Opinion ID: 786346
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Turns's Sentence

Text: 65 Turns argues that his sentence of 858 months, or 71½ years, largely mandated by the requirement of consecutive sentencing under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), is cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. In particular, Turns argues that his sentence is grossly disproportionate to his crime of having driven the getaway car in four bank robberies and provided false identification documents, especially given that he had no prior criminal record and supplied critical information to the FBI about the crimes during its investigation. 66 Since a constitutional challenge to a sentence raises a question of law, we review Turns's claim de novo. United States v. Flowal, 163 F.3d 956, 963 (6th Cir.1998). Turns relies principally on the Supreme Court case of Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782, 102 S.Ct. 3368, 73 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1982), in which the Court vacated a death sentence that had been imposed on the driver of a getaway car in a double murder. In Enmund, the Court reasoned that the sentence did not serve the two principal purposes that the death penalty is intended to serve: retribution and deterrence. Id. at 798, 102 S.Ct. 3368. The Court reasoned that since the defendant did not kill or attempt to kill the victims, his culpability [was] plainly different from that of the robbers who killed, and thus the sentence did not serve the goal of retribution. Ibid. Furthermore, the defendant did not [have] any intention of participating in or facilitating a murder, and it seems likely that `capital punishment can serve as a deterrent only when murder is the result of premeditation and deliberation.' Id. at 799, 102 S.Ct. 3368 (quoting Fisher v. United States, 328 U.S. 463, 484, 66 S.Ct. 1318, 90 L.Ed. 1382 (1946) (Frankfurter, J. dissenting)). Finally, [u]nless the death penalty when applied to those in Enmund's position measurably contributes to one or both of these goals, it `is nothing more than the purposeless and needless imposition of pain and suffering,' and hence an unconstitutional punishment. Id. at 798, 66 S.Ct. 1318 (quoting Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 592, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 53 L.Ed.2d 982 (1977)). 67 The narrow proportionality principle, means that only extreme sentences that are grossly disproportionate to the crime are prohibited. Flowal, 163 F.3d at 963-64. A plurality of the Court rejected the defendant's assertion that his life term without parole was disproportionate because it was his first felony conviction. Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 994, 111 S.Ct. 2680, 115 L.Ed.2d 836 (1991). Instead, the Court observed that the defendant had been convicted of possession of more than 650 grams of cocaine and held that Michigan could determine that the seriousness of the offense warranted the severe sentence. Id. at 990, 111 S.Ct. 2680. 68 Here, too, Turns has never been convicted of a felony before. However, he was convicted of participating in four separate armed bank robberies. Even though his role was to drive the getaway car, he was fully aware of the crime he was participating in and thus his culpability is not diminished. Furthermore, at least one of the guns used in the course of the robberies was traced back to Turns, who had purchased it in 1993 and had given it to Rogers. Turns was sentenced to five years for the first of four counts of armed bank robbery brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d) and to twenty years for the remaining three counts, to run consecutively. No one of these sentences is intrinsically grossly disproportionate to the crime of armed bank robbery. Mandating consecutive sentences is not an unreasonable method of attempting to deter a criminal, who has already committed several offenses using a firearm, from doing so again. See Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 994, 111 S.Ct. 2680 (stating that mandatory penalties are not unusual in the constitutional sense). 69 This court has addressed a similar claim in an unpublished decision. United States v. Clark, 41 Fed. Appx. 745 (6th Cir.2002). A defendant argued that his thirty-two-year sentence for two convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The panel addressed the merits of the defendant's claim, even though it did not appear that his counsel had raised this issue at the sentencing hearing, which would ordinarily preclude review, stating that it was satisfied that the Eighth Amendment did not bar [the defendant's] sentence. Id. at 751. The court also took note of the fact that in a similar challenge, the Ninth Circuit had held that a defendant's sentence based on his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which accounted for twenty-five years of his total sentence, was not cruel and unusual. Ibid. (citing United States v. Parker, 241 F.3d 1114, 1117-18 (9th Cir.2001)). 70 In this case, although the length of time to be served by Turns, as required by 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), is severe, it would appear to serve the twin goals of retribution and deterrence, without being grossly disproportionate to the several offenses committed. The Supreme Court has never held that a sentence to a specific term of years, even if it might turn out to be more than the reasonable life expectancy of the defendant, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. See Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 996, 111 S.Ct. 2680. In the absence of such guidance, we see no principle on which such a result could be based, and we decline to establish such a principle here. But see Ramirez v. Castro, No. 02-56066, 365 F.3d 755, 2004 WL 868517 (9th Cir. Apr.19, 2004) (holding 25 years-to-life sentence for three shoplifting convictions, two of which occurred in 1991, violated the Eighth Amendment). VII A. Pretrial Identification 71 Crockett appeals the district court's decision to admit into evidence the pretrial identification of Crockett by Mrs. Parks, who was his wife when he was arrested, but not when he committed the offense for which he was identified. In addition, Crockett appeals the district court's admission of FBI Agent Trombitas's testimony, as it pertained to the identification made by Mrs. Parks. 72 Following Crockett's arrest in July 1999, FBI Agent Trombitas went to Crockett's home in order to interview Crockett's wife, Mrs. Parks. Trombitas first informed Mrs. Parks that her husband had been arrested earlier in the day for his involvement in several bank robberies. Agent Trombitas then showed her a photograph that was taken during the bank robbery at the Security National Bank, which occurred on May 18, 1995, approximately two years before Crockett and Mrs. Parks were married, but nevertheless during their acquaintance. Mrs. Parks identified the man that Trombitas pointed to in the photograph as her husband. 73 The government sought to admit this pretrial identification at trial and Crockett filed a motion to suppress. As a result, Judge Graham held a pretrial hearing on the admissibility of Mrs. Parks's identification. At the pretrial hearing, Trombitas testified as to the circumstances under which the identification was made. Trombitas explained that he took out the photograph, placed it in front of her and asked, do you recognize that person there? According to Trombitas, Mrs. Parks picked up the photograph, and with one hand on her mouth, said oh, my God, that looks like Johnny. At that point, Trombitas noticed her eyes tearing up and asked her to reaffirm the identification, saying: so that looks like Johnny? Ibid. Mrs. Parks responded yes, it does, it's him, and I'm not going to lie for him. Ibid. At this point, Mrs. Parks began to cry. Upon Trombitas's request, Mrs. Parks turned over the photograph and placed her name, the date, and Crockett's name on the back of the photograph. Judge Graham ruled that, based upon the totality of the circumstances, the photographic identification procedure was sufficiently reliable to permit the witness to testify. 74 Later on, at trial, the government represented to the court that the FBI and the postal investigative service had gone to great lengths to try to serve Mrs. Parks with no success. As a result, the prosecution sought to introduce this pretrial identification through Agent Trombitas's testimony. Crockett objected on the ground that this was hearsay. However, the court agreed with the government that Mrs. Parks's identification, based on Trombitas's testimony, was admissible as an excited utterance, an exception to the hearsay rule. 75 Ultimately, after Trombitas had given his testimony, Mrs. Parks testified at the trial. She recanted her identification of Crockett, although she admitted that she had told Agent Trombitas when he interviewed her after Crockett's arrest, that the picture kind of looked like Johnny. 76
77 We review the denial of a motion to suppress identification evidence for clear error. United States v. Hamilton, 684 F.2d 380, 383 (6th Cir.1982). The burden rests on Crockett to demonstrate that the pretrial identification procedure was impermissibly suggestive. United States v. Hill, 967 F.2d 226, 230 (6th Cir.1992). If Crockett can demonstrate that the police performed an unduly suggestive photographic lineup, then the trial court must determine, in light of all the circumstances, whether the unfair suggestiveness was conducive to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 384, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968); Hill, 967 F.2d at 230. The Supreme Court has listed factors that a court should weigh in determining whether an identification is reliable, even though an unduly suggestive identification procedure may have been used. These factors are: 1) the witness's opportunity to view the criminal at the time of the crime; 2) the witness's degree of attention, 3) the accuracy of the witness's prior description of the criminal; 4) the level of certainty demonstrated at the confrontation; and 5) the time between the crime and the confrontation. Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198-200, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972) (stating that the likelihood of misidentification... violates a defendant's right to due process, not a suggestive line-up per se ). 78 Before ruling on the admissibility of this evidence, the district court in this case carefully considered the reliability of the identification. The judge noted that there was only one photograph, that the witness did not observe the offense, but was certainly familiar with the suspect, and that the photograph was of very good quality ... clearly portray[ing Crockett's] facial features, as well as all of the other characteristics of his physical anatomy. Although these observations are not necessarily helpful in evaluating all of the Biggers factors outlined above, they do properly address the question of reliability, the fundamental inquiry. 79 This was not a typical police photo spread in which a witness is asked identify an otherwise-unknown perpetrator based solely on observation at the time of the crime. In this instance, Mrs. Parks was being asked whether the bank surveillance picture in fact depicted someone she knew very well and would readily recognize. The Biggers factors are not particularly helpful in a case such as this, where the identification has been made by someone close to the suspect. Rather, we should be guided by cases in which identifications have been made by relatives or close friends. United States v. Saniti, 604 F.2d 603 (9th Cir.1979), held that two roommates of the accused could properly be permitted to identify the defendant as the person in a bank surveillance photo. See also United States v. Borrelli, 621 F.2d 1092 (10th Cir.1980) (holding that a trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting into evidence identification testimony of defendant's stepfather who recognized the defendant in a bank surveillance photo). 80 In this case, although Mrs. Parks was provided with only a single photograph, it was not presented in a suggestive manner. She was not asked is this your husband? The identification was not likely to have produced a misidentification, given Mrs. Parks's familiarity with the defendant at the time when the picture was taken. Furthermore, given her relationship to the defendant, she would be unlikely to be biased against him, and would have every reason not to identify Crockett to the authorities, if there was any doubt. The district court, therefore, did not commit clear error in denying Crockett's motion to suppress this pretrial identification. 81
82 The district court separately analyzed the question of whether Agent Trombitas would be allowed to testify about the statements made by Mrs. Parks during his interview, in which she identified Crockett as one of the men in the bank surveillance photo. It is undisputed that Trombitas's testimony with regard to Mrs. Parks's identification of Crockett was hearsay; what is disputed is whether the comments were excited utterances and therefore within an exception to the hearsay rule. Federal Rule of Evidence 803(2) provides that a statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition is not barred by the hearsay rule. The excited utterance rule requires that 1) there be an event startling enough to cause nervous excitement; 2) the statement be made before there is an opportunity to contrive or misrepresent; and 3) the statement be made while the person in under the stress of the excitement caused by the event. Haggins v. Warden, Fort Pillow State Farm, 715 F.2d 1050, 1057 (6th Cir.1983). See also United States v. Winters, 33 F.3d 720, 722-23 (6th Cir.1994). 83 The district court found that Mrs. Parks's statements met the three requirements of our excited utterance doctrine. First, viewing the photograph of the individual that she recognized as her husband committing a bank robbery was a startling event. Second, according to Trombitas's testimony, Mrs. Parks uttered the words oh, my God, that looks like Johnny, as soon as she saw the photograph, and therefore before she could have had an opportunity to contrive or misrepresent. Third, Mrs. Parks identified Crockett in her very first statement upon seeing the photograph, and then with tears in her eyes, reaffirmed that identification, evidence of the fact that she was still under the stress of the moment. The district court did not abuse its discretion in its admission of Trombitas's testimony as it related to Mrs. Parks's pretrial identification. B. Admissibility of Crockett's Income Tax Returns 84 Crockett contends that evidence presented at trial by the government reflecting the fact that he did not file a tax return in 1994 or 1995 was irrelevant and prejudicial. Crockett made a timely objection to the admission of this evidence on these grounds. The court decided to allow the evidence to be presented, albeit with a limiting instruction to the jury, intended to cure any concerns over the potentially prejudicial nature of this information. The instruction given by the court was as follows: 85 Ladies and gentlemen, let me explain the limited nature of the evidence that you are hearing about this certification of an absence of tax return. None of these defendants is charged with any offense relating to failing to file tax returns or not reporting income or anything of that nature, and that's not why this is being offered for you. There's no suggestion whatsoever that any of them has done anything improper in regard to their tax returns. This evidence is being offered only for the limited purpose of assisting you in determining what income they may have had during the years in question, and that's the only purpose for which the evidence is being used. 86 We review the district court's decision regarding the admission of evidence for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Denton, 246 F.3d 784, 788 (6th Cir.2001). Even if the trial court abuses its discretion, a new trial is not required unless [the] `substantial rights' of a party are affected. United States v. Bonds, 12 F.3d at 540, 554 (6th Cir.1993) (citing Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(a); Rye v. Black & Decker Mfg., 889 F.2d 100, 103 (6th Cir.1989)). That is, an abuse of discretion that does not affect substantial rights is harmless error and is to be disregarded. Ibid. (citing Fed. R. Crim P. 52(a)). 87 Crockett contends that the evidence demonstrating that he did not file tax returns in 1994 and 1995 was irrelevant for two reasons. First, Crockett points out that he was not on trial for any illegal activity in 1994. Second, no evidence was offered by the government to demonstrate that he had spent more money than he could have earned without being required to file an income tax return during the relevant time period. Crockett also argues that whatever potential relevance this evidence had was outweighed by its prejudicial effect, although he does not elaborate further as to how the evidence was prejudicial. 88 Prior to submitting this information with regard to Crockett's tax returns, the government had introduced evidence that Crockett purchased a 1984 Cadillac automobile for $2,500 on July 24, 1995, approximately six weeks after the Security National Bank robbery. Crockett's failure to file an income tax return in 1995 can be considered to be relevant: if Crockett's legal income was insufficient to require a return to be filed, it would seem unlikely that someone making such a small income would be able to buy a car for $2,500 in cash. Crockett's failure to file a tax return in 1994, however, is less relevant, although it might be seen as demonstrating that Crockett did not have a large income in 1994 that could have explained purchases made in 1995. In any case, given the district court's clear instructions to the jury and warning that this evidence was not intended to show that the defendant had committed tax fraud, the evidence would not have had a prejudicial impact on Crockett's trial, affecting his substantial rights. The district court, therefore, did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence demonstrating that Crockett had not filed tax returns in 1994 and 1995. C. Crockett's Examination of Rogers's Probation Officer 89 Crockett contends that the district court erred in imposing limitations on Crockett's examination of Rogers's probation officer. We review a trial court's rulings on the scope of cross-examination for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Chance, 306 F.3d 356, 385 (6th Cir.2002). 90 During the course of the trial, Crockett asked the district court to approve the issuance of a subpoena for the court's probation officer, Ms. Laura Jensen. The district court approved the issuance of that subpoena, but according to the court's local rules, a judge is required to determine whether, and to what extent, a probation officer should be permitted to testify. S.D. Ohio Crim. R. 32.2(b). The rule further states, in relevant part: 91 (d) The Court shall authorize a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer to produce records or testify only if 1) disclosure is expressly authorized by federal law or 2) the Court finds there has been a particularized showing of a compelling need for such disclosure and that the information is necessary to meet the ends of justice. 92 (e)(1) If the Court finds that a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer shall be authorized to testify or to produce records, the authorization shall be limited to only those matters directly relevant to the demonstrated need. The Court's Order shall identify the records which shall be produced and the subject matter of the testimony which is authorized. 93 S.D. Ohio Crim R. 32.2(d) — (e)(1). In order to make the necessary determinations pursuant to the rule, the court held a hearing regarding the possible testimony of Ms. Jensen. At the hearing, Turns represented to the court that he wished to question Ms. Jensen for the purpose of attacking Rogers's credibility by showing that Rogers had made statements to Ms. Jensen that contradicted his testimony at trial. The line of questioning related primarily to information found in Rogers's presentencing report, for which Ms. Jensen had interviewed Rogers. However, the district court found that Turns had not laid a proper foundation in Rogers's testimony, except with respect to Rogers's substance abuse, since Turn's attorney had not drawn Rogers's attention to his prior allegedly inconsistent statements in the report. For this ruling, the court relied on Federal Rule of Evidence 613(b), which states in relevant part: 94 Extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible unless the witness is afforded an opportunity to explain or deny the same and the opposite party is afforded an opportunity to interrogate the witness thereon, or the interests of justice otherwise require. 95 The district court determined that Crockett's counsel had demonstrated a compelling need for such testimony and reviewed Crockett's cross-examination of Rogers in order to determine whether a proper foundation had been laid. On the basis of that review, the court limited Crockett's examination of the probation officer to matters relating to substance abuse and prohibited Crockett from questioning the probation officer about information relating to Rogers's mental and emotional health. 96 Crockett now contends that the district court's decision to limit the examination of probation officer Jensen denied him a fair trial. He maintains that the district court could not first rule that there has been a particularized showing of a compelling need for such disclosure, and that the information is necessary to meet the ends of justice, and then limit the presentation of that evidence. Such contradictory rulings would violate the local rule that governed the hearing on Ms. Jensen's trial testimony. However, Federal Rule of Evidence 613(b) states that extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible if the witness has not had an opportunity to explain the prior inconsistency. Crockett's lawyer failed to mention the pre-sentence report to Rogers in any context other than the latter's denial of any substance abuse. The Federal Rules of Evidence preempt local court rules. Therefore, the judge correctly limited the probation officer's testimony to the one topic that had been linked to Rogers's pre-sentence report.