Source: https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/241-f-3d-1306-603455182
Timestamp: 2019-11-15 09:47:38
Document Index: 401553333

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1291', '§ 241', '§ 3631', '§ 844', '§ 1512', '§ 241', '§ 844', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631', '§ 3631']

241 F.3d 1306 (10th Cir. 2001), 99-4245, US v. Magleby - Federal Cases - Case Law - VLEX 603455182
Docket Nº: 99-4245
Party Name: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. MICHAEL BRAD MAGLEBY, Defendant - Appellant.
Defendant Michael Brad Magleby was convicted of four counts of an indictment stemming from the burning of a cross on the property of an interracial family. On appeal, Mr. Magleby argues that the evidence of his guilt regarding three of these four counts was insufficient to support his conviction. He also argues that the district court submitted two erroneous instructions to the jury. Finally, he argues that the district court erred by admitting evidence which he argues was highly prejudicial and of little or no probative value. We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
Mr. Magleby was arrested and indicted on charges stemming from burning the cross at the Henrys' home. On December 10, 1999, Mr. Magleby was convicted by a jury of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241, violation of civil rights and aiding and abetting in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3631(a), using fire or an explosive in the commission of a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(h)(1), and tampering with a witness in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3).
Mr. Magleby argues that the district court submitted two erroneous instructions to the jury. He also argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal because the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 241, 18 U.S.C. § 844(h)(1), and 42 U.S.C. § 3631(a). Finally, he argues that the district court erred in admitting several pieces of evidence which, he argues, were highly prejudicial and of little or no probative value.
Mr. Magleby argues that the district court erred in submitting two instructions to the jury. Because Mr. Magleby did not object to either instruction at trial, we review these instructions for plain error. United States v. Fabiano, 169 F.3d 1299, 1302-03 (10th Cir. 1999).1 In reviewing
jury instructions for error, we review the instructions "as a whole to determine whether the jury may have been misled, upholding the judgment in absence of substantial doubt that the jury was fairly guided." Id. at 1303 (internal quotation marks omitted).
Mr. Magleby argues that the district court erred in submitting Jury Instruction No. 30 to the jury because it misstates the relevant legal standard of 42 U.S.C. § 3631(a). "To establish a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3631(a), the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted with the specific intent to injure, intimidate or interfere with the victim[s] because of [their] race and because of the victim[s'] occupation of [their] home." United States v. Whitney, 229 F.3d 1296, 1303 (10th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Mr. Magleby concedes that Jury Instruction No. 27 correctly states the third element of a § 3631(a) violation: "[t]he defendant engaged in conduct described because of the race or color of one or both Ron Henry or Robyn Henry and because one or both Ron Henry and Robyn Henry were attempting to occupy their home free from racial discrimination." (emphasis added). This instruction further specifies that the government must prove each element "beyond a reasonable doubt." He argues, however, that Jury Instruction No. 30 permits conviction if a defendant is motivated by race alone. To support this argument, he points to the following passage:
We find Mr. Magleby's argument unpersuasive. In the first paragraph of Jury Instruction No. 30, the district court instructed the jury regarding the third element of the § 3631(a) charge:
(emphasis added). Additionally, the sentence preceding the passage quoted by Mr. Magleby helps clarify that the following language refers only to the race prong of § 3631(a). Taking the instruction in its entirety, it is sufficiently clear that Jury Instruction No. 30 states that two factors must be satisfied, and that the language cited by Mr. Magleby simply instructs the jury as to what it can consider with respect to one of these two factors. We conclude, therefore, that Jury Instruction No. 30 accurately describes the legal standard of § 3631(a). Furthermore, when combined with Jury Instruction No. 27 and looking at the jury instructions as a whole, it is clear that the jury was properly instructed that they must find beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Magleby targeted the Henry's both because of race and because they occupied a dwelling in order to convict him under § 3631(a). We find, therefore, that Jury...