Opinion ID: 162322
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Improper Joinder/Refusal to Sever

Text: Johnson appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to sever his trial from Knudsen’s. We review a decision to deny a severance for an abuse of discretion, and the trial court’s decision “will not ordinarily be reversed in the absence of a strong showing of prejudice.” United States v. Valentine, 706 F.2d 282, 289-90 (10th Cir. 1983). The defendant must demonstrate that the alleged prejudice outweighed the expense and inconvenience of separate trials. United States v. Martin, 18 F.3d 1515, 1518 (10th Cir. 1994). The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provide that “[i]f it appears that a defendant . . . is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses . . . the court may order an election or separate trials of counts, grant a severance of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 14. “Neither a mere allegation that defendant would have a better chance of acquittal in a separate trial, nor a complaint of the ‘spillover effect’ . . . is sufficient to warrant severance.” United States v. Powell, 982 F.2d 1422, 1432 (10th Cir. 1992) (citation omitted). The defendant thus carries a heavy burden. Valentine, 706