Opinion ID: 544294
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Cumulative Effect of the Instructions

Text: 65 Mr. Valencia also argues that, viewed as a whole, the cumulative effect of these alleged instructional errors was to diminish the government's burden of proof and to present an unfair and inadequate view of the applicable law. He also suggests that the instructions as a whole were so radically defective that they directed a verdict against him. We disagree. As we have stated, there was no real danger in this case that Mr. Valencia was convicted on the basis of the conscious avoidance or the aiding and abetting instruction. Moreover, even assuming arguendo that the omission of the substantial step language from the attempt instruction was erroneous, see supra pp. 683-685, it was not plain error because the omission had no probable effect on the outcome. We see no merit in the argument that these instructions either individually or collectively diluted the government's burden of proof or resulted in any prejudice to Mr. Valencia.