Opinion ID: 2790613
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Use of Composite Photo of Defendants

Text: During the trial, over the defendants’ objections, the government displayed a composite set of photos of the codefendants, including Mr. Hohn. The exhibit was intended to aid the witnesses and jury as it helped identify the various codefendants named in the indictment. The district court found that the composite chart of photos was not unduly prejudicial and could be used as a demonstrative exhibit. Absent abuse which clearly prejudices the defendant, the district court has discretion to permit the display of demonstrative exhibits during trial. United States v. Downen, 496 F.2d 314, 320 (10th Cir. 1974). We discern no abuse of discretion here. The district court offered to give a limiting instruction concerning the composite photo chart, but Mr. Hohn apparently failed to request such an instruction. In view of the evidence at trial linking him to the codefendants, Mr. Hohn was not unfairly prejudiced by use of the composite photo chart. 5 The government did present evidence concerning Greg Price’s murder at Mr. Hohn’s sentencing. But it relied on testimony about the murder and the cover-up, and evidence recovered as the result of a search warrant for the premises where the body was found, rather than on anything found during the search of Mr. Hohn’s truck. - 14 -