Source: https://casetext.com/case/us-v-wilkinson-4
Timestamp: 2019-10-16 17:12:17
Document Index: 407529435

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 844', '§ 3146', '§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 922', '§ 924', 'art, 779', '§ 924', '§ 4', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 16']

U.S. v. Wilkinson, 926 F.2d 22 | Casetext
U.S.v.Wilkinson
United States Court of Appeals, First CircuitFeb 11, 1991
U.S. v. Paleo
Taylor, 110 S.Ct. at 2158-59; United States v. Bregnard, 951 F.2d 457, 459-60 (1st Cir. 1991), cert. denied,…
We have held that mere presence of arms for the protection of drugs for sale is present use. United States v.…
upholding a finding of voluntary consent when four officers entered the house with guns drawn, handcuffed and frisked the defendant, and "threatened to tear the place apart," which could have been interpreted as a statement that the house would be searched thoroughly
Summary of this case from U.S. v. Porras-Quintero
upholding search of trash barrel left on defendant's lawn next to public street
Summary of this case from Commonwealth v. Huenefeld
affirming district court's finding that the officers' threat to "tear the place apart" amounted to "no more than a permissible promise to search the house thoroughly"
Heard November 8, 1990.
Before BREYER, Chief Judge, SELYA, Circuit Judge, and PETTINE, Senior District Judge.
Of the District Court of Rhode Island, sitting by designation.
1) simple possession of cocaine (in 1988), 21 U.S.C. § 844(a);
2) jumping bail, 18 U.S.C. § 3146(a)(1);
3) possessing cocaine with intent to distribute it (in 1989), 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1);
4) carrying or using a gun in connection with a drug offense (in 1989), 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and
5) as a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessing a gun (in 1988 and 1989), 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
I [4] The 1989 Search
We review the district court's fact finding only for "clear error." United States v. Twomey, 884 F.2d 46, 51-52 (1st Cir. 1989), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 110 S.Ct. 2592, 110 L.Ed.2d 273 (1990). The record reveals that four law enforcement officers entered the Wilkes' home. Wilkinson appeared at the top of a flight of stairs, hands on his head, telling the officers to leave Mrs. Wilkes alone, adding that "everything was his." Mrs. Wilkes gave the officers permission to search the house. Wilkinson's duffel bag was in the basement. Wilkinson then specifically told the officers they could search his duffel bag.
On the other hand, the record supports the district court's findings that Wilkinson's "cognitive abilities were not compromised" by his earlier use of drugs, that the officers "lowered their weapons" once Wilkinson "was secured," that he "acted in a calm, professional manner and appeared to understand his options clearly," that he was "embarrassed" that the officers had found him in the home of his "good friends" whom he wished "to save . . . from further involvement," and that he explicitly said the officers could search his bag, he told the officers where his bag could be found, and he pointed out the location of the guns in the bag.
Given these findings of fact, we cannot say, as a matter of law, that Wilkinson's consent was coerced. His will was not "overborne," in the sense of his having suffered a "critically impaired . . . capacity for self-determination." Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 225, 93 S.Ct. at 2047. That is to say, Wilkinson consented "voluntarily," in the sense that neither drugs nor any other circumstance made him unaware of, or mistaken about, any key fact, or unable physically to decide or to choose whether or not to agree to the search. See id. at 226, 93 S.Ct. at 2047. Moreover, the agents did not coerce his voluntary decision by improperly placing before him an impermissible choice; they did not, for example, threaten him with a gun in order to elicit an otherwise "voluntary" consent. See id. at 224 n. 7, 93 S.Ct. at 2046 n. 7. One of the officers did "threaten to tear the place apart," but the district court could reasonably find that this statement, in light of Mrs. Wilkes' consent to a search of the house, amounted (in rather strong terms) to no more than a permissible promise to search the house thoroughly and (likely) find the guns eventually anyway. Consequently, we cannot say that the search violated the federal Constitution; and admission of the evidence was lawful.
II [10] The 1989 Drug/Firearm Offense
The jury convicted Wilkinson of violating 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), which provides criminal punishment for any person who
during and in relation to any ... drug trafficking crime ... uses or carries a firearm ....
First, he says that the evidence was not sufficient to convict. He says that the guns were buried in the duffel bag, one wrapped in a towel, the other zipped up in a small leather bag. Hence, they were not readily available for use during, and therefore, were not "use[d]" in "relation to," the drug crime.
The legal question is simply whether a reasonable juror could conclude that Wilkinson had control over a gun and that it facilitated the commission of his drug crime, namely distributing cocaine to others from the duffel bag. See United States v. Meggett, 875 F.2d 24, 29 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 110 S.Ct. 166, 107 L.Ed.2d 123 (1989) ("it was sufficient to show that the firearm furthered the commission of the drug trafficking crime"); United States v. LaGuardia, 774 F.2d 317, 321 (8th Cir. 1985) ("Section 924(c)(1) reaches the possession of a firearm which in any manner facilitates the execution of a felony."); United States v. Stewart, 779 F.2d 538, 540 (9th Cir. 1985) (Kennedy, J.) ("If the firearm is within the possession or control of a person who commits an underlying crime as defined by the statute, and the circumstances of the case show that the firearm facilitated or had a role in the crime, such as emboldening an actor who had the opportunity or ability to display or discharge the weapon or intimidate others, whether or not such display or discharge in fact occurred, then there is a violation of the statute."). The fact that the guns were in the same duffel bag as the drugs helps to support such a conclusion. See United States v. Young-Bey, 893 F.2d 178, 181 (8th Cir. 1990) ("It is permissible for juries to infer that firearms found among a drug trafficker's paraphernalia are used to further the drug venture and are thus used in relation to drug trafficking within the meaning of section 924(c)(1)."); United States v. Lyman, 892 F.2d 751, 752-54 (8th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S.Ct. 45, 112 L.Ed.2d 21 (1990); United States v. Boyd, 885 F.2d 246, 250 (5th Cir. 1989); LaGuardia, 774 F.2d at 321.
Of course, other facts about the location of the drugs, namely the facts that the guns were somewhat removed from the drugs within the bag and were hard to unpack, support appellant's claim that the guns did not facilitate the crime. But, ultimately, whether or not the guns helped appellant commit the drug crime is a matter for a jury, applying common-sense theories of human nature and causation. A juror might think it clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a person who carried guns so near four ounces of drugs intended the guns for protection when carrying or distributing the drugs. We cannot say that such a juror would be an unreasonable human being. And, consequently, we must find the evidence sufficient to support conviction. See United States v. Guerrero-Guerrero, 776 F.2d 1071, 1075 (1st Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1029, 106 S.Ct. 1233, 89 L.Ed.2d 342 (1986); see also Young-Bey, 893 F.2d at 181; Lyman, 892 F.2d at 752-54; Boyd, 885 F.2d at 250; LaGuardia, 774 F.2d at 321. But see United States v. Feliz-Cordero, 859 F.2d 250, 254 (2d Cir. 1988) (distinguished in United States v. Hadfield, 918 F.2d 987, 997 (1st Cir. 1990)).
We are not certain whether we understand the argument correctly. If we do, we do not understand why he would have been entitled to the instruction. But, in any event, we must reject the argument because we cannot find a proper objection in the record. As we have repeatedly held, Fed.R.Crim.P. 30 means what it says. A party may not claim error in the judge's charge to the jury unless that party "objects" after the judge gives the charge but before the "jury retires," and, when objecting the party must "stat[e] . . . distinctly the matter to which that party objects and the grounds of that objection." Fed.R.Crim.P. 30; see, e.g., United States v. Sturm, 870 F.2d 769, 775-76 (1st Cir. 1989). The only language that we find that arguably makes such an objection on the record page to which counsel refers us says: "I would incorporate arguments that I made earlier on the record before." In context, this statement does not "distinctly" point to any specific prior objection, let alone explain the "grounds" of that objection. Nor did counsel's prior (precharge) discussion of the subject explain clearly the "grounds" for the objection. Under these circumstances, we cannot consider the point.
III [21] The 1988 Search
First, Wilkinson points out that the magistrate who issued the warrant, in finding probable cause for the search, relied in part upon the police having found bags with cocaine residue and round perforated pieces of aluminum foil (of a kind often used for "freebasing" cocaine) in Wilkinson's trash. Wilkinson argues that the warrantless police searches of his trash containers — three times in 1986 and three times in 1988 — violated the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches.
486 U.S. at 40, 108 S.Ct. at 1629. This language applies equally well to the present case. See United States v. Trice, 864 F.2d 1421, 1423-24 (8th Cir. 1988), cert. dismissed, 491 U.S. 914, 109 S.Ct. 3206, 105 L.Ed.2d 714 (1989); but see United States v. Certain Real Property Located at 987 Fisher Road, 719 F. Supp. 1396, 1404 (E.D.Mich. 1989) (defendant had reasonable expectation of privacy in trash left for pickup by back door).
IV [28] Sentence Enhancement Under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA)
If a felon convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm (such as Wilkinson) has "three prior convictions for a violent felony," the court must sentence him to a prison term of at least 15 years. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). At Wilkinson's sentencing hearing, the Government introduced certified copies of four such prior convictions: 1) a September 1955 armed robbery conviction, 2) an October 1955 breaking and entering conviction, 3) a 1960 breaking and entering conviction, and 4) a 1968 armed robbery conviction. Wilkinson says (and the Government concedes) that these convictions fall within the statutory phrase "three prior convictions" only if they are constitutionally valid convictions. See United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 447-49, 92 S.Ct. 589, 591-93, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972) (sentencing judge may not consider constitutionally infirm prior conviction); Burgett v. Texas, 389 U.S. 109, 115, 88 S.Ct. 258, 262, 19 L.Ed.2d 319 (1967) (same) (dictum). And, Wilkinson argues that the Government has not proved they are constitutionally valid because it has not shown he was represented by counsel during the 1955 "breaking and entering" proceedings or during the 1968 armed robbery proceedings.
The parties argue at length about who has the burden of proving the constitutional validity or invalidity (for sentencing purposes) of a prior, predicate conviction. The Government points out that, theoretically speaking, any given conviction might suffer any of a myriad of constitutional defects. Practically speaking, it is the defendant, not the probation officer or the Government, who will know any particular defect-related details about any particular prior conviction. For such reasons, the Sentencing Commission (and courts) in related sentencing areas have said that, once the Government establishes the existence of a prior conviction, the burden shifts to the offender to show that the conviction violated the Federal Constitution. See Sentencing Guidelines § 4A1.2 Application Note 6 ("Convictions which the defendant shows to have been constitutionally invalid may not be counted in the criminal history score.") (emphasis added); United States v. Unger, 915 F.2d 759, 764 (1st Cir. 1990); United States v. Dickens, 879 F.2d 410, 411-12 (8th Cir. 1989). These practical reasons, and the need for uniformity in sentencing procedure, would counsel a similar result here. And, Wilkinson could not meet such a test, for he did not provide the sentencing court, nor has he provided us, with any good reason to believe that he did not have a lawyer in either 1955 or 1968. He has nowhere said, for example, that he did not have a lawyer; he simply says the Government did not prove that he did.
We need not decide the "burden of proof" question definitively, however, for there is a simpler reason why Wilkinson's argument fails. To enhance Wilkinson's sentence, the Government must show in post-trial sentencing proceedings that he had three prior "violent felony" convictions. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). Ordinarily, the Government must prove facts used for sentencing by "a preponderance of the evidence." See, e.g., United States v. Wright, 873 F.2d 437, 441 (1st Cir. 1989). The "evidence" that it may use to make this showing must be "reliable," but it need not meet "hearsay," or other formal evidentiary requirements. See United States v. Moccia, 681 F.2d 61, 65 (1st Cir. 1982); United States v. Fatico, 579 F.2d 707, 713 (2d Cir. 1978). We know of no reason why this would be different in the ACCA context. The Government showed that Wilkinson had three prior "violent felony" convictions by introducing certified copies of four convictions, along with various other procedural papers from the prior proceedings. With one exception, not a word in the record suggests that Wilkinson was not represented by counsel during these prior proceedings. Since the number of felony cases where a defendant lacks counsel must be small (particularly after Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963)), a sentencing court may permissibly infer from the record of the conviction that the conviction was not obtained unconstitutionally provided the record contains no reason to believe the contrary.
As we noted above, the record contains almost no reason to believe the contrary. But there is one exception. The document used to prove the 1968 conviction for armed robbery has a space for the name of defense counsel, and that space is blank. The record, however, also contains the presentence report, which specifically says that Wilkinson was represented by counsel in 1968 — a conclusion that the presentence report says it reached on the basis of a different presentence report relevant to a 1977 federal prosecution, which, in turn, says it obtained that information from "court records." In sentencing matters, presentence reports are normally considered reliable sources of information, upon which sentencing courts may rely, as are court records. That is to say, courts can, and do, commonly take as true facts stated in presentence reports when they are not challenged. See, e.g., United States v. McVicar, 907 F.2d 1, 2 (1st Cir. 1990); United States v. McDowell, 888 F.2d 285, 290 n. 1 (3d Cir. 1989). As we have said, Wilkinson nowhere has denied that he had counsel in 1968. He claims only that the Government did not prove that he did. Wilkinson does not claim that he did not see the presentence report before sentencing. Nor does he claim he was not given an opportunity to challenge the statement. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(A). In our view, under these circumstances, the certified convictions, the record references we have just mentioned, the fact that an uncounseled felony proceeding would be most unusual, and the absence of any other indication that Wilkinson lacked counsel, are more than enough to permit a court to conclude that his prior record satisfied the statute's terms, irrespective of how we might eventually decide to allocate the burden of proving (under the ACCA) that an otherwise apparently valid predicate conviction was unconstitutional.
Wilkinson's final argument is that one of the predicate convictions — the 1960 conviction — is not a "violent felony" for purposes of the sentencing statute. That statute defines "violent felony" as "any crime . . . that . . . is burglary . . . or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another." 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B). Wilkinson's 1960 conviction was for breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, in violation of Mass.Gen.L. ch. 266, § 16. We have held that this crime falls within the statute because it "involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another." See United States v. Patterson, 882 F.2d 595, 604 (1st Cir. 1989), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 110 S.Ct. 737, 107 L.Ed.2d 755 (1990). The Supreme Court more recently held that "burglary" includes "an unlawful ... entry into ... a building ... with intent to commit a crime." Taylor v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 110 S.Ct. 2143, 2158, 109 L.Ed.2d 607 (1990). Hence, one way or the other or both, the predicate offense falls within the statute.