Opinion ID: 578193
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Multiplicity and Duplicity

Text: 35 Haddock contends that the indictment--which was read to the jury as part of the court's instructions--was both multiplicitous and duplicitous. From the record, it appears that Haddock may have waived these objections to the indictment's language. However, even if he did not waive them, we hold that the indictment was neither multiplicitous nor duplicitous. 36 An indictment is multiplicitous if it charges a single offense in more than one count. If multiplicitous, an indictment may lead to multiple sentences for the same conduct and may suggest to the jury that the defendant committed more than one crime. See United States v. Dixon, 921 F.2d 194, 196 (8th Cir.1990). Duplicity, on the other hand, is joining two or more separate offenses in the same count. The vice of duplicity is that a jury may convict a defendant without unanimously agreeing on the defendant's guilt of the same offense. See United States v. Saleh, 875 F.2d 535, 537 (6th Cir.1989). 37 In the instant case, Haddock's sole ground for claiming that the indictment was multiplicitous and duplicitous is that each count in the indictment states that [t]he grand jury realleges the foregoing paragraphs. Haddock argues that such an incorporation by reference causes each offense to be charged in more than one count and causes each count to charge more than one offense. We disagree. Each count of the indictment clearly describes separate conduct and charges a separate offense. In Instruction No. 7, the court specifically instructed the jury as follows: 38 As you have noted, a separate crime or offense is charged in each of the counts of the Indictment. Each charge and the evidence pertaining to it should be considered separately. The fact that you may find the defendant guilty or not guilty on one of the offenses charged should not control your verdict as to any other offense charged. 39 Given the specificity of this instruction and the adequacy of the charging language in each count, we hold that each count's general incorporation language did not create the dangers associated with multiplicitous and duplicitous indictments. 40