Opinion ID: 504457
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reference To Bellecourt as Roberts' Girlfriend

Text: 69 Defendant Roberts contends that testimony of an FBI agent indicating that Vallerie Bellecourt was Roberts' girlfriend was prejudicial, and that his motion for mistrial was improperly denied. FBI Agent Goergen testified that his investigation of the robbery led him to Arthur's Bar, where FBI agents questioned Bellecourt. Goergen was asked who Bellecourt was. Roberts objected to the question, but the court allowed Goergen to answer. Goergen stated that his investigation revealed Bellecourt to be Roberts' girlfriend. Objections were sustained to testimony by Goergen as to what Bellecourt said. The government had indicated that it would call Bellecourt as a witness, but did not do so. 70 Roberts' motion for mistrial, made after both sides rested, was denied. The district judge instead gave an instruction to the jury that he had permitted the testimony because he anticipated Bellecourt would testify. Because she did not, he said, the jury must disregard it. Roberts contends the statement that Bellecourt was his girlfriend, coupled with further testimony that Bellecourt led the FBI to Roubal, who turned over a bag containing over $9,000.00, may have persuaded the jury that it was Roberts' share of the money that was recovered from Roubal. He contends the instruction to disregard it was insufficient. 71 In Nash v. United States, 405 F.2d 1047, 1053 (8th Cir.1969), an officer was asked whether either of the two defendants had denied ownership of a bag containing stolen money orders. Id. The officer replied that they had not denied ownership. Id. Defense counsel objected and requested a mistrial on the grounds that the defendant had been under arrest and no comment could be made on his silence. Id. The judge instead immediately instructed the jury to disregard the question and answer. Id. at 1053, 1054. The conviction was affirmed. The court commented as follows: 72 As was said in Maestas v. United States, 341 F.2d 493, 496 (10 Cir.1965): 73 ... [I]t is the general rule that error in the admission of evidence under most circumstances may be cured by withdrawing the evidence from the jury's consideration and instructing the jury to disregard it. Holt v. United States, 94 F.2d 90 (10th Cir. [1937]. However, as an exception to the general rule, where the character of the testimony is such that it will create so strong an impression on the minds of the jurors that they will be unable to disregard it in their consideration of the case, although admonished to do so, a mistrial should be ordered. 74 Id. at 1053. We do not consider Goergen's testimony, in context, so highly persuasive that the jury could not disregard it, as instructed.