Opinion ID: 165927
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Defendant argues that the elements of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) were not proved with sufficient evidence. The Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant attempted to take, by intimidation, property in the possession of a bank. See 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a); United States v. Bishop, 890 F.2d 212, 219 (10th Cir. 1989). Relying mostly on his frail appearance and physical handicaps, Defendant stresses that the evidence does not adequately prove intimidation. -3- “In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we view the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict.” United States v. Espinoza, 338 F.3d 1140, 114647 (10th Cir. 2003). “We will reverse the verdict only if no rational jury could have found Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 1147. In United States v. Monholland, 607 F.2d 1311, 1318 (10th Cir. 1979), we stated that “mere intention to commit a specified crime does not amount to an attempt. It is essential that the defendant . . . [also] do some overt act adapted to, approximating, and which in the ordinary and likely course of things will result in, the commission of the particular crime.” In later cases “we required a ‘substantial step’ toward the commission of the crime, which we defined as an act that is ‘strongly corroborative of the firmness of the defendant’s criminal intent.’” United States v. Prichard, 781 F.2d 179, 181 (10th Cir. 1986) (quoting United States v Bunney, 705 F.2d 378, 381 (10th Cir. 1983)). In addressing a claim of insufficient evidence in the context of an attempted bank robbery “we must determine whether [Defendant’s] objective acts . . . strongly corroborate his intent to [take, by intimidation, property in the possession of] the bank.” Id. The jury was presented with evidence that (1) Defendant asked his nephew to rob a bank with him only a few days before his arrest; (2) the bank tellers saw him outside the bank two other times the morning of the robbery, perhaps -4- “casing” his target; and (3) Defendant demanded money, asserted that he had a gun, while gesturing toward his pocket with his right hand, and uttered numerous threats that he would shoot the bank teller. Even in light of his physical limitations, Defendant’s “loud and serious” statements that he had a gun and his numerous threats to shoot the bank teller are more than sufficient evidence to support a jury finding of intimidation. See United States v. Lajoie, 942 F.2d 699, 700-01 (10th Cir. 1991) (handing a bank teller a note claiming to have a gun is sufficient evidence of intimidation); Bishop, 890 F.2d at 219-20 (same). Although Defendant left the bank without taking any money, his acts strongly corroborate his intent to rob the bank. There was sufficient evidence to support a conviction of attempted bank robbery under 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a).