Opinion ID: 444181
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Propriety of Instruction in This Case

Text: 12 The defendant advances several arguments in support of his position that the instruction should not have been given in this case. First, he argues that the instruction should never be given when a defendant contends that he gained possession of the stolen property during the course of his employment. Second, he argues that the instruction should not have been given in regard to the Thunderbird because the government never established his possession of that automobile. 13 In support of his first argument, the defendant relies primarily on Freije v. United States, 386 F.2d 408 (1st Cir.1967), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 859, 90 S.Ct. 129, 24 L.Ed.2d 111 (1969). In Freije, there was no evidence that the defendants were anything but employees of an automobile dealership that to all outward appearances was a bona fide business. The operator of the dealership bought cars from other dealers on time and then kept up the monthly payments while the defendants, his salesmen, sold the cars as unencumbered. The court did not hold that the trial judge erred in giving the instruction concerning possession of recently stolen property. Rather, it held that under the facts of that case, the defendants' innocent explanation was entitled to a separate acknowledgment in the jury charge. Id. at 414. We note that the trial court in the instant case instructed the jury that Bonnetts' theory of defense was that he had dealt with the Thunderbird and the Bronco with the sincere and genuine belief that he had the owner's consent. 14 Freije is not support for defendant's argument that the instruction should never be given where the defendant claims to have gained possession during the course of his employment. There may be a case where the evidence supporting defendant's innocent explanation is so overwhelming that no inference could be justified. If such a case exists, this is not it. 15 Defendant's claim that he gained possession of the automobiles in the course of his employment is based on the testimony of R & R's secretary, Ms. Konzen, who testified that the defendant was an employee of that establishment and who furnished an explanation of how defendant came into possession of the cars. However, Konzen admitted that R & R kept no records of defendant's work, nor did it pay the defendant or bill customers for work the defendant performed. The jury could easily have disbelieved Konzen's testimony that Bonnetts was, in fact, employed by R & R. 16 Moreover, the jury could also have discounted the secretary's explanation for defendant's possession. Konzen testified that a man she could identify only as Mike brought the Thunderbird to the defendant at R & R in December 1981, ostensibly for a paint job. Although Konzen testified that Mike called to inquire about the car in January, no work was ever performed on the car. Instead, the defendant told Konzen to give the car to his wife. The car was seized in front of defendant's house eleven months after the defendant claims it was brought to him for a paint job. Mike never came forward at trial. See United States v. Parent, 484 F.2d 726, 733 (7th Cir.1973) (Bona fide business transactions customarily involve other persons. No such exculpatory witness[ ] appeared in this case.), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 923, 94 S.Ct. 1427, 39 L.Ed.2d 479 (1974). 17 Konzen testified that she received a call from a man identified only as Mike 3 requesting a tow for a Ford Bronco. According to Konzen, Mike requested that the Bronco be towed to 106th Street and Buffalo in Chicago. However, when the defendant was apprehended with the Bronco, he had passed the exit for 106th and Buffalo, and was headed away from R & R. 18 The Supreme Court noted in Barnes, supra, that the mere fact that there is some evidence tending to explain the defendant's possession consistent with innocence does not bar instructing the jury on the inference. 412 U.S. at 845 n. 9, 93 S.Ct. at 2362 n. 9. In rejecting the argument that the instruction was erroneously given in United States v. Johnson, 515 F.2d 730, 733 (7th Cir.1975), we stated: It is true, as appellant urges, that the record contains an 'explanation' for his possession, but the law does not require the jury to credit his explanation or to accept it as satisfactory. 19 Defendant's second argument is that the government never established his possession of the Thunderbird. We disagree. The evidence established that the car was delivered to Bonnetts at R & R and that a few days later, Bonnetts directed Konzen to give the car's keys to his wife. It was not necessary for the government to prove that Bonnetts remained in sole control of the Thunderbird from the time of its delivery until the time of its recovery eleven months later. It was only necessary that the government establish such a nexus between the defendant and the goods that it is reasonable to treat the extent of the defendant's dominion and control as if it were actual possession. United States v. Parent, supra, 484 F.2d at 732 (quoting United States v. Casalinuovo, 350 F.2d 207, 209 (2d Cir.1965)). See also United States v. Catalano, 450 F.2d 985 (7th Cir.1971) (constructive possession enough), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 928, 92 S.Ct. 980, 30 L.Ed.2d 802 (1972); United States v. Cousins, 427 F.2d 382 (9th Cir.1970) (same). We believe that the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate the defendant's control over the Thunderbird. The car was delivered to the defendant at R & R (Konzen testified that Mike had called the week before the car was delivered to tell Bonnetts to expect it). The defendant exercised control over the car by directing Konzen to give the car's keys to his wife. That the car may not have remained in the defendant's sole possession does not vitiate this evidence that establishes that the defendant constructively possessed the car for purposes of the statute. 4