Opinion ID: 369077
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: john hatcher

Text: 167 Hatcher was convicted of conspiracy (Count 1) and of a substantive count for possession and distribution of 457.42 grams of heroin (Count 4). 168 Hatcher argues that the Government failed to establish by competent evidence his participation in the Barnes conspiracy and that certain evidence against him was improperly admitted. His claim that he was prevented from calling witnesses who would have established the existence of a Stepeney-Franklin organization at Harlem River Motors Garage has already been addressed in Part IV Supra. Hatcher's other claims have no merit. Proof of Participation in the Conspiracy 169 Hatcher's argument is that there was no evidence of his participation in the conspiracy other than the March 11, 1977 sale of heroin to Fisher and Diaz. However, strong evidence was introduced at trial which supports the jury's verdict. 170 The evidence tended to show that Hatcher was in the business of selling wholesale quantities of heroin on a continuing basis. Apart from the March 11 sale, there was testimony that he offered, on December 23, 1976, to sell Geronimo and Fisher a half-kilogram of heroin for $26,000. At that time he showed Geronimo a sample which he pulled from beneath the seat of a Mercedes parked in the Harlem River Motors Garage. 171 The jury could properly infer that Hatcher had knowledge of the activities of other conspirators. He was at the Harlem River Motors Garage on December 29, 1976, when Monsanto sold heroin to Fisher and Geronimo, the same night that Geronimo saw packages of white powder being transferred to a car in the Garage. Moreover, he carried out his own heroin sale at the same locale as his co-conspirators. 172 The jury could also conclude that Hatcher benefited from the activities of other Barnes conspiracy participants. Hatcher operated 13 automobiles registered to Hoby Darling Leasing Corporation during the course of the investigation, benefiting from an operation which was run by the conspirators in aid of their illicit business. In addition to this objective evidence, there was testimony that Fisher believed Hatcher to be the owner of Harlem River Motors Garage, the chief business of which seems to have been the sale of heroin. When examined in its entirety, the evidence justifies Hatcher's conviction for conspiracy. 173 Admission of Allegedly Inadmissible Evidence 174 The first bit of evidence challenged by Hatcher is Fisher's statement to Diaz and Geronimo that Nicky oversees all transactions (sic) that take place in the garage (Geronimo version) (Tr. 2356) or Nicky Barnes was into everybody's action (Diaz version) (Tr. 4419), and that this statement was allegedly so unreliable that its admission was in violation of the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause. We conclude that this statement was not so lacking in indicia of reliability as to violate Hatcher's constitutional rights. Fisher's and Geronimo's credibility and the weight to be given the statement were questions for the jury. 175 Hatcher also attacks the admission of Diaz's testimony that the letters BO, a nickname for Hatcher, appeared on the wrapping of the package containing one-half kilogram of heroin which Hatcher sold to Geronimo and Diaz. The Government argued in summation that this writing established that Hatcher was the source of the heroin given by Fisher to Diaz on March 11, 1977. Diaz did not know who had written the notation or the circumstances under which it had been written. Therefore, argues Hatcher, admission of Diaz's testimony that this was Bo's package and that he was the source constitutes reversible error on the grounds that it was hearsay and in violation of the Confrontation Clause. 176 There was testimony, however, that Geronimo had discussed the sale of one-half kilogram of heroin for $25,000 with Hatcher and that the method of delivery (in Fisher's Corvette) had been pre-arranged. The package containing the heroin indeed bore the letters BO, as related by Diaz. The evidence in no way violated Hatcher's rights. It provided circumstantial proof that Hatcher was the source. 177 We affirm Hatcher's conviction on both counts.