Opinion ID: 588821
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Modification of the Indictment

Text: 42 Count Two of the superseding indictment originally charged Beaumont and Johnie with possession of phenylacetic acid and acetic anhydride. Prior to trial, over appellants' objection, the district court granted the government's motion to strike the term phenylacetic acid from Count Two after the government explained that the forensic analysis of chemicals seized from Beaumont's house showed no such chemical. Appellants claim that this elimination deprived them of their right to a grand jury. The Supreme Court has rejected the argument that a defendant is deprived of the right to a grand jury if the proof at trial indicates that the defendant is guilty of a narrower, but included offense. United States v. Miller, 471 U.S. 130, 134-38, 105 S.Ct. 1811, 1814-16, 85 L.Ed.2d 99 (1985). The Court refused to accept the notion that a deprivation of rights had occurred simply because a grand jury might not have delivered a narrower indictment. Id. We find no error here, where, had the district court refused the government's motion and the jury found that the appellants were guilty only of the possession of the acetic anhydride, the appellants would have had no basis for appeal under Miller. That is, the actions of the district court only alleviated the necessity of the appellants' making a motion to acquit as to the charge of possession of phenylacetic acid. We find no error here.