Opinion ID: 2995145
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Possession of a Firearm as a Felon--

Text: Cumulative Error Mr. Quilling next claims that his conviction for possession of a firearm is infected by cumulative error committed by the district court in the course of the proceedings. Specifically, he states that the district court committed error in denying the motion for the judgment of acquittal on the possession of firearm ammunition count. He argues that this error, combined with the court’s earlier denial of his motion to sever the claims in the case and the Government’s failure to deliver, in a timely fashion, the grand jury testimony of ATF Agent Morgan Fisher, had the cumulative effect of influencing the jury to reach a verdict of guilty on the possession of a firearm count. See United States v. Rogers, 89 F.3d 1326, 1338 (7th Cir. 1996) (describing that the cumulative effect of trial errors may deprive a defendant of his constitutional right to a fair trial). To set the stage for the remainder of his contentions, Mr. Quilling submits that the evidence supporting his conviction for possession of a firearm is meager and that his conviction on that count is properly characterized as a close case. Appellant’s Br. at 12. We note, however, that the evidence showed that (1) the firearm was found in Mr. Quilling’s car, which he had been driving before pulling over to the side of the road; (2) after Mr. Quilling exited the car, he began walking away from the officers, making it appear as if he was attempting to distance himself from the vehicle; and (3) Mr. Quilling admitted later that day that the gun was his. This evidence certainly is sufficient to support the conviction. See Gill, 58 F.3d at 336-37; Garrett, 903 F.2d at 1110-11. There was evidence to the contrary, the testimony of a confederate, Frank Jefferson. But Jefferson had altered his testimony at trial from his earlier statements, and the jury certainly acted well within its authority in rejecting his version of who owned the firearm. Mr. Quilling next points out that his counsel did not receive the transcript of the grand jury testimony of Agent Morgan Fisher before Mr. Quilling’s pro se motion to suppress evidence had been denied by the district court. He claims that this testimony, together with the testimony of Frank Jefferson, would have led to the suppression of the firearm and, consequently, to the dismissal of the count. We think that the Government is correct in pointing out that the arrival date of the testimony was not outcome-determinative on the suppression of the firearm because the motion was denied on the ground that it was not filed in a timely manner. Moreover, the motion did not seek the suppression of the gun. Mr. Quilling also claims that the counts against him should have been severed and that, because they were not, he was prejudiced because the Jury very probably inferred, that Quilling possessed the gun because he possessed the bullets and vice versa. Appellant’s Br. at 12. To determine whether the denial of severance is improper, we first determine whether joinder was permissible. Whether joinder is permissible is a question of law that is subject to de novo review. See United States v. Turner, 93 F.3d 276, 283 (7th Cir. 1996); United States v. Archer, 843 F.2d 1019, 1021 (7th Cir. 1988). Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides: Two or more offenses may be charged in the same indictment or information in a separate count for each offense if the offenses charged, . . . are of the same or similar character or are based on the same act or transaction or on two or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. Fed. R. Crim. P. 8(a). In this case, the district court found that the two offenses charged are of a like class and character. In fact, both counts charged are violations of 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(g)(1). The essential elements of the crime are therefore virtually the same for each offense. See United States v. Walls, 80 F.3d 238, 243 (7th Cir. 1996) (holding that it was proper for two sec. 922(g)(1) counts to be joined even though four years separated the offenses). Although it is not required that the two counts be related evidentially or temporally, the district court did find these factors to be satisfied in this case. The district court noted that there would be some evidentiary overlap between the counts in Mr. Quilling’s case. The court further concluded that the eight months separating the offenses was a short enough period of time to characterize the offenses as temporally related./4 It is important to note several other factors that are supportive of the district court’s decision. Mr. Quilling cannot claim prejudice due to proof that he was a convicted felon because that factor was an element of each count. Additionally, sufficient evidence existed as to each of the counts. In all likelihood, Mr. Quilling would have been found guilty on each count had separate trials occurred. Therefore, the district court accomplished the goal of judicial efficiency without causing the defendant prejudice. Joinder of the two counts was entirely proper. Once joinder is deemed proper, we shall reverse a district court’s denial of a severance motion only upon a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. See Turner, 93 F.3d at 284; United States v. Pulido, 69 F.3d 192, 207 (7th Cir. 1995). Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides: If it appears that a defendant or the government is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants in an indictment or information or by such joinder for trial together, the court may order an election or separate trials of counts, grant a severance of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires. In ruling on a motion by a defendant for severance the court may order the attorney for the government to deliver to the court for inspection in camera any statements or confessions made by the defendants which the government intends to introduce in evidence at the trial. Fed. R. Crim. P. 14. The defendant must be able to show that the denial of severance caused him actual prejudice in that it prevented him from receiving a fair trial; it is not enough that separate trials may have provided him a better opportunity for an acquittal. United States v. Alexander, 135 F.3d 470, 477 (7th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted). Mr. Quilling argues that he was unduly prejudiced because the Government argued, and the jury possibly inferred, that Mr. Quilling possessed the gun because hepossessed the bullets and vice versa. However, ’prejudice requiring severance is not shown if evidence on the severed counts would be admissible in the trial of the remaining counts.’ United States v. Windom, 19 F.3d 1190, 1198 (7th Cir. 1994) (quoting United States v. Rogers, 475 F.2d 821, 828 (7th Cir. 1973)). In this case, some of the evidence from each count likely would have been admissible in the other trial under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). Because the evidence likely would be admissible, Mr. Quilling has failed to show that the denial of severance caused actual prejudice. Moreover, we have held that proper jury instructions are an adequate safeguard against the risk of prejudice in the form of jury confusion, evidentiary spillover and cumulation of evidence. Alexander, 135 F.3d at 478 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also United States v. Stillo, 57 F.3d 553, 557 (7th Cir. 1995). The jury in this case was instructed properly to consider each offense separately. Lastly, Mr. Quilling’s trial lasted only two days and the evidence was not complicated. These considerations further support our conclusion that the denial of severance was proper in this case. Alexander, 135 F.3d at 478; United States v. Coleman, 22 F.3d 126, 135 (7th Cir. 1994). Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying Mr. Quilling’s motion for severance.