Opinion ID: 2470108
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Illegal Arrest Claim & Other Issues

Text: Brown also claims he was subjected to an illegal arrest. Police may arrest a suspect in a public place without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe that the individual committed a felony. Garcia, 179 F.3d at 268 (citing United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 423-24, 96 S.Ct. 820, 46 L.Ed.2d 598 (1976)). This principle explains why the district court was correct not to attribute significance in its jury charge to Brown's arrest having been warrantless. The facts already recounted furnished probable cause, for which hearsay can be used. United States v. McCarty, 36 F.3d 1349, 1356 (5th Cir. 1994). Brown also argues that police needed to prepare sworn affidavits before the arrest. His argument misreads the Fourth Amendment, which only specifies that no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation. U.S. Const. amend. IV. By its plain terms, the Amendment requires an oath or affirmation when a warrant is sought and has no application to the warrantless arrest for a felony. We reject Brown's myriad arguments concerning alleged trial errors. Brown did not object to the errors and can succeed only if he can show error that is plain and affected his substantial rights; if that much is shown, then this court has discretion to correct if leaving the error undisturbed would seriously affect[ ] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. United States v. Mason, 668 F.3d 203, 208 (5th Cir.2012) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Brown failed to show that the district court committed plain error by informing the jury venire that Brown was an inmate and a convicted felon. Throughout the trial, Brown himself discussed that he was an inmate. We disagree with Brown that instruction one was confusing. It was intelligible in defining probable cause for an arrest and detailing when an arrest could be made. Instruction four also was valid, as it accurately stated the law under Gerstein and McLaughlin and tracked the language from Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 143, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979). The court did not abuse its discretion in (1) allowing the defendants to impeach Brown with his deposition testimony, (2) refusing to allow Brown to admit affidavits purportedly undermining Sudduth's testimony, or (3) denying Brown's request for subpoenas. See Learmonth v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 631 F.3d 724, 733 (5th Cir. 2011); United States v. Gonzales, 79 F.3d 413, 424-25 (5th Cir.1996). Brown's contention that the district court erred in presenting the issue of qualified immunity to the jury is meritless. A jury may be given the issue of qualified immunity if that defense was not resolved on summary judgment. Melear v. Spears, 862 F.2d 1177, 1184 (5th Cir.1989). It was not an abuse of discretion by the district court, after receiving a jury note and hearing counsels' arguments, not to define the term judicial determination beyond what the original instructions conveyed. We review a judge's response to a jury note for an abuse of discretion and for harmfulness of any error. United States v. Ramos-Cardenas, 524 F.3d 600, 610 (5th Cir.2008). There was no abuse of discretion. Finally, the record does not support Brown's allegation that the defendants violated discovery disclosure rules. The motions to file untimely reply briefs and to amend exhibits are GRANTED. The judgment is AFFIRMED.