Opinion ID: 409350
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: During the Course

Text: 16 The defendants first contend that, because of the heat put on by the government investigation, the last overt act of the conspiracy occurred in late April or early May of 1980, almost four months prior to the taped conversations. They also contend that no one really expected to be paid by the time Reid solicited the dialogues and that there was a total lack of proof that there were any further plans to steal explosives. On these bases, they urge that the statements could not have been made during the course of the conspiracy. But this argument fails. 17 (W)here a conspiracy contemplates a continuity of purpose and a continued performance of acts, it is presumed to exist until there has been an affirmative showing that it has terminated; and its members continue to be conspirators until there has been an affirmative showing that they have withdrawn. U. S. v. Mayes, 512 F.2d 637, 642-643 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 422 U.S. 1008, 95 S.Ct. 2629, 45 L.Ed.2d 670 (1975) citing U. S. v. Etheridge, 424 F.2d 951, 964 (6th Cir. 1970). The objective of Reid, Wright and Salisbury was to make some easy money, while that of the Hamiltons was to obtain explosives inexpensively. The method for achieving those ends was by the former group stealing dynamite and blasting caps and selling them cheap to the latter. The two deliveries and stored reserves show there was a continuity of purpose and a continued performance. This is further supported by Hamilton's disclosure that he had continued dealing with Wright and Salisbury, which he thought may have included Reid, even as late as August of 1980. 3 Even while recognizing that the heat had been on, both Scotty and Hamilton ordered additional explosives, also in August, essentially without any prompting from Reid, which evidenced their impression that the arrangement was a continuing one, that it was just business as usual, an impression which would be improper for us to distrust or discount. Wright and Salisbury made plans to collect the money due them, which also proves the ongoing nature and existence of this conspiracy. Moreover, the defendants utterly failed to affirmatively prove either that the conspiracy had been abandoned or that any of them had withdrawn. Such affirmative defenses are strict. U. S. v. Borelli, 336 F.2d 376, 388 (2d Cir. 1964), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 960, 85 S.Ct. 647, 13 L.Ed.2d 555 (1965). It is also most difficult for them to prove when, as here, the defendants exercise their right to not testify.