Opinion ID: 155708
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Paul Chilton

Text: Mr. Chilton raises three issues: (1) whether the district court erred in denying the defendants’ joint motion to suppress, (2) whether the district court correctly applied a four-level upward adjustment for his role as a leader, and (3) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his convictions. Mr. Chilton makes the same arguments Mr. Snider made regarding the denial of the motion to suppress, and we reject them for the same reasons, noting in addition that we question Mr. Chilton’s standing to contest Mr. Snider’s arrest. See Alderman v. United States, 394 U.S. 165, 174 (1969) (stating the general rule that “Fourth Amendment rights are personal rights which, like some other constitutional rights, may not be vicariously asserted”). Mr. Chilton also challenges the application of a four-level upward adjustment under USSG § 3B1.1(a) for his role as a leader in a criminal organization involving five or more participants. See USSG § 3B1.1(a). To apply an enhancement under § 3B1.1 the court must find by a preponderance of the evidence (1) that Mr. Chilton was an organizer or leader (2) of criminal activity that involves five or more participants or is otherwise extensive. See United States v. Torres, 53 F.3d 1129, 1142 (10th Cir. 1995). The district court may consider all relevant conduct under § 1B1.3(a)(1)-(4), not merely the conduct involved in the counts of conviction. See USSG ch.3, pt.B, intro. comment. - 12 - Factors to be considered in determining whether a defendant was an organizer or leader “include the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of the participation in the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, . . . the degree of participation in planning or organizing the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control and authority exercised over others.” USSG § 3B1.1, comment. (n.4). “[T]he gravamen of this enhancement is control, organization, and responsibility for the actions of other individuals . . . .” Torres, 53 F.3d at 1142. We review the sentencing court’s findings of fact for clear error, giving due deference to the district court’s application of the guidelines to the facts. See United States v. Farnsworth, 92 F.3d 1001, 1009 (10th Cir.) (citing United States v. Gomez-Arrellano, 5 F.3d 464, 465 (10th Cir. 1993)), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 596 (1996). The district court found that ten named individuals, among others, were involved in the conspiracy, and Mr. Chilton does not dispute this finding. He does, however, challenge the court’s finding that he controlled the activity of James Smith, Rhonda Hoosier, Morton Hayner, Colleen Carothers, and Cindy Lou Shaw. Mr. Chilton argues there is no evidence to support the court’s specific finding that he recruited the latter four to resell methamphetamine, or that he directed them to buy ingredients for the manufacture of methamphetamine. - 13 - Ample evidence supports the findings that Mr. Chilton recruited accomplices, directed them to go out and sell methamphetamine, and directed them to purchase necessary chemicals with money he gave them. See VII R. 44849. In addition, Mr. Chilton exercised significant control over the operation. Only he and Mr. Snider had keys to the methamphetamine lab. See V R. 182-83. Mr. Chilton became Mr. Snider’s equal partner in the operation, see VII R. 44748, with responsibility for directing the manufacture of their product, see VII R. 402. He was a leader of the organization along with Mr. Snider, see VII R. 404, and exercised decision-making authority in the conspiracy, see VII R. 448. Mr. Chilton taught others to cook methamphetamine. See VI R. 254-55. In fact, his methamphetamine was reputed to be better than Mr. Snider’s. See VII R. 402, 415-16, 447. Finally, Mr. Chilton challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and for manufacture, distribution, and possession of methamphetamine. Mr. Chilton was neither charged with nor convicted of possession of methamphetamine, except inasmuch as it is a lesser included offense of distribution. See I R. doc. 3/20/96 (Indictment); I R. doc. 153 (Judgment). The government’s argument that the evidence is sufficient to convict him of possession is likewise misdirected. We - 14 - will construe Mr. Chilton’s argument to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for each of his convictions. We view the evidence and all inferences from it in the light most favorable to the government to determine whether any rational jury could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Starnes, 109 F.3d 648, 649 (10th Cir.) (White, J.), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 2529 (1997). In order for us to conclude the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction, “we must find that no reasonable juror could have reached the disputed verdict.” United States v. Hoenscheidt, 7 F.3d 1528, 1530 (10th Cir. 1993). Mr. Chilton concedes that the methamphetamine operation existed at his house, but contests the evidence linking him to it. See Aplt. Brief at 28. He asserts that no physical evidence connects him to the crimes charged, and that “[t]he only evidence of his participation came from the unreliable testimony of the government’s witnesses who were cooperating criminals.” Id. A jury in a criminal case may convict a defendant solely on the basis of the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. See United States v. Ivy, 83 F.3d 1266, 1284 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 253 (1996). Furthermore, the credibility of witnesses is a matter for the jury, and on appeal we must resolve credibility issues in the jury’s favor unless the testimony is “inherently - 15 - incredible.” Tapia v. Tansy, 926 F.2d 1554, 1562 (10th Cir. 1991). Mr. Chilton has not argued that any testimony is inherently incredible, and our independent review of all the evidence satisfies us that the testimony was well within the range which a rational jury could believe. This being so, we must resolve credibility choices in favor of the jury’s verdict. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 326 (1979); United States v. Morales, 108 F.3d 1213, 1222 (10th Cir. 1997); Tapia, 926 F.2d at 1562 (“[W]e do not sit as a new trier of fact. We presume that the jury’s findings in evaluating the credibility of each witness are correct.”). Because we are not free to weigh the credibility of witnesses whose testimony is not inherently incredible, Mr. Chilton’s challenge fails as a matter of law, and we need not analyze the elements of each conviction or point out the overwhelming evidence in the record supporting them.