Opinion ID: 1974893
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Floyd Bush's Joinder Challenge

Text: Appellant Bush argues on appeal that the trial court erred in denying his motion for severance because the counts related to the offenses at Northeast Liquor Store and Kovak's Liquor Store were joined improperly under Super.Ct.Crim.R. 8(b). Assuming proper joinder, he contends that the offenses should have been severed under Super.Ct.Crim.R. 14 because of undue prejudice. Specifically, appellant Bush asserts that the two separate criminal incidents did not fall within any of the exclusive categories required for joinder under Rule 8(b) as outlined in Davis, supra, 367 A.2d at 1262. The government argues the contrary, contending that its evidence established that the offenses were a part of a common scheme or plan and were committed to achieve a common goal within the meaning of the rule. See Settles, supra, 522 A.2d at 352. We consider first the government's theory that the crimes meet the criteria for a common goal. For offenses to fall within this category, the sets of offenses must be directed toward a specific goal or must depend for their success upon each other. Id. at 353; Davis, supra, 367 A.2d at 1263; Ray, supra, 472 A.2d at 858. In support of its position, the government relies on the fact that another appellant, Owens, determined to commit the Kovak's robbery prior to the first robbery at Northeast Liquor Store for the purpose of obtaining more guns and cash to enable the participants to rob the larger store, Kovak's. We view these facts as too general to support the common, unitary goal requirement. Each of the separate incidents was an isolated event, and no one of them actually depended upon the other for its success. In each instance the object was to obtain money, with only an additional interest articulated by one of the instigators that the group should also steal guns to facilitate other robberies. In the context of this case, the robbery of each liquor store was an end in itself. It was not shown that the sole purpose for the first two robberies was to further the goal of robbing the third store. Therefore, we consider the goal advanced by the government to be simply too broad and too unspecific to meet the requirement for a specific, unitary goal toward which the criminal acts were directed. See Ray, 472 A.2d at 858. The goal of obtaining property from others, here money and guns, was too general for joinder of offenses under Rule 8(b). See id. at 858. The government also argues that the offenses are joined properly under Rule 8(b) because they formed a part of common scheme or plan. Specifically, the government contends that appellant Owens and Christopher Sampson were close associates who planned the robberies in advance and secured the help of the others to carry out their plans. Additionally, the government cites similarities in the modus operandi for each of the crimes, including: use of the green Datsun; Owens' preliminary survey of the targeted store and his driving of the get-away car; assignments by Owens to the others; and the manner in which one person held the floor while other participants looted the cash registers and lottery machines. The government's argument is similar in many respects to the arguments rejected by this court in Davis, supra . In Davis, the appellants were charged in a forty-four count indictment with multiple armed offenses, including kidnapping, robbery and rape, arising out of eight incidents, involving eight women in the District of Columbia. One of the appellants, Warren, challenged joinder of the counts which charged Davis either alone or with others, for assaults on three of the complainants in the same indictment with those counts charging Warren and Davis jointly with criminal assaults on four of the victims. We held that the counts were misjoined. Davis, 367 A.2d at 1263. In doing so, we rejected the government's argument that the similarity of the modus operandi for each criminal incident fulfilled the requirements of Rule 8(b), i.e., that both defendants be charged with having participated in a series of acts or transactions. Id. at 1261. In Davis, the government had argued in opposition to Warren's motion for severance the similarity in the modus operandi with respect to the use of the same green Vega; the occurrence of all offenses within a seven month period; and the fact that the appellants knew each other and were identified by some of the complaining witnesses. In Davis, we acknowledged the principle that: The series of acts envisioned by the drafters of Rule 8(b) is one in which the individual offenses are connected or interrelated in such a manner that proof of charges against one defendant would necessarily have to be introduced in proving the jointly-charged offenses, or that the government otherwise will benefit without further prejudicing the defendant. Id. at 1261. In rejecting the government's argument in Davis that joinder was proper, we observed particularly that the offenses occurred at a different time of day and place, with different witnesses who had different accounts of each incident. Similarly, in this case, the incidents occurred at different stores on different dates. The three incidents involved different victims. In this case, as in Davis, the government made no allegation in the indictment that the offenses were part of a conspiracy. While it is not necessary that defendants be charged with conspiracy for joinder under Rule 8(b), it must be shown that each act or transaction was part of a series of acts or transactions and that each defendant participated in the series of transactions. United States v. Scott, 413 F.2d 932, 935 (7th Cir.1969), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 1006, 90 S.Ct. 560, 24 L.Ed.2d 498 (1970). We are not persuaded that the three separate incidents involved here meet that test. [6] In this case there was not such a close connection between the separate robberies. Cf. Id. Where offenses are considered to constitute a series of acts or transactions because they are part of a common scheme or plan, it is also necessary that there be a substantial overlap in proof of the various crimes such that it would be difficult to separate proof of one from the other. Settles, supra, 522 A.2d at 352; accord Byrd, supra, 551 A.2d at 99; Ray, supra, 472 A.2d at 858. Appellant argues that the only overlap in proof between the two criminal incidents was that the gun taken in the first robbery of Northeast Liquor Store was allegedly used in the third robbery and murder at Kovak's Liquor Store. However, the government also relies upon the following evidence to demonstrate the requisite overlap: (1) the association among the perpetrators of each crime; (2) the distinctive antique pistol taken in the North-east Liquor Store incident which was also used in the murder at Kovak's, an important identification factor; (3) the type of stores involved; (4) the timing of the crimes within one week of each other; (5) the use of the same green Datsun as the get-away car; and (6) the use of a similar modus operandi at the scene of each offense. Two factors are critical in meeting the requirement that proof of the crimes overlap. The overlap must be substantial and necessary. Ray, supra, 472 A.2d at 858. In Ray, we found the necessary overlap lacking where the perpetrators of a robbery were caught later committing a burglary while wearing coats taken in the earlier robbery. Pertinent to our disposition of the issue in Ray was that in the robbery case, the government had only to prove that the appellants were seen wearing the coats fifteen minutes after the robbery, while proof of the facts surrounding the burglary would not be necessary to proof of the robbery charge. Therefore, we determined that the overlap of proof was not substantial and that joinder was improper. Id. Unlike Ray, in this case there appears to have been a sufficient overlap of proof to warrant joinder of the offenses involved in Bush's primary challenge. The key element involved here was that a unique antique Webley pistol was stolen in the first robbery of Northeast Liquor Store and a similar unique weapon was used in the robbery and murder at Kovak's Liquor Store. The unusual weapon provided important identification testimony for both robberies. Additionally, the perpetrators' plans and association with each other as well as use of the green Datsun provided some evidence to connect appellant with each of the two crimes. However, in view of the government's failure to establish initially that the crimes constituted a part of a common scheme or plan, this overlap of proof is insufficient to constitute a series of acts or transactions permitting joinder under Rule 8(b). Nevertheless, similar factors are pertinent to our harmless error inquiry in connection with appellant Bush's challenge. Misjoinder under Rule 8(b) is subject to a harmless error analysis. United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449, 106 S.Ct. 725, 732, 88 L.Ed.2d 814 (1986); Byrd, supra, 551 A.2d at 99; Settles, supra, 522 A.2d at 354; see also Wright, supra, 510 A.2d at 225. Misjoinder is harmless, however, only if it has `no substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict.' Settles, 522 A.2d at 354 (quoting Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 776, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 1253, 90 L.Ed. 1557 (1946), quoted in Lane, 474 U.S. at 449, 106 S.Ct. at 732). Misjoinder is generally considered harmless if all or substantially all of the evidence of one offense would be admissible in a separate trial of the other. Ray, supra, 472 A.2d at 859. The obvious reason for this is that there can be no danger of prejudice in trying cases jointly where the offenses are mutually admissible and the jury will hear about both crimes. Id. In determining whether evidence of each offense would be admissible in a separate trial of the other, we rely on Drew v. United States, 118 U.S.App.D.C. 11, 331 F.2d 85 (1964). The aspect of Drew pertinent to our review in this case is that evidence of other crimes is admissible when relevant to prove the identity of the person charged. Id. at 16, 331 F.2d at 90. To be admissible on the issue of identity in a separate trial, evidence of the circumstances surrounding the crimes must show that there is a reasonable probability that the same person committed both crimes due to the concurrence of unusual and distinctive facts relating to them. Easton v. United States, 533 A.2d 904, 907 (D.C. 1987). No single characteristic is required to meet this test. Id.; Bridges v. United States, 381 A.2d 1073, 1078 (D.C.1977), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 842, 99 S.Ct. 135, 58 L.Ed.2d 141 (1978). What is important is that the cumulation of circumstances converge to show that the two crimes were committed by the same person. Easton, 533 A.2d at 907. The issue must be a legitimate, contested issue in the case. In spite of the identification of appellant by his former co-defendant, Sampson, appellant Bush's identity was a contested issue in the case. Appellant presented evidence from one witness that she saw two men in a red car pull into the alley at Kovak's prior to the robbery. Appellant Bush's evidence was directed at showing that others, not he, were the perpetrators. Thus, association of appellant with the earlier activity had actual bearing on the proof of an issue essential to the government's case. See Bradley v. United States, 140 U.S.App.D.C. 7, 14, 433 F.2d 1113, 1120 (1989). Moreover, a misjoinder error can be harmless when the evidence of guilt presented by the government is overwhelming. Byrd, supra, 551 A.2d at 99 n. 8 (citing United States v. Lane, supra, 474 U.S. at 450 n. 13, 106 S.Ct. at 732-33 n. 13). Bush's implication in both robberies by his former co-defendant, Sampson, was corroborated by other witnesses, including an eyewitness who identified Bush as being at the Northeast Liquor Store robbery and another who identified him without equivocation in connection with the Kovak's Liquor Store robbery. Accordingly, we conclude that misjoinder of the offenses involved in the two separate incidents which appellant Bush challenges was harmless. [7]