Opinion ID: 783483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Accomplice Corroboration Requirement

Text: 183 Gallardo and Therrien argue that the district court erred by failing to instruct the jury, in accordance with California law, that it could not find a defendant guilty based on the testimony of an accomplice unless other evidence corroborates the testimony. We review de novo the district court's decision to preclude a defendant's proffered defense. United States v. Ramirez-Valencia, 202 F.3d 1106, 1108 (2000). We conclude that the district court properly instructed the jury using the federal rule, which provides that uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice is sufficient to sustain a conviction unless the testimony is incredible or insubstantial on its face, United States v. Necoechea, 986 F.2d 1273, 1282 (9th Cir.1993). United States v. Erwin, 793 F.2d 656, 669 (5th Cir.1986) (holding that state accomplice-corroboration rule does not apply with respect to predicate acts for RICO prosecutions because the accomplice-corroboration rule is procedural, rather than an element of the offense); United States v. Paone, 782 F.2d 386, 393 (2nd Cir.1986) (same).