Opinion ID: 387154
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Jury Instruction on Entrapment

Text: 25 The trial judge instructed the jury on the entrapment issue as follows: 26 The defendant asserts that he was a victim of entrapment as to the offense charged in the indictment. Where a person has no previous intent or purpose to violate the law, but is induced and persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime, he is the victim of entrapment, and the law, as a matter of policy, forbids his conviction in such a case. 27 On the other hand, where a person already has the willingness and the readiness to break the law, the mere fact that government agents provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity is not entrapment. Inducement by law enforcement officials may take many forms, including persuasion, fraudulent representations, threats, coercive tactics, harassment, promises of reward or pleas based on need, sympathy, or friendship. A solicitation, request or approach by law enforcement officers to engage in criminal activity standing alone is not an inducement. Law enforcement officials are not precluded from utilizing artifice, stealth, and stratagem, such as the use of decoys and undercover agents in order to apprehend persons engaged in criminal activities, provided that they merely afford opportunities or facilities for the commission of the offense by one disposed or ready to commit it. 28 If you find evidence from the evidence in this case that the defendant was induced to commit the offense charged, you must go on to consider whether or not the defendant was predisposed to commit the offense that is, whether he was ready and willing to commit crimes, such as those alleged in the indictment whenever an opportunity was afforded. 29 In determining whether the defendant has a predisposition to commit the crime charged, you need not find that he was involved in any prior offenses or criminal conduct. If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was predisposed to commit such an offense, then you should find that the defendant was not a victim of entrapment. However, if the evidence in the case leaves you with a reasonable doubt whether the defendant was predisposed to commit the offense, then you must find him not guilty. 30 This instruction followed an extended in-chambers discussion as to its form. Defense counsel expressed his opinion that the instruction should be kept short and simple to avoid confusion of the jury. He did not, however, make any specific objection to the content of the instruction, as required by Rule 30 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to preserve the right to appeal. 31 After all the instructions were read, the prosecutor approached the bench to suggest further clarification of the entrapment instruction. Accordingly, the trial judge added the following statement: 32 In summary, then consider I've just read you the entrapment instruction. In summary, then, if you find no evidence that the government induced the defendant to commit the crime with which he is charged here, there can be no entrapment. 33 On the other hand, if you find some evidence that the defendant was induced to commit the offense with which he is charged, you must then go on to consider if the defendant was predisposed to commit the offense. If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was predisposed to commit such an offense, then you should find that the defendant was not a victim of entrapment. However, if the evidence in the case leaves you with a reasonable doubt whether the defendant was predisposed to commit the offense, then you will find him not guilty. 34 It's a little elaboration of what I already told you. 35 Defense counsel made no objection to the additional language. Because no specific objection was made below, the defendant may not now challenge the sufficiency of the instruction except to the extent that it constituted plain error. See Nordeste v. United States, 393 F.2d 335, 339-40 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 878, 89 S.Ct. 178, 21 L.Ed.2d 151 (1968); Esposito v. United States, 436 F.2d 603, 604 (9th Cir. 1970). 36 We note that an improper instruction rarely justifies a finding of plain error. United States v. Glickman, 604 F.2d 625, 632 (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1080, 100 S.Ct. 1032, 62 L.Ed.2d 764 (1980). 37 The defendant claims that the language of the instruction was wordy and unwieldly, and that the belated addition of further instruction on the entrapment question was confusing to the jury. While the instruction on this difficult area of law may not have been a model of clarity, it was not confusing to the point of plain error. 38 The defendant also contends that the instruction did not correctly state the burden of proof. Once the trial judge determines that the issue of entrapment exists, the burden is on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not entrapped. Notaro v. United States, 363 F.2d 169, 175 (9th Cir. 1966). The language in the instruction given sets forth the burden of proof sufficiently to avoid a finding of plain error. 39 The trial judge, in his general instructions, clearly stated that the burden of proof rested at all times upon the prosecution. 5 Because all the instructions must be read as a whole, this general instruction must be read together with the entrapment instruction. See United States v. Federbush, 625 F.2d 246, 255 (9th Cir. 1980). In the entrapment instruction itself, the court repeated the reasonable-doubt standard several times in discussing the predisposition element of entrapment. While the instruction did not restate the burden, for instance, by emphasizing that the government has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not entrapped, the general instructions combined with the specific reasonable-doubt language on the crucial element of entrapment predisposition did not at any time suggest that the burden was upon the defendant. 40 The instruction in this case is distinguishable from the instruction successfully challenged in Notaro v. United States, 363 F.2d 169 (9th Cir. 1966). In Notaro, the instruction stated in part: 41 On the other hand, if the jury should find from the evidence in the case that the accused had no previous intent or purpose to commit any offense of the character here charged, and did so only because he was induced or persuaded by some agent of the Government, then the defense of unlawful entrapment is a good defense and a jury should acquit the defendant. (emphasis omitted.) 42 Id. at 173. 43 This statement was not followed by a clarification of the burden of proof. Thus it could reasonably have been understood to require an affirmative finding of entrapment in order for the defense to succeed, rather than a mere finding of reasonable doubt. The instruction in the instant case does not place such an affirmative burden on the defendant. Finding no inadequacy in the burden of proof language of the instruction we see no occasion to review it under the plain error doctrine.