Opinion ID: 58004
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Co-defendant Fails to Appear

Text: Layne and a co-defendant, Michael Scarpon, were indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both pled not guilty. On the morning of the ninth day of trial, co-defendant Scarpon failed to appear. The government reported to the district court that Scarpon’s wife had stated that Scarpon had driven himself from their home in New Port Richey to Miami for trial that morning. Noting that Scarpon previously had claimed to be unable to drive and that Scarpon’s wife had accompanied him to court every day of the trial, the government contended that Scarpon appeared to have fled. The district court recessed until 1:30 p.m. to give Scarpon time to arrive. At 1:30 p.m., Scarpon had not appeared. The government reported that its efforts to locate Scarpon were unsuccessful. The district court sent the jury home without informing the jury of Scarpon’s absence and without the jury being brought into the courtroom where it might observe Scarpon’s absence. B. Motion for a Mistrial and First Jury Instruction The next day, Scarpon still did not appear. The government reported that it 2 had not located Scarpon, but had spoken with Scarpon’s wife, who had spoken to her husband on the telephone at 5:00 p.m. the day before. The government argued that Scarpon should be treated as a fugitive and that his trial should proceed in absentia. Layne moved for a mistrial, arguing that the inference of guilt from Scarpon’s flight could carry over to Layne. The district court denied Layne’s motion and trial proceeded against Scarpon in his absence. Without objection from Layne, the district court instructed the jury that “Mr. Scarpon is not here. Notwithstanding that, this case will continue against Mr. Scarpon and Mr. Layne.” C. Scarpon’s Suicide and Second Jury Instruction Approximately an hour later, the district court learned that Scarpon had committed suicide. Layne’s counsel explained that Layne and Scarpon had been “very close” and requested a several-day continuance. Noting that only a few hours of trial remained, the district court denied the request, but adjourned for the day. Without objection, the district court informed the jury that legal matters had come up and instructed the jury not to speculate about them. After the jury was dismissed, the district court discussed with the parties how Scarpon’s absence should be addressed. Layne renewed his motion for a mistrial, arguing again that the jury would speculate that Scarpon had fled and infer 3 that both Scarpon and Layne were guilty. The district court noted that the jury could also draw the inference that because Layne had not fled, he was not guilty. The district court denied Layne’s motion for a mistrial. The district court then discussed with Layne’s counsel, Thomas Almon, and the government’s counsel, Christopher Garcia, the jury instruction to be given about Scarpon’s absence. The district court proposed that it should instruct the jury that Scarpon was no longer a defendant, that the case would proceed against Layne only and that the jury should not speculate about the reason for Scarpon’s absence. In response, Layne’s counsel was careful to preserve his objection to the district court’s denial of his motion for a mistrial, but agreed that there was no better way to formulate the district court’s proposed jury instruction.1 1 The colloquy reads as follows: THE COURT: Why don’t I just draft something up that basically says that from this point forward, this case is proceeding only as against the defendant, Fredric Blair Layne. The charges against the defendant, Michael Scarpon, are no longer yours for your consideration, are not before you for decision. Do not concern yourselves with this development, and do not speculate about it. Something like that. How’s that? MR. GARCIA: That sounds fair, Your Honor. THE COURT: How is that? MR. ALMON: You’ve got to give one. THE COURT: If I don’t send you home with a letter of commendation for your client, what is your next? MR. ALMON: The 11th Circuit sends down language that says, well, then you agreed to a limiting instruction. THE COURT: I know that you are not agreeing to it. What I’m saying is, do you have a better suggestion? MR. ALMON: No, Judge. I have been through this before in terms of instruction coming from the Court. THE COURT: I am trying to be fair. 4 Before trial resumed the following day, the district court reiterated the planned instruction, and Layne’s counsel indicated that the instruction was “fine” and that he had “made [his] record yesterday.” The district court instructed the jury that “[f]rom this point forward this case is proceeding only against the defendant, Fredric Blair Layne. The charges against the defendant, Michael Scarpon, are no longer before you. Do not concern yourself with this development and do not speculate about it.” The trial proceeded and the government rested its case. The district court advised Layne of his right to testify. Layne responded that he did not want to testify. Layne’s counsel called two witnesses and rested Layne’s case. The jury convicted Layne on both counts. At sentencing, Layne was represented by new counsel. Layne argued that he had not been of sound mind after Scarpon’s suicide, which influenced his decision not to testify, and that he and Scarpon had both planned to testify. Layne also MR. ALMON: I know you are. THE COURT: Sometimes I don’t always get it; and I don’t, I want you to tell me this would be a better way of doing it. MR. ALMON: No, I can’t think of a better way. THE COURT: Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do. From this point forward, this case is proceeding only against the defendant, Fredric Blair Layne. The charges against the defendant, Michael Scarpon, are no longer before you. Do not concern yourself with this development and do not speculate about it. 5 argued that his trial counsel had been ineffective. The district court rejected these arguments and sentenced Layne to 135 months’ imprisonment on both counts to run concurrently. Layne filed this appeal.