Opinion ID: 399524
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 13 Appellants' second challenge to the conviction is that because the government could not produce evidence showing which of them performed the acts of tampering with the SCHERZO, the evidence was insufficient to convict any one of them. We disagree. 14 In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence an appellate court must uphold the judgment of the jury if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, it is sufficient for a reasonable jury to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Davis, 666 F.2d 195 at 201 (5th Cir. 1981). Here the appellants, in addition to being charged with the principal offense, were indicted on aiding and abetting under 18 U.S.C. § 2. To sustain a conviction of aiding and abetting, the prosecution must show that the defendant associated himself with a criminal venture, participated in it as something he wished to bring about, and sought by his actions to make it succeed. United States v. Schwartz, 666 F.2d 461, 463 (11th Cir. 1981); United States v. Hewitt, 663 F.2d 1381, 1385 (11th Cir. 1981). Although neither mere presence nor mere flight is sufficient to uphold a conviction for aiding and abetting, e.g., Schwartz, supra, at 463, United States v. Reyes, 595 F.2d 275 (5th Cir. 1979), presence or flight coupled with other evidence of guilt can be adequate to sustain the conviction. See Schwartz, supra; United States v. Flores, 564 F.2d 717 (5th Cir. 1977). 15 The evidence here was sufficient for the jury to find each defendant guilty either directly or under an aiding and abetting theory. As to Alvarez, the evidence at trial showed he was both the master and part-owner of the SCHERZO, and according to Bryant's testimony was responsible for firing the flare which, had it landed on the gasoline-laden deck of the SCHERZO, would likely have caused considerable damage. The jury properly could have found that the discharge of the flare was not accidental but rather was an abortive attempt to ignite the gasoline on the SCHERZO's deck. Moreover, even in the absence of such an inference, our prior precedents indicate that in appropriate circumstances a jury is entitled to infer from the control of the ship and nature of the office that the master intentionally engaged in criminal conduct. E.g., United States v. Sanchez, 634 F.2d 938, 941 (5th Cir. 1981) (jury entitled to infer that captain of ship laden with contraband intentionally and willingly participated in drug conspiracy). Here the jury reasonably could have found from the extent of the damage that the sabotage of the SCHERZO could not have occurred without Alvarez's authorization and participation. 16 As to Bryant and Cagnina, the jury could have concluded that the extent of the damage, the relatively short time (less than 30 minutes) in which it was accomplished, and the failure of either man to request assistance from the UNIMAC, coupled with their presence and flight, indicated a concert of action among the three men. In short, although the evidence was largely circumstantial, we find it sufficient for a reasonable jury to have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.