Opinion ID: 3000798
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Who elected to pursue the line of questioning.

Text: 3. The quantum of other evidence indicative of guilt. 4. The intensity and frequency of the reference. 5. The availability to the trial judge of an opportunity to grant a motion for mistrial or to give curative instructions. No. 06-4232 13 772 F.2d at 1413; see also United States v. Massey, 687 F.2d 1348, 1353 (10th Cir. 1982); Williams v. Zahradnick, 632 F.2d 353, 361-62 (4th Cir. 1980). The Government elected to admit the videotaped interrogation in its entirety as part of its case-in-chief against the defendant. This fact cuts in favor of finding that the error was not harmless. However, outside of the admission of the tape in its entirety, there was no reference to Jumper’s statements that he did not want to answer a question. In no way did the Government highlight these portions of the videotaped interrogation. Specifically, Agent Zaber was not asked to testify about Jumper’s refusal to answer certain questions. Lastly, and most importantly, there is significant evidence of Jumper’s guilt in the record.5 In brief, Officer Huskey, on patrol the night of October 9, 2005, testified that he discovered the defendant and two co-defendants in a parking lot at 1:00 in the morning unloading three boxes from a tractor-trailer into a van. (Tr. Vol. 3 at 7-8.) These three boxes and the twenty-two additional boxes and three duffle bags still in the trailer together contained more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana. (R. 89.) According to Officer Huskey, the defendant told him that the three boxes which had been moved to the van contained “dirty socks,” explaining that he had been on the road for a long time. (Tr. Vol. 3 at 11.) Officer Warren testified that Jumper told him about picking up “pot” only to recant once he realized he had let the word “pot” slip out and insisted that he said “pipe fittings” instead. (Tr. Vol. 4 at 5.) A total of twelve cell phones and $14,000 in cash were confiscated. (Tr. Vol. 2 at 29, 53.) Edgar Kelly (one of the co-defendants who 5 Given the weight of evidence against Jumper, why the Government simply did not exclude voluntarily the inadmissible portions of the videotape escapes us. 14 No. 06-4232 cooperated with the police and plea bargained) testified that Jumper had hired him to drive with him from Phoenix to deliver the marijuana. (Tr. Vol. 1. at 24-25.) Kelly further testified that he had once before received an assignment to drive drugs from Jumper. (Id. at 21.) Throughout the drive involved here, according to Kelly, Jumper repeatedly called the person who was to receive the marijuana delivery. (Id. at 31.) Ignoring the portions of the videotaped interrogation where Jumper invokes his right to remain silent, we find Jumper’s answers to be vague and his claim that he did not know what was in the boxes entirely unconvincing. At best, Jumper’s trial counsel managed to raise some questions about whether Jumper was in charge, as Kelly testified, or whether Kelly was the leader. Regardless, this question does not impact Jumper’s guilt under either charge. In light of the significant evidence of Jumper’s guilt, we find “beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict obtained.” Ben-Yisrayl, 431 F.3d at 1052. C. Prejudicial Effect of Comments Concerning Defendant’s Credibility We now turn to the second ground offered by the defendant for reversal—that the district court erred in admitting the portions of the videotaped interrogation wherein Agent Zaber comments on the defendant’s truthfulness. The defendant argues that Agent Zaber’s comments on the defendant’s veracity, namely, telling Jumper that he thought he was lying, should have been excluded since their prejudicial effect outweighs any probative value, pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 403. Either as support for a finding of prejudice or as a second ground for reversal, the defendant cites cases from the Sixth and Ninth Circuits where the court has held that an officer’s No. 06-4232 15 opinion regarding the guilt or innocence of the defendant cannot be admitted because these comments affect the trial’s fundamental fairness and invade the province of the jury. (Defendant’s Opening Br. at 20-21 (citing United States v. Harber, 53 F.3d 236 (9th Cir. 1995); Cooper v. Sowders, 837 F.2d 284, 287 (6th Cir. 1988); United States v. Scop, 846 F.2d 135, 142 (6th Cir. 1988)).) Although the question of veracity may go to the ultimate question of guilt or innocence, these issues are not the same, and Agent Zaber did not directly comment on Jumper’s guilt. Therefore, the authority offered from our sister circuits is not on point. Moreover, Agent Zaber’s videotaped comments are not testimony under oath;6 the jury could reasonably have viewed these comments as a strategic interrogating tactic of the agent. Since the defendant does not offer any other ground for a finding that the prejudicial force outweighs the probative value, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the portions of the videotaped interrogation where Agent Zaber questions the defendant’s veracity. Regardless, as explained above, any error would have been harmless.