Opinion ID: 624033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prosecutorial Misconduct Allegation

Text: Louper-Morris asserts that the district court erred in denying Appellants' joint motion for a new trial because the United States allegedly intimidated one of Appellants' witnesses thereby depriving her of the right to present a complete defense. We review a district court's denial of a motion for new trial for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Perez, 663 F.3d 387, 391 (8th Cir.2011). Reversal of a denial of a motion for new trial is rare. Perez, 663 F.3d at 391. (citation omitted). In the motion for a new trial, Appellants alleged that Michelle Garcia-Strait, a potential defense witness, was intimidated by the United States. Garcia-Strait had sent a fax and an email to the district court describing her unplanned meeting with a governmental agent. The district court conducted an evidentiary hearing on the matter. At the evidentiary hearing, Garcia-Strait testified to the following: on the day she was to testify, someone who she believed to be from the United States Attorney's office spoke with her in a conference room outside of the courtroom. The governmental agent summoned Garcia-Strait from the defense's conference room to the United States's conference room. The door was left partially open. For approximately five to ten minutes, the agent asked her about CyberStudy and some checks she had written. Garcia-Strait said that she felt intimidated by the experience. She did not recall telling either of Appellants' attorneys that she was intimidated or unwilling to testify. When asked by the district court if the governmental agent had threatened her or told her not to testify, Garcia-Strait replied that the agent had not done either of those things. Garcia-Strait could not recall if Appellants' attorneys dismissed her before or after she had spoken with the governmental agent. She also indicated that Appellants were debating whether to call her to testify because of Garcia-Strait's pending felony fraud and forgery charges on which she could be cross examined. The following colloquy occurred between Garcia-Strait and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Rank: Rank: You said that one of the things that [defense attorney] was trying to figure out was whether you would get cross-examined on those issues? Garcia-Strait: Correct. This is exactly why I was afraid to testify, yes. Rank: You were afraid to testify because you could get cross-examined on Garcia-Strait: By you, yes. Rank: on issues related to your pending felony fraud and forgery charges? Garcia-Strait: Yes. After the hearing, the district court issued an order denying the motion for a new trial. The district court expressly found that the United States did not threaten Garcia-Strait, and that Appellants chose not to call her as a witness. The district court noted that Garcia-Strait was concerned about testifying because she could be cross-examined about pending state court fraud and forgery charges. The district court concluded that there was not any impermissible governmental interference and a new trial was not warranted. In light of the record, Louper-Morris's argument is unpersuasive. In fact, the record directly refutes her argument. The record clearly shows that Garcia-Strait was afraid to testify because of the possibility of being cross-examined on her pending fraud and forgery charges. Moreover, Garcia-Strait admitted that she was not threatened in any way or instructed not to testify. Garcia-Strait was available to testify, but Appellants' attorneys chose not to call Garcia-Strait as a witness. The United States's conduct did not prevent Garcia-Strait from testifying and, therefore, the United States did not compromise Louper-Morris's right to a fair trial. See Dodd v. Nix, 48 F.3d 1071, 1075-76 (8th Cir.1995) (finding no due process violation when defense counsel chose not to call witness without consideration to the prosecution's conduct). The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellants' motion for new trial on the ground of witness intimidation.