Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19861030_0040200.C02.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-02-28 16:47:22
Document Index: 470978770

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 371', '§ 401', '§ 371', '§ 1512', '§ 401', '§ 401']

| United States v. Dipaolo
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, APPELLEE,v.NICK DIPAOLO, EDWARD WEATHER, AND PAUL SNYDER (A/K/A "DUSTY"), DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS
Appeal from judgments of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas C. Platt, Jr., sitting by designation, following a jury trial in which appellants were convicted for conspiring to intimidate witnesses in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (1982), and underlying substantive offenses, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 401, 1512 (1982), Nos. 1268, 1269, 1261, Affirmed.
Mansfield, Oakes, and Meskill, Circuit Judges.
While not contesting the sufficiency of the evidence, Nick DiPaolo, Edward Weather, and Paul Snyder all appeal their convictions for conspiracy to intimidate witnesses and prevent communication to law enforcement officers of information relating to a Postal Service robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (1982), and the substantive crimes of using intimidation and physical force against Lucille Barone and against her sister-in-law, Joanne Barone, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (1982). DiPaolo also appeals his conviction for criminal contempt of court under 18 U.S.C. § 401 (1982). Appellants were convicted before the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Thomas C. Platt, Jr., Judge, sitting by designation.
Among other arguments, appellants claim that the trial judge acted improperly by unduly limiting their cross-examination of Joanne Barone as to her drinking problem and psychiatric history and refusing to allow extrinsic proof of prior bad acts. They also claim that the conduct of the trial judge through questioning witnesses and criticizing counsel unduly prejudiced the jury and prevented a fair trial, and that the assaults upon Joanne Barone were irrelevant to the attempt to cover up the post office robbery. In addition, they argue that an in limine ruling concerning impeachment of one of defendant Snyder's alibi witnesses by use of a prior conviction was erroneous and the Government's summation reference to the alibi witness's not testifying was prejudicial. And they contend that defendant Weather's motion for severance pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 14 should have been granted and his membership in the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang should not have been admitted as evidence of intimidation.
As a result of the assault of April 15 the Government moved for an order revoking DiPaolo's bail on the basis that it violated a condition of his release that he not contact Lucille Barone or members of her family. An arrest warrant was issued and DiPaolo was arrested on April 19, 1985, with the hearing on the Government's application to revoke the bail scheduled for April 25. On April 21, 1985, however, Joanne Barone was again assaulted while sitting on the porch with her two children. An unknown male came onto her porch and told her "not to testify against Nick DiPaolo" and struck her in the face. Thereafter, she and her children were also taken into protective custody. At the conclusion of the bail revocation hearing on April 25, DiPaolo was detained without bail and a magistrate ordered the United States Attorney to prepare an order to show cause citing DiPaolo for criminal contempt pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 401 (1982). The ...