Opinion ID: 197023
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Instructions on Condonation

Text: 48 The district court rejected Josleyn's proposed jury instruction that the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Honda had not condoned Josleyn's fraudulent activities. Ordinarily, a defendant is entitled to an instruction on his theory of the case as long as it is legally valid and there is sufficient evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant, to permit a reasonable juror to credit the defendant's theory. United States v. Flores, 968 F.2d 1366, 1368-69 (1st Cir.1992); United States v. Shenker, 933 F.2d 61, 65 (1st Cir.1991). The government does not dispute that the evidence adduced at trial would have permitted the jury to find that native Japanese executives at the highest levels of Honda implicitly condoned the acceptance of bribes and kickbacks. Nevertheless, the trial court need not adopt the precise instructional language proposed by the defendant. United States v. DeStefano, 59 F.3d 1, 3 (1st Cir.1995). 49 Viewed as a whole, we think the instruction given by the district court fairly summarized Josleyn's defense theory: 50 Since the essential element of the crime charged is intent to defraud, it follows that good faith on the part of the defendant is a complete defense to a charge of mail fraud. A defendant, however has no burden to establish a defense of good faith. The burden is on the government to prove fraudulent intent and the consequent lack of good faith beyond a reasonable doubt. 51 .... 52 It is the defendant Josleyn's theory of the case that American Honda knew of and condoned; that is, gave tacit approval to the activities of its employees alleged in the indictment that were in violation of its policies. American Honda's knowledge or condonation of the commission of an offense does not by itself constitute a defense or an excuse. However, any evidence of American Honda's actions or omissions, or evidence of deficiencies in the manner in which it implemented and enforced its policies and procedures, may be considered by you to the extent that such evidence bears on the issue of whether or not Mr. Josleyn formed the required intent to commit the crimes with which he is charged. Mr. Josleyn contends that because he believed American Honda knew of and condoned the activities in question, he did not possess the required intent to commit the offenses with which he is charged. 53 The defendant has no obligation whatsoever to prove to you that his theory is correct, but rather the burden is always on the government to prove all of the material elements of each offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt[,] including the element of intent with respect to each offense[,] as I have already explained to you. (Emphasis added.) 54 The charge given by the trial judge unmistakably permitted the jury to consider all the condonation evidence in determining whether Josleyn had formed the requisite intent to defraud Honda. No more was required. See generally New England Enters., Inc. v. United States, 400 F.2d 58, 71-72 (1st Cir.1968) (discussing good faith defense to mail fraud), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1036, 89 S.Ct. 654, 21 L.Ed.2d 581 (1969). Since Josleyn neither cites authority, nor demonstrates, that any condonation by Honda was relevant to an element of the charged offenses other than intent, see Yefsky, 994 F.2d at 890-91 (listing elements of mail fraud conspiracy and substantive mail fraud); see also Aetna Cas. Sur. Co. v. P & B Autobody, 43 F.3d 1546, 1558-60 (1st Cir.1994) (RICO), we conclude that the jury instruction given by the district court was adequate. See DeStefano, 59 F.3d at 3; Shenker, 933 F.2d at 65-66 (rejecting proposed instruction predicated on impermissibly broad defense); cf. United States v. Wallach, 935 F.2d 445, 464 (2d Cir.1991) (mail fraud statute protects property interests of shareholders and corporation against officers' schemes).