Source: http://openjurist.org/652/f2d/760/united-states-v-e-campbell
Timestamp: 2016-12-04 22:43:37
Document Index: 656641267

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 844', '§ 515', '§ 841', '§ 844', '§ 174', '§ 841', '§ 844']

652 F2d 760 United States v. E Campbell | OpenJurist
652 F. 2d 760 - United States v. E Campbell HomeFederal Reporter, Second Series 652 F.2d.
652 F2d 760 United States v. E Campbell 652 F.2d 760
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,v.Jerry E. CAMPBELL, Appellant.
Submitted July 8, 1981.Decided July 10, 1981.
Pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 30, appellant submitted a requested instruction on the lesser included offense of possession of marijuana, as proscribed by 21 U.S.C. § 844.2 His request was denied over objection.
See also United States v. Iron Shell, 633 F.2d 77, 88 (8th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 101 S.Ct. 1709, 68 L.Ed.2d 203 (1981); United States v. Scharf, 558 F.2d 498, 502 (8th Cir. 1977).
The second requirement of the Thompson test, identity of elements, is troublesome in the context of this case. The lesser included offense doctrine applies if some of the elements of the greater crime constitute the lesser crime. Berra v. United States, 351 U.S. 131, 134, 76 S.Ct. 685, 687, 100 L.Ed. 1013 (1956); 2 C. Wright, Federal Practice & Procedure § 515, at 373 (1969) (hereinafter Wright). The doctrine does not apply if some element is required for the lesser offense but not for the greater. Wright, supra, at 374; Kelly v. United States, 125 U.S.App.D.C. 205, 370 F.2d 227 (1966), cert. denied, 388 U.S. 913, 87 S.Ct. 2127, 18 L.Ed.2d 1355 (1967); United States v. Passman, 460 F.Supp. 912, 917 (W.D.La.1978). But cf. United States v. Whitaker, 144 U.S.App.D.C. 344, 447 F.2d 314 (1971) (on particular facts that requested charge on unlawful entry should have been given in prosecution for first degree burglary).
We have found no cases directly on point, although United States v. Ahmad, 347 F.Supp. 912 (M.D.Pa.1972), aff'd in part and rev'd in part sub nom. United States v. Berrigan, 482 F.2d 171 (3d Cir. 1973), supports the government's position. In Ahmad, the district court concluded that an attempt to introduce contraband had been proved against an outside sender who transmitted her unapproved letters through an inmate courier. The outside sender had no possession, actual or constructive, of the letters at the time of the courier's introduction of them into the prison.
Other courts have approved conviction on multiple counts of introduction of contraband into a federal correctional facility and possession of a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 or 21 U.S.C. § 844. United States v. Corral, 578 F.2d 570 (5th Cir. 1978); United States v. Yanishefsky, 500 F.2d 1327 (2d Cir. 1974); United States v. Jiminez, 454 F.Supp. 610 (M.D.Tenn.1978); United States v. Ward, 431 F.Supp. 66 (W.D.Okl.1976). These cases lend further support to the government's position that possession of marijuana constitutes a distinct offense which could have been charged against appellant in addition to attempting to introduce contraband.3
Against this testimony is strong circumstantial evidence of a deliberate intent to smuggle the marijuana into the prison facility. Appellant brought the concealed package into the visitor's area and risked its detection in the metal detector. He did not initially utilize the lockers provided for visitor's belongings. Moreover, the marijuana was concealed in balloons suitable for secretion in body cavities. In these circumstances, the district court justifiably concluded that the jury could not rationally find appellant guilty of the lesser offense of possession. A lesser included offense instruction is not required unless the evidence warrants it. Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 635-36 nn.11 & 12, 100 S.Ct. 2382, 2388-2389 nn.11 & 12, 65 L.Ed.2d 392 (1980); United States v. Klugman, 506 F.2d 1378, 1380 (8th Cir. 1974).
Facilitating the sale of narcotics, 21 U.S.C. § 174 (repealed 1970), has been held not to require possession, because one can facilitate the sale of narcotics without ever possessing them. Kelly v. United States, 125 U.S.App.D.C. 205, 370 F.2d 227 (1966), cert. denied, 388 U.S. 913, 87 S.Ct. 2127, 18 L.Ed.2d 1355 (1967); see also Waker v. United States, 344 F.2d 795, 798 (1st Cir. 1965) (unlawful possession of marijuana not a lesser included offense to illegal transfer).
On the other hand, this court has held that the offense of distribution of a controlled substance, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), requires possession, and that simple possession under 21 U.S.C. § 844(a) is a lesser included offense. United States v. Howard, 507 F.2d 559, 561 n.4 (8th Cir. 1974); see also United States v. Klugman, 506 F.2d 1378, 1380 (8th Cir. 1974).