Opinion ID: 346692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 9 In keeping with this viewpoint, the trial judge instructed the jury that Cecilia Garcia's written statement, which she denied to be true, should be considered only for impeachment purposes. Thus, the impeaching statement could be taken only as evidence of credibility and not as affirmative evidence of appellant's guilt or innocence. With the court's instruction in mind, we weigh the evidence other than the Garcia unsworn statement in the light most favorable to the government, Glasser v. United States, supra, to ascertain whether that evidence will sustain appellant's convictions. The remaining evidence against Palacios was circumstantial. 8 The standard for review of the sufficiency of evidence to support conviction is the same whether the evidence is direct or circumstantial. See Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. 121, 75 S.Ct. 127, 99 L.Ed. 150 (1954); United States v. Warner, 441 F.2d 821 (5th Cir. 1971), cert. denied 404 U.S. 829, 92 S.Ct. 65, 30 L.Ed.2d 58. Before sending a case to the jury, after motions for judgment of acquittal, it is the trial judge's duty to determine if the jury must necessarily entertain a reasonable doubt as to the accused's guilt. United States v. Bright, 550 F.2d 240 (5th Cir. 1977); United States v. Haggins, 545 F.2d 1009 (5th Cir. 1977); United States v. Hill, supra. 10 The essential elements of the criminal conspiracy as charged by the indictment are an agreement by two or more persons to combine efforts for an illegal purpose and an overt act by at least one of those persons in furtherance of the agreement. 9 United States v. Bright,supra; United States v. Fontenot, 483 F.2d 315 (5th Cir. 1973). Proof of the illegal agreement or common purpose may rest upon either direct evidence or upon inferences drawn from relevant and competent circumstantial evidence. United States v. Warner, supra. Such proof, however, must convince beyond a reasonable doubt that a conspiracy existed, that the defendant knew it, and with that knowledge intentionally did some act or thing to further or carry on that conspiracy. Causey v. United States, 352 F.2d 203, 207 (5th Cir. 1965). To sustain a conviction for aiding and abetting another to commit a crime, the evidence must show that the defendant associated himself with the venture, participated in it, and that he acted to make it succeed. Nye & Nissen v. United States, 336 U.S. 613, 619, 69 S.Ct. 766, 769-770, 93 L.Ed. 919 (1949). 11 Careful examination of the record leads us to conclude that a reasonable jury could not have found the offense under either charge made out beyond a reasonable doubt against Palacios. The legally competent evidence here was not sufficient for a reasonably minded juror to find Palacios guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The government points to the following numerous and suspicious circumstances from which the jury could have inferred appellant's guilt: (1) The travel van driver who transported Garcia on September 9, 1975, testified that the baggage later found to contain marijuana belonged to Garcia. (2) Garcia admitted talking to Palacios that morning. Palacios admitted that he had lived with her at one time. Other evidence revealed that they had maintained a close relationship for some time. (3) Palacios was seen talking to Garcia at the Taquito Millonario Restaurant prior to her departure to Chicago. (4) He was again seen driving past the checkpoint where the marijuana was discovered. (5) The Chicago address in Garcia's address book was in appellant's handwriting. According to the government, this was inferentially the place of delivery for the marijuana. The government finally urges that the conspiracy was clearly established by proof that the Chicago address was in appellant's handwriting. These bits of evidence add up to no more than ground for conjecture and suspicion that Palacios may be guilty, not acceptable proof of guilt. 12 Palacios had a close relationship with Garcia and had seen her twice on the day of her arrest, but neither mere presence nor a close association suffices without more to make out a conspiracy charge. See United States v. Duckett, 550 F.2d 1027, 1030 (5th Cir. 1977); United States v. Sanchez,508 F.2d 388 (5th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 827, 96 S.Ct. 45, 46 L.Ed.2d 44. No substantive evidence was introduced relating to the Chicago address. It was never linked to the marijuana. There was no sufficient proof that a conspiracy existed, much less that Palacios knew of and participated in a conspiracy, assuming that one existed. Nor was there ground for more than mere suspicion that he in any way participated in Garcia's possession of marijuana. 13 The government also proved that the appellant was once before arrested on a marijuana charge (the case was later dismissed), that he did not pay income taxes, and that subsequent to September 9, 1975, he was found in possession of approximately $4,000. These facts assuming their competency provide only a tenuous nexus between Palacios and the specific crimes charged, consistent with many explanations not pointing to guilt. Reasonable hypotheses of innocence were not excluded. United States v. Black, 497 F.2d 1039, 1041 (5th Cir. 1974). 14 While acts lawful in themselves lose that character when they become elements of a conspiracy, nevertheless the prosecution must first prove the existence of a conspiracy in fact, and that the appellant knowingly participated in it. Such proof was simply not present. 15 Making all such reasonable inferences and credibility choices as will support the jury's verdict, United States v. Black, supra, the evidence was insufficient to sustain the convictions. Juries must not be permitted to convict on suspicion and innuendo. Under the shadow of Garcia's prior statement, Palacios appeared to be a generally unsavory, suspicious character. The jury was allowed to speculate and infer the appellant's guilt from this and from numerous suspicious but unconnected facts. The United States failed to prove guilt by accepted standards. The judgment appealed from is 16 REVERSED.