Opinion ID: 658352
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Segregation of Evidence During Jury Deliberations

Text: 181 During its deliberations, the jury requested to view all evidence seized from searches of several locations in a display on separate tables according to location. The district court granted the request and, over defense objections, ordered the prosecution to segregate and display the evidence. Appellant Robert Rowen argues that because the segregation of evidence required reliance on trial testimony and conclusions as to which items were seized from which locations, the court improperly participated in the fact-finding process. This argument is specious. The location from which evidence was seized was never a disputed issue at trial. Furthermore, the case on which Rowen relies, United States v. Walker, 575 F.2d 209, 214 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 931, 99 S.Ct. 320, 58 L.Ed.2d 325 (1978), is concerned with the trial court answering inquiries from the jury, not simply presenting evidence that has been requested. 182 Rowen also alleges that the prosecutor displayed as evidence seized from the Wells Avenue residence where Rowen was arrested items that were not actually found during the search. These items included (1) $6,136 in cash that was seized from Rowen at the Sheriff's Department following his arrest, and (2) one ounce of methamphetamine, purchased from Tom Baldwin by an undercover officer, that was traced to Rowen and provided probable cause for the Wells Avenue search warrant. Although the defense did not object to including the money and methamphetamine in the Wells Avenue display, Rowen argues that the evidence improperly contributed to his conviction on count 30 for possession with intent to distribute approximately one pound of methamphetamine. 183 We find no plain error in the inclusion of this evidence. Count 30 charged Rowen with possession of approximately one pound of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a). We have noted that [s]ection 841(a) does not specify drug quantity as an element of the substantive offense of possession with intent to distribute; quantity is instead relevant to the penalty provisions of section 841(b), and is a matter for the district court at sentencing. United States v. Sotelo-Rivera, 931 F.2d 1317, 1319 (9th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1186, 117 L.Ed.2d 428 (1992); see also 9th Cir.Crim. Jury Instr. 9.04P (1992) (The government is not required to prove that the amount or quantity of [a controlled substance] was as charged in the indictment.). The jury was properly instructed that proof of the precise quantity charged was not essential and that it need only find some substantially similar quantity. Thus Rowen's conviction did not depend on the additional ounce displayed.