Opinion ID: 406805
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the prosecutor's jury argument.

Text: 37 Montemayor contends that the prosecutor made several improper and prejudicial comments during his final jury arguments. Defense counsel, however, failed to object to any of these comments and made no motion for mistrial in regard thereto. Our review is therefore limited to the plain error standard of Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(b). United States v. Okenfuss, 632 F.2d 483, 485 (5th Cir. 1980). Under Okenfuss, we must decide whether the prosecutor's comments, taken as a whole in the context of the entire case, substantially prejudiced defendant's rights. Plain error may be recognized only if the error is so obvious that our failure to notice it would seriously affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings and result in a miscarriage of justice. United States v. Graves, 669 F.2d 964, 971 (5th Cir. 1982). The defendant's burden of showing plain error is a heavy one. United States v. Pool, 660 F.2d at 559. And, under Rule 52, not even obvious, basic errors justify reversal if they are harmless. United States v. Wilkerson, 534 F.2d at 44. 38 1. The October 1 and October 8 Offenses. Montemayor was originally indicted for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and for distribution of cocaine on October 1, 1980, and on October 8, 1980. Shortly before trial, the trial court advised the jury that the counts which concerned these offenses 4 had been dismissed on the government's motion. The government also stipulated that Montemayor was not the source of the cocaine sales which took place on those days. 39 During defense counsel's opening statement to the jury he accused the government of cheating. In the prosecutor's closing argument, he stated that: 40 I am still here prepared to say that defendant didn't have anything to do with the October 1st and October 8th, and I submit to you what I was simply trying to do was save us all a little bit of time and confine ourselves to the real issues. 41 Montemayor urges that these comments were improper expressions of the prosecutor's personal opinion on the merits of the case. 42 We hold there is no error in these remarks, for they were a fair response to defense counsel's charge in his opening statement to the jury that the government was cheating. United States v. Hiett, 581 F.2d 1199, 1204 (5th Cir. 1978). 43 2. Good Police Work. During the trial, Agent Trayler testified that she memorized Montemayor's telephone number when Scott called him to arrange delivery of the cocaine. During the final argument, the prosecutor stated: 44 I consider it to be good police work, I don't know what the jury will consider it to be, was that beeper thing with the telephone number, call back Al, you see, with the number and the number went right back over there to Feminique.We hold that there is no plain error, for this evidence was in the record, and whether Agent Trayler did a good job or a bad job was not a prejudicially improper subject for passing comment during argument. United States v. Hiett, 581 F.2d at 1204. 45 3. Collection of Debt. Montemayor attempted to explain his presence at the location where the cocaine was delivered to Scott on December 3, 1980, by showing, through several witnesses, that he was there to collect a debt Scott owed him. During the final argument, the prosecutor made the following comments: 46 I don't know about you folks, but if someone owes me $600, I am trying to collect, I ain't gonna say, 'Hey, Ken, you gotta phone call next door,' I'm gonna come in and say, 'Ken, you got my money yet?'  47 Although these remarks were perhaps technically improper as a personal vouching by the prosecutor, after reviewing the entire record and the context within which they were made, we are unable to say that the remarks constituted plain error. Their substance, though not their form, was a proper appeal to the common sense of the jury and their understanding of the ways in which ordinary affairs are usually conducted. The jury was unlikely to have given any other significance to them than an appeal to their common sense and understanding of human affairs. 48 4. Cheating. During defense counsel's opening statement to the jury and in his final argument, he accused the government of cheating. During the rebuttal jury argument, the prosecutor made the following comments: 49 I am concerned with cocaine. I'm concerned with obeying the laws of the United States. My concerns, I'm proud to say, are a little bit broader than his, and I'll tell you something else, this is the first time in almost ten years of prosecuting it's ever been said that I cheated. I don't feel like I have cheated here, and I have got a few things to tell you, if there is any cheating going on- 50 THE COURT: Let's don't get into that, Mr. Berg. Argue the facts. 51 MR. BERG: All right, I won't, Your Honor.... 52 We agree with the government that this was a fair comment in reply to defense counsel's charge that the government was cheating. United States v. Hiett, 581 F.2d at 1204. Nor is a prosecutor's expression of personal zeal for law enforcement normally prejudicial error. United States v. Ochoa, 564 F.2d 1155, 1159 (5th Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 436 U.S. 947, 98 S.Ct. 2853, 57 L.Ed.2d 789 (1978). 53 5. The Paralegal and Scott. The final act of asserted misconduct concerns a passing comment regarding Montemayor's training of paralegals. In the prosecutor's closing argument, he stated: 54 Now, let me ask you this, if you were that man Alfredo Montemayor and you had somehow innocently gotten embroiled in a cocaine offense, would you be carrying Scott over to San Antonio to see paralegals you had trained and taking him to see Oscar Gonzales and paying him $10,000 attorneys' fees when all Scott has got to pay is $300 to the same lawyer? Would you be so generous? Of course you wouldn't be. You see exactly what was happening to the man. 55 This was a proper comment based on evidence admitted without objection that Montemayor had taught law to Oscar DeLeon, a paralegal, 5 and on the unobjected to evidence of Montemayor's and Scott's fee arrangement with attorney Max Luther. The comments were a legitimate argument that it could be inferred from the evidence that Scott was duped into signing the affidavit purporting to exonerate Montemayor. 56 We finally note that in another setting, with less convincing proof of guilt, more timely and proper objections by defense counsel, and less opening of the door, some of the prosecutorial actions of which appellant complains, at least if related to more sensitive matters than here, might well result in reversal. That such actions do not warrant a reversal of this case should not suggest that we approve of them or that they merit emulation. However, as we find no reversible error in the particular circumstances of this case, the judgment of conviction is affirmed. 57 AFFIRMED.