Opinion ID: 15343
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Condition of the Truck

Text: 29 Finally, the government would make much of the condition of the vehicle. The sole discrepancy noted, however, is that the old, borrowed truck's right rear tire was larger than the other three, causing the truck to list to the left. The government did not contradict Ortega's testimony, however, that the truck drove normally and that he noticed no problems with its handling. 30 Our point is not to question that a Border Patrol inspector would be suspicious of the oversized tire on the borrowed truck. Rather, it is to note that Ortega, borrowing a vehicle for a one-way trip with his family, would not have been likely to examine the teeth of his gift horse. More significantly, the relatively minor discrepancy of one larger tire on the borrowed truck is properly distinguishable from more significant discrepancies like the obvious alterations that we have accepted as evidence of guilty knowledge in such cases as Resio-Trejo. 24 31 Although readily recognizing that the government does not have to refute every possible inference pointing to innocence, we also remain faithful to our complementary rule of decision that, when circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences to be drawn from it permit conclusions of both guilt and innocence that are essentially in balance, there has to be reasonable doubt. When that is the case, we have no choice but to reverse the conviction. Our review of the record convinces us that--whether viewed separately or globally--the evidence that Ortega knowingly possessed the drugs in question fails to satisfy the constitutional standard of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. III