Opinion ID: 791462
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Proceedings in the Trial Court

Text: 9 Logan was tried in the Northern District of New York on charges of committing arson on property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) and conspiracy to commit arson in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(n). At trial the government produced defendant's statements to the police; the evidence of the Molotov cocktail and lighter fluid found at his house; and the testimony of several Kappas and Deltas regarding Logan's prior statements about burning or mutilating the house, threats of violence against the Kappas, and the alibi Gordon and Gabbriellini proposed to use in order to avoid detection. The government also called Sergeant Sandy to testify regarding the investigation and the alibi statements Gordon and Gabbriellini made when he questioned them. Defendant's counsel raised a hearsay objection to Sergeant Sandy's introduction of Gordon's and Gabbriellini's alibi statements but was overruled. Finally, the government called an employee of Joy's (the bar in Staten Island where Gordon and Gabbriellini claimed they went after the Mets game) who testified that Gordon and Gabbriellini were not old enough to enter that establishment and, in any event, she had no recollection of them being at the bar on the night of the fire. 10 The jury acquitted Logan on the substantive arson count but convicted him of conspiracy to commit arson. Defendant then brought a timely motion for judgment as a matter of law on grounds that the verdicts were inconsistent and 18 U.S.C. § 844(n) was unconstitutional as applied because there was not a sufficient link between the fraternity house and interstate commerce. Judge McAvoy denied this motion in a decision and order dated April 16, 2003. The district court sentenced defendant to 60 months imprisonment, the statutory minimum, and three years supervised release. See 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) (2000). Logan then took this appeal.