Opinion ID: 426395
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Defendant Parker's Contentions

Text: 1. Substantive Crimes Instruction 7 Parker contends that the district court erred by failing to adequately instruct the jury on the essential elements of the substantive crimes which constituted the objects of the charged conspiracies. In its instructions, the court read the substance of each of the counts in the indictment to the jury, 1 but offered no further explanation to the jury on the substantive elements of importation, possession and distribution, 2 the object offenses, i.e., the offenses the commission of which was the object of the conspiracies. Parker's trial counsel did not submit requested instructions on these points, but did specifically object to the omission of more detailed instructions on these elements at the time that the court charged the jury. 8 The failure to instruct the jury on the substantive or object crimes of a conspiracy charge is not always plain error, see United States v. Marino, 562 F.2d 941, 945 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 996, 98 S.Ct. 1647, 56 L.Ed.2d 84 (1978), but we have held that such an omission by the trial court does constitute a serious error, United States v. Martinez, 496 F.2d 664, 669 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 1051, 95 S.Ct. 627, 42 L.Ed.2d 646 (1974). As the defendant Parker correctly notes, the only instruction to the jury on the question of importation, possession and distribution was made by the trial judge when he reviewed the substance of the indictment with the jury. 9 Nevertheless, though the omission might be considered a serious error under other circumstances, it is harmless under the issues as raised in the present prosecution. Parker's defense in the present case rested upon his claim that although he was aware of the illegal activities, he never intended to consummate the illegal transaction. Parker's defense does not raise an issue as to any element of the object offenses, such as importation, possession or distribution, or even as to the existence of a smuggling conspiracy. Rather, Parker contends that he feigned participation in the scheme and did not have the requisite intent to become part of the conspiracy. 10 Parker's defense has raised only a question as to his intent to participate in the conspiracy, and raised no question as to the elements of the substantive crimes which were the object of the charged conspiracies. Accordingly, we find no reversible error in the trial court's instructions when viewed in light of the defense raised by Parker in the present case. 2. Parker's Other Claims 11 We briefly address Parker's several other meritless claims on appeal. 12 Parker argues that his sentence of seven years imprisonment on Count One of the indictment, i.e. conspiracy to possess in excess of 1,000 pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute, must be reformed since it exceeds the punishment authorized by the only statute correctly cited in the indictment, i.e., 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a) (authorized maximum punishment of five years). Parker argues that he should not have been sentenced under Sec. 841(b)(6), which provides for an enhanced sentence of up to fifteen years imprisonment when an offense involves in excess of 1,000 pounds of marijuana. However, the language in the indictment clearly specifies that the defendant is charged with conspiracies to import and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity exceeding 1,000 pounds of marijuana. Moreover, the court instructed the jury that the defendants were charged with conspiring to import, possess and distribute more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana. See also Fed.R.Crim.P. 7(c)(3) (citation error in indictment not grounds for reversal of conviction unless the defendant is prejudicially misled). 13 Parker next contends that the trial judge's instruction to the jury on reasonable doubt impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to the defendants when he stated: 14 So, if there exists at the conclusion of the case, two reasonable theories, one equally supported by the evidence (sic), one consistent with the guilt of the defendant, the other consistent with the innocence of the defendant, you must adopt the theory consistent with the innocence of the defendant and acquit the defendant.... 15 Since Parker's counsel did not object to this charge, we must review the instruction for plain error only. Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(b). We find that the trial court's instructions, in their entirety, clearly and repeatedly explained the presumption of innocence and placed the burden upon the government to prove Parker's guilt of every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, we cannot find the overall charge given on the burden of proof to be plainly erroneous. See also United States v. Pena, 527 F.2d 1356, 1365 (5th Cir.) cert. denied, 426 U.S. 949, 96 S.Ct. 3168, 49 L.Ed.2d 1185 (1976) (equally supported theories charge not plain error); Accord, United States v. Sukumolachan, 610 F.2d 685, 688 (9th Cir.1980) (equally supported theories charge often favors defendant). 16 Finally, Parker claims that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that mere presence does not necessarily establish proof of the existence of a conspiracy. It may or may not, depending upon your evaluation and your judgment of the evidence in the case. While it is clear that mere presence without more does not suffice to make out a conspiracy charge, see United States v. Palacios, 556 F.2d 1359, 1365 (5th Cir.1977), we do not find that this instruction was prejudicial to the defendant Parker when viewed with the entirety of the court's charges to the jury. The court gave the jury detailed instructions on the law of conspiracy both before and after this statement that should have adequately cured any confusion that conceivably might have been caused by this instruction.