e r e d

w h e t h e r i m p o s i n g a s e n t e n c e a b o v e t h e h i g h e n d o f t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

w o u l d c r e a t e a n y u n w a r r a n t e d d i s p a r i t y

. S e e G a l l v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 5 5 2 U

. S

. 3 8

, 5 4 ( 2 0 0 7 ) ( “ S i n c e t h e D i s t r i c t J u d g e c o r r e c t l y c a l c u l a t e d a n d c a r e f u l l y r e v i e w e d

t h e G u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

, h e n e c e s s a r i l y g a v e s i g n i f i c a n t w e i g h t a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o

t h e n e e d t o a v o i d u n w a r r a n t e d d i s p a r i t i e s

. ” )

.

-17-F

. 3 d 8 8 4

, 8 9 9 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

. F o u r s u p e r f i c i a l l y s i m i l a r c a s e s c a r e f u l l y

s e l e c t e d b y a p a r t y a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h a n a t i o n w i d e d i s p a r i t y

,

p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e G o o d m a n d o e s n o t a r g u e t h e d e f e n d a n t s i n t h o s e c a s e s h a d

s i m i l a r r e c o r d s t o h i s o r e n g a g e d i n s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r c r i m i n a l c o n d u c t

. 1 1

H e r e

, t h e r e c o r d s h o w s G o o d m a n w a s t r a v e l i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y s e v e n t y

- o n e m i l e s

p e r h o u r i n a f

o r t y m i l e

- p e r

- h o u r z o n e a n d f a i l e d t o s t o p a t a m a i n i n t e r s e c t i o n

.

A n h o u r a f

t e r t h e c r a s h

, h i s b l o o d a l c o h o l c o n c e n t r a t i o n w a s s t i l l 0

. 3 5 6 p e r c e n t

,

n e a r l y f o u r t i m e s t h e l e g a l l i m i t

. F u r t h e r

, G o o d m a n h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g m o s t o f

t h e d a y a n d k n e w h e w a s i n t o x i c a t e d

, y e t h e m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n t o d r i v e m u l t i p l e

t i m e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e v e n i n g

. B y e n g a g i n g i n t h i s c o n d u c t

, G o o d m a n c a u s e d t h e

d e a t h s o f a f

e l l o w p a s s e n g e r a n d t w o p e o p l e i n a n o t h e r v e h i c l e

. U n d e r t h e s e

f a c t s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o s e n t e n c e G o o d m a n t o 1 4 4 m o n t h s ’

i m p r i s o n m e n t w a s n o t a r b i t r a r y

, c a p r i c i o u s

, w h i m s i c a l

, o r m a n i f e s t l y

u n r e a s o n a b l e

. S e e G a n t t

, 6 7 9 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 4 9

.

1 1 A l t h o u g h i t i s n o t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s b u r d e n

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t s u m m a r i z e s

t h e f a c t s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e f o u r f e d e r a l c a s e s c i t e d b y G o o d m a n

. A p p e l l e e ’ s B r i e f a t 3 9 n

. 1 2

. N o n e i n v o l v e d a d e f e n d a n t w h o ( 1 ) c a u s e d t h e

d e a t h s o f b o t h h i s p a s s e n g e r a n d t h e o c c u p a n t s o f a n o t h e r v e h i c l e

, ( 2 ) d r o v e w i t h

a b l o o d

- a l c o h o l c o n t e n t n e a r l y f o u r t i m e s t h e l e g a l l i m i t

, ( 3 ) w a s t r a v e l i n g m o r e

t h a n t h i r t y m i l e s o v e r t h e s p e e d l i m i t

, o r ( 4 ) t o o k h i s c a s e t o t r i a l r a t h e r t h a n

a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b y p l e a d i n g g u i l t y

.

-18-I V

. C O N C L U S I O N

F o r t h e r e a s o n s s e t o u t i n d e t a i l a b o v e

, G o o d m a n ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d

s e n t e n c e a r e a f f i r m e d

.

E N T E R E D F O R T H E C O U R T

M i c h a e l R

. M u r p h y

C i r c u i t J u d g e

-19-United States of Americ a v. Winterhawk Goodman

, No. 19-8008

BACHARACH , J., concurring.

I agree with the majori ty’s analysis on th e sufficiency of the

evidence and the reasonable ness of the sentence. And like the majority, I

would reject Mr. Wint erhawk Goodman’s ar gument involving the

Confrontation Clause. But I respectfu lly disagree with the majority’s

reason for rejecting this argument. The majority concludes that Mr. Drew

Blackburn’s out-of-court stat ement didn’t constitute he arsay. I respectfully

disagree. In my view, th e statement constituted inadmissible hearsay even

under the plain-error stan dard. But I would reject Mr. Goodman’s argument

on the Confrontation Clause because Mr. Blackburn’s statement was not

obviously testimonial. I thus respectfu lly concur only in the disposition as

to the Confrontation Clause.

1. Mr. Blackburn’s out-of-court statement was introduced at trial.

This case stemmed from a crash between a truc k and a minivan. The

truck had four occupa nts: Mr. Goodman, Mr. Blackburn, Mr. William

C’Bearing, and Ms. Leslie Sixtoes. Al l of them were drunk, and the only

question was who had been driving the truck. Prosecutors concluded that

Mr. Goodman had been the driver and charged him wi th involuntary

manslaughter and assault resulti ng in serious bod ily injury.

Defense counsel admitted that Mr . Goodman had b een drunk and

stipulated that less than an hour after the crash, his blood-alcohol content2 had been 356 milligrams per deciliter. Given this stipulation, defense

counsel conceded early in the tr ial that Mr. G oodman had been

“extraordinarily drunk” and that hi s blood-alcohol c ontent had been

“almost astronomical.” R. vol. 3, at 134–35. But defense counsel denied

that Mr. Goodman ha d been driving.

To prove that Mr. G oodman had been the dr iver, the prosecution

called Deputy Donovan Deti more as a witness. On direct examination,

Deputy Detimore testified that he had ordered test ing of Mr. Blackburn’s

blood-alcohol content beca use Mr. Blackburn had admi tted that he was the

driver. The prosecutor th en asked if anyone else’s blood had been tested.

Deputy Detimore answered that he had ordered other testing. He then

volunteered that upon arri ving at the hosp ital, Mr. Blackburn had recanted

and said that the driv er was Mr. Goodman.

Mr. Goodman did not ob ject. But on appeal, Mr. Goodman argues

that the introduction of Mr. Blackburn’s out-of-c ourt statement violated

the Confrontation Clause. The governme nt disagrees, arguing that the

statement was neither te stimonial nor hearsay.

2. Because Mr. Goodman did not object to introduction of the outof-court statement, we review his argume nt for plain error.

Because Mr. Goodman di d not object to intr oduction of the out-ofcourt statement, we would reverse only if “it was plai n error for the district

court to fail to raise the constitutional issue sua sponte .” United States v.3 Ibarra-Diaz , 805 F.3d 908, 919 (10t h Cir. 2015) (quoting United States v.

Perez , 989 F.2d 1574, 1582 (10t h Cir. 1993) (en banc )). To demonstrate

plain error, Mr. Goodman must show that “the di strict court committed (1)

error (2) that [was] clear or obvious under current law, and which both (3)

affected [his] substantial rights and (4) undermined the fairness, integrity,

or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Mullins , 613

F.3d 1273, 1283 (10th Cir. 2010).

3. The district court did not plainly err in failing to sua sponte

exclude the out-of-cou rt statement based on the Confrontation

Clause.

The district court did not plainly err in failing to sua sponte exclude

the statement under the Co nfrontation Clause. To assess whether the

district court plainly erre d, we consider the eviden ce known to the district

court when Deputy Detimore testifie d about the out-of-c ourt statement. See

United States v. Gayekpar , 678 F.3d 629, 636 (8th Cir. 2012); see also

pp. 5 & 8–9, below. Give n the evidence introduced to that point, the

district court had little reason to regard the out-of-c ourt statement as

testimonial. Indeed, the only facts know n to the district court suggested

that the statement wa s not testimonial.

The Sixth Amendment’s Confrontati on Clause protect s a defendant’s

right “to be confronted with the wi tnesses against hi m.” U.S. Const.

amend. VI. To supply this protection, the clause requires exclusion of

testimonial hearsay unless th e declarant testifies or is unavailable to testify4 and was previously cross-exam ined about th e statement. United States v.

Ibarra-Diaz , 805 F.3d 908, 918 ( 10th Cir. 2015).

Mr. Blackburn didn’t testify, so he wasn’t subject to crossexamination. But the Confrontation Clause is generally limited to

testimonial hearsay. Id . So we must determine whether the statement had

been testimonial and ha d constituted hearsay.

An out-of-court statem ent is testimonial wh en the circumstances

objectively indicate that the declarant made the st atement for the primary

purpose of “establish[ing] or prov[ing] past events potentially relevant to

later criminal prosecution.” Davis v. Washington , 547 U.S. 813, 822

(2006). To assess the ci rcumstances, courts cons ider various factors,

including

 the existence of an emergency,

 the informality of th e investigation, and

 the identity of the interrogator.

Ohio v. Clark , 576 U.S. 237, 244–46 (2015).

The existence of an ongoing emergency is pertinent because a

statement could be intended to address the emergency rather than to assist

in the prosecution. Michigan v. Bryant , 562 U.S. 344, 361 (2011). The

informality of the interrogation matter s because formal interrogations at a

police station are more likel y to yield testimonial st atements than informal

interrogations at the crime scene. Id . at 366; see Clark , 576 U.S. at 245.5 The identity of th e interrogator is relevant because statements to

individuals who are not law-enforcemen t officers are far less likely to be

testimonial than statements to law-enforcement officers. Clark , 576 U.S. at

246.

To assess the primary purpose of a statement, we consider the

purpose that a reas onable person in the declarant’s posi tion would have

had. United States v. Smalls , 605 F.3d 765, 778 (10t h Cir. 2010). Some

declarants may want primar ily to aid the prosecuti on; but other declarants

may have anot her primary purpos e, such as addr essing an ongoing

emergency. Bryant , 562 U.S. at 368. Or declarants may lack any purpose

when they’re drunk or experiencing shock. See id. at 368–69

(acknowledging that victim s could be so injured or incapacitated that they

couldn’t “think[] sufficie ntly clearly to understand whether [their]

statements are for the pur pose of addressing an ongoing emergency or for

the purpose of futu re prosecution”).

In analyzing the primary purpose of the out-of-court statement, we

consider what the district court could have known at that point in the trial.

See p. 3, above; id. , pp. 8–9, below. At that po int in the trial, the court

could have known only that Mr. Blackburn

 had told someone at the hosp ital that Mr. Goodman was the

driver,

 had been drunk when making the statement, and6  had been in a horrific accident.

But the court had no way of knowing whom Mr . Blackburn had told,

whether he had made the statement during an inte rrogation, or why Mr.

Blackburn had made the statement.

According to Deputy Detimore , Mr. Blackburn had made the

statement upon arrivi ng at the hospital. But Deputy Detimore did not say

whether Mr. Blackburn had made the statement to an officer or to someone

else, such as a hospital employee. 1 The omission was significant. If Mr.

Blackburn had made the statement to a hospital employee, a reasonable

person probably wouldn’t assume that the primary purpose had be en to aid

a law-enforcement investigation. See United States v. Barker , 820 F.3d

167, 172 (5th Cir. 2016) (con cluding that a ch ild victim’s statements to a

hospital nurse were not te stimonial because the vict im’s principal purpose

was to help the nurse in providing medical care).

Nor could the court have known wh ether Mr. Blackbur n had made the

out-of-court statement du ring an interrogation or had blurted out the

statement. 2 If the statement hadn’t resu lted from an interrogation,

1 Deputy Detimore later testified on cross-examination that Mr.

Blackburn had made the statement to officers. But this information was

unavailable to the cour t when Deputy Detimore volunteered on direct

examination that Mr. Blackburn had recanted.

2 Deputy Detimore testified that Mr. Blackburn had acknowledged, in

response to a ques tion, that he was driving. But when Deputy Detimore7 introduction of the stat ement would be less li kely to violate the

Confrontation Clause. See Michigan v. Bryant , 562 U.S. 344, 377 (2011)

(observing that an informal situation makes the statement less likely to be

considered testimonial).

And the district court couldn’t have known why Mr. Blackburn had

made the statement. In deed, the available fact s suggested that Mr.

Blackburn had made the st atement because he was drunk and sh aken from

the accident.

Before the testimony about the out-of-court stat ement, Deputy

Detimore testified that Mr. Blackburn had reeked of alcohol, had slurred

his speech, and had acted erratically, kicking the emergency medical

personnel who were trying to treat him. Mr. Blac kburn not only was drunk

but also had just experienced a trau matic accident, occupy ing a truck that

had rolled into a ditch, flipped over se veral times, and er upted in fire. The

accident was so traumatic th at Deputy Detimore said that he had never seen

a worse crash scene during his thirte en years in law enforcement.

testified about the recantation, he did not say whethe r Mr. Blackburn had

volunteered the informati on or recanted when re sponding to a question.

Compare R., vol. 3, at 181 (explaining that Mr. Bl ackburn stated that he

had been driving after Deputy Detimore asked who had been driving), with

R., vol. 3, at 187–88 ( not stating whether anyon e had asked Mr. Blackburn

who the driver was).8 Given Mr. Blackburn’s in toxication and the seve rity of the accident,

the district court could reasonably conclude that Mr. Blackbur n had made

the statement because he was drunk an d shaken from the crash—not to aid

an investigation.

Given the totality of circumstances known at that point in the trial,

the district court could reasonably conc lude that the out-of-court statement

hadn’t been testimonial. Even if the statement had been testimonial,

however, the limited info rmation available to the district court would

prevent us from regarding any error as obvious. See United States v.

Gayekpar , 678 F.3d 629, 636 (6th Cir. 2012) (concl uding that introduction

of a law-enforcement officer’s testim ony wasn’t an obvious error because

the district court couldn’t have known that the officer might have based his

knowledge on inadmissible hearsay).

To bolster his character ization of the statement as testimonial, Mr.

Goodman moved to supplement the re cord with more law-enforcement

reports. But these reports cannot help us to assess plain er ror because they

weren’t accessible to the di strict court when the out-of-court statement was

introduced. See United States v. Frost , 684 F.3d 963, 977 (10th Cir. 2012)

(“Where the determin ative facts are missing from the record due to the

defendant’s failure to make a timely objection, we w ill not find plain error

based on the possibility that better factual development would have made9 the error clearer.”), overruled on other grounds by United States v.

Bustamante-Conchas , 850 F.3d 1130, 1143–44 (10th Cir. 2017) (e n banc).

But even if the district court could have considered the supplemental

materials, they wouldn’t have sugge sted that Mr. Blac kburn’s statement

was testimonial. Those materials sa y that Mr. Blackburn recanted to

emergency medical technicians, not an officer. 3 If Mr. Blackburn recanted

to emergency medical technicians, ra ther than an officer, the statement

would not have been obviously testimonial. See p. 6, above. So the

supplemental materials s uggest that the statement was not testimonial.

4. The government errone ously argues in th e alternative that

introduction of the out-of-court statement did not satisfy the

plain-error standard for hearsay.

The government also argu es in the alternative that the Confrontation

Clause wasn’t violated because the ou t-of-court statement didn’t constitute

hearsay, and the majority agrees. I re spectfully disagree. In my view, the

statement was obviously hear say, so the district c ourt would ha ve plainly

3 The supplemental record contains another report relating to the FBI’s

interview of Mr. Bl ackburn. This interv iew took place at a detention center

days after the accident. But this interview is appare ntly not the source of

the statement that Deputy Detimore testified a bout. He testified about a

statement that Mr. Blackbur n had made upon arri ving at the ho spital on the

night of the accident. See p. 6, above.10 erred in allowing introducti on of the out-o f-court statement if it had been

testimonial.

“Hearsay” is defined as an out-o f-court statement offered for the

truth of the matter asserted. See Fed. R. Evid. 801(c). The matter asserted

was that Mr. Goodman had been driving— the only contested issue at trial.

But if the governmen t had offered the statement for some other relevant

purpose, the statemen t would not have co nstituted hearsay. See United

States v. Freeman , 816 F.2d 558, 563 (10th Cir. 1987).

According to the government, it offered Mr. Blackburn’s statement to

show why an officer or dered a second blood-dra w from Mr. Goodman. To

assess this ostensible purpose, we consider “whether the purported

background evidence [was] necessary for the government to be able to tell

a coherent story about its investigation.” United States v. Hinson , 585 F.3d

1328, 1337 (10th Cir. 2009). If the government “int roduces evidence that

bore on the ultima te issue in a case but that was not necessary to explain

the background of a police investigation, the only reasonable conclusion

we can reach is that th e evidence was offered, not as background, but as

support for the gover nment’s case agains t the defendant.” Id . (cleaned up). 4

4 The majority states that Mr . Goodman hasn’t questioned the

relevance of the reason for the blood draw. I resp ectfully disagree. Mr.

Goodman argues that “[i]f [the statem ent] was not offered for its truth,

then the statement is pointless because it served only to exonerate Drew

Blackburn and inculpate Mr . Goodman.” Appellant’ s Opening Br. at 34.11 The government didn’t ne ed to explain why offi cials had tested Mr.

Goodman’s blood-alcohol content. Inde ed, the prosecutor explained early

in the trial that offi cials had tested Mr. G oodman’s blood because of

suspicion that he might have been the driver. See R., vol. 3, at 124

(prosecutor’s explanation in opening statement that Deputy Detimore had

instructed officers to te st Mr. Goodman’s blood-alc ohol content because of

suspicion that he might have been driving).

After Mr. Blackburn r ecanted, officers retested Mr. Goodman’s

blood-alcohol content. Bu t no one ever questione d the reason for the

second test. Given the ab sence of any question a bout the reason for the

second test, “the only r easonable conclusion we can reach is that the

evidence was offered, not as b ackground, but as support for the

government’s case agai nst the defendant.” United States v. Hinson , 585

F.3d 1328, 1337 (10th Cir. 2009). Indeed, the st atement cemented the

government’s proof on the sole contested issu e—whether Mr. Goodman had

been the driver. So the stat ement was obvious ly hearsay.

Given the obviousness of the hearsa y, introduction of the out-ofcourt statement would c onstitute plain error if introduction of the

statement had affected Mr . Goodman’s substantial ri ghts and the integrity

of the judicial proceedings. See p. 3, above.

An error affects substantial rights when the outcom e is affected.

United States v. Gonzales-Huerta , 403 F.3d 727, 732 (1 0th Cir. 2005) (en12 banc). And an error affects the integrity of the judicial proceedings when

the error concerns a clos ely contested issue that’s subject to conflicting

evidence. United States v. Westmoreland , 240 F.3d 618, 635 (7th Cir.

2001).

The majority argues that the gov ernment might have needed to

explain why the officers had taken a second blood- draw from Mr.

Goodman. But the gov ernment never made that argument at trial because

there was no need . The reason for the second blood-draw was unimportant,

but what Mr. Blackburn ha d said was critical becaus e of its content: that

Mr. Goodman had been driving. Th e truthfulness of that statement

constituted the sole issue at tria l: whether Mr. Goodm an had been the

driver.

The majority reasons that the gove rnment had strong evidence that

Mr. Goodman had been driving. A reas onable jury coul d have ce rtainly

found that Mr. Goodman had b een driving. See Majority Op. at 10. The

government’s ev idence includ ed surveillance foot age of Mr. Goodman

driving earlier in the evening, expert testimony that Mr. Goodman had been

the driver, and ev en Mr. Goodman’s own statements.

But a reasonable jury could have also f ound that someone else had

been driving. Someone who had seen the occupants earlier in the day

testified that he believed that Mr. Goodman hadn’t been dr iving, and there

was at least some evidence pointing to every other occupant of the truck.13 For example, Mr. Blackburn first said that he ha d been the driver. And

someone at the scene belie ved that Ms. Sixtoes had been driving because

she had been on the drive r’s side. In addition, an expert witness testified

that Mr. C’Bearing’s injuri es indicated that he had been driving. Given the

totality of the evidence, a reasonable jury could have had a plausible basis

to find that any of the three other occupants had been the driver.

Given the conflicting evidence, in troduction of Mr. Blackburn’s outof-court statement could have a ffected the outc ome. Though the

government had ampl e evidence ag ainst Mr. Goodman, th at evidence didn’t

include testimony from anyone who had seen Mr. Goodman driving at the

time of the accident. But Mr. Blackburn had been in the truck and would

have known who was driving. So his out-of-court stat ement gave the

government direct evidence that Mr. Goodman ha d been the driver. Given

the compelling nature of that direct evidence on the sole issue at trial, 5 the

obvious hearsay affected Mr. Goodm an’s substantial rights and the

integrity of the judi cial proceedings.

* * *

5 The government also ar gues that the out-of-c ourt statem ent lacked

credibility because Mr. Bl ackburn had made “contr adictory statements”

while “highly intoxicated.” Appell ee’s Resp. Br. at 31–32. But if Mr.

Blackburn’s statement la cked credibility, w hy did the government

allegedly rely on it? At trial, no one questione d the credibility of Mr.

Blackburn’s out-of-court st atement identifying Mr. Goodman as the driver.14 Though the statement obvi ously constituted inad missible hearsay, it

was not obviously testimonial. I wo uld thus reject Mr. Goodman’s

argument involvi ng the Confrontation Clause.

5. Conclusion

The district court did not plainly err in failing to sua sponte exclude

the out-of-court stat ement based on the Confrontat ion Clause. The district

court lacked the necessary facts to regard the out-of-court statement as

testimonial. But I would reject th e government’s ar gument that the

statement didn’t satisfy the plain-error test for hearsay. I would thus affirm

the judgment, but on the ground that the statement was not obviously

testimonial.