Opinion ID: 351963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Barbara Jane Henciar

Text: 5 Appellant Henciar first contends that the district court erred in submitting the issue of entrapment to the jury because the defense had been established as a matter of law. This contention is without merit. The Supreme Court in Sherman v. United States, 356 U.S. 369, 373-75, 78 S.Ct. 819, 2 L.Ed.2d 848 (1958), held that entrapment could be found as a matter of law only when it was patently clear that the accused was induced by a Government informant to commit the crime. This court in United States v. Ambrose, 483 F.2d 742, 746 (6th Cir. 1973), stated that: 6 (O)nly when undisputed facts establish that the criminal design originated with the Government agent, that the agent implanted in the mind of an innocent person the disposition to commit the offense, and that the defendant then committed the offense at the urging of the Government agent can we conclude that entrapment was established as a matter of law. (Emphasis added). 7 Contrary to appellant's assertion, a review of the record establishes to our satisfaction that there was substantial disputed testimony concerning whether the criminal design originated with the Government agents or whether Henciar was predisposed to commit the crime. Moreover, the mere fact that the Government informant in the instant case on various occasions attempted to arrange the purchase of narcotics from Henciar does not establish the defense of entrapment as a matter of law. As this court noted in United States v. Hairrell, 521 F.2d 1264 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1035, 96 S.Ct. 568, 46 L.Ed.2d 409 (1975): 8 The defense of entrapment is not established as a matter of law by demonstrating that the government provided the opportunities or facilities for commission of the crime or that deceit was employed to induce a defendant to deal with government agents. If there is any showing of a predisposition on the part of the defendant to commit the crime, it is for the jury to determine whether government agents actually implanted the criminal design in the mind of the defendant. 9 Accordingly, having found substantial disputed facts and having determined that there was no patently clear showing of inducement by Government agents, we conclude that the district court properly submitted the issue of entrapment to the jury. 10 Henciar next contends that the district court erred in permitting the introduction of testimony regarding a previous sale of heroin by her for the purpose of establishing her intent and predisposition to commit the offense for which she was indicted. Appellant bases this argument on the assertion that her intent was not in issue. This contention is without merit. By raising the defense of entrapment, Henciar put her intent in issue. Accordingly, evidence of other wrongful acts was admissible in order to show intent and predisposition. See Rule 404(b) Fed.R.Evid. We therefore conclude that the district court properly allowed testimony concerning prior criminal acts for the purpose of demonstrating Henciar's predisposition to sell heroin.