Opinion ID: 476806
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: mark sucher

Text: 111 Mark Sucher raises four arguments on appeal. First, Sucher argues that his right to a fair trial was irreparably prejudiced by the court's refusal to grant Sucher's motion for severance under Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Second, he contends that the date of the trial violated the 70 day time limit of the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3161 et seq. Third, Sucher argues that the government's role in taping his conversations with Peacock and Kolbert, knowing after October 25, 1983 that Sucher was represented by counsel, violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Finally, Sucher argues that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to permit the introduction of exculpatory statements made contemporaneously to portions of his taped conversations with Kolbert and Peacock that were introduced into evidence by the government.
112 Sucher made an unsuccessful pretrial motion for severance, 13 on the grounds that the weight and venality of the evidence against Sutton would prejudice the jury against Sucher. See United States v. Sampol, 636 F.2d 621, 643-46 (D.C.Cir.1980) (per curiam). Sucher points to the allegations that Sutton was involved in a violation of DOE price regulations to the tune of 1.2 to 1.3 billion dollars, and that much of the government's evidence concerned Sutton's illicit dealings with conspirators other than Sucher. Sucher further points to trial testimony that suggested, inter alia, that Sutton had become wealthy through violations of federal regulations, through bribes paid to foreign officials (Tr. 353-54), through extortionary business practices (Tr. 205-21), and evidence showing Sutton's payment of almost $400,000 in order to bribe government officials in this case. Sucher asserts, The tidal wave of evidence surely drowned Sutton, but it created an undertow that caught appellant Sucher as well. Sucher Brief at 52. Compelling though the metaphor may be, Sucher's legal argument is unpersuasive. Sucher was drowned by other evidence which proved his direct involvement in the conspiracy and substantive offenses. 113 Trial court rulings on motions for severance will be disturbed only for an abuse of discretion. See Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84, 95, 75 S.Ct. 158, 165, 99 L.Ed. 101 (1954); United States v. Daniels, 770 F.2d 1111, 1115 (D.C.Cir.1985). Motions for severance are particularly sensitive in conspiracy cases because of the danger that the guilt of one defendant may be unjustly transferred to another. See Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 774, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 1252, 90 L.Ed. 1557 (1946); United States v. Mardian, 546 F.2d 973, 977 (D.C.Cir.1976) (en banc). 114 Sucher relies on two prior decisions of this court, United States v. Mardian, 546 F.2d 973, 977 (D.C.Cir.1976) (en banc), and United States v. Sampol, 636 F.2d 621 (D.C.Cir.1980) (per curiam), but neither case supports a decision contrary to the trial court's ruling in this case. In Mardian we reversed the conviction of alleged Watergate conspirator Robert Mardian and ordered a new trial. Mardian argued that the trial court should have granted his original motion for severance because he, unlike all other indictees, had been named only in the conspiracy count. Moreover, Mardian was charged with participation only until June 21, 1972, in a conspiracy alleged to have continued until March 1, 1974. 546 F.2d at 977-78. At trial it became apparent that the prosecution would focus primarily on events that occurred after Mardian had left the conspiracy. Nevertheless, we held that Mardian had not shown an abuse of the trial court's discretion in denying the severance motion before the start of the trial. Id. at 979. However, we did reverse Mardian's conviction because, in addition to the foregoing, during the second week of the trial, Mardian's trial counsel unexpectedly had to be hospitalized and Mardian was required to continue without his lead attorney during the remainder of the trial that lasted approximately three months. Moreover, the government did not oppose Mardian's motion for severance after his first attorney was hospitalized. Id. at 979-81. Under the circumstances a new trial was granted. 115 In Sampol we reversed the conviction of Ignacio Novo Sampol for making false statements to the grand jury and misprision of a felony. 636 F.2d at 642. Ignacio Novo Sampol was tried along with two co-defendants who were charged with various crimes arising from the assassination of the former Chilean ambassador to the United States, Orlando Letelier, and his American associate, Ronni Moffitt. We reversed the conviction of Ignacio Novo Sampol in that case because of the likelihood that the jury would confuse his guilt with that of his co-defendants. One of the reasons for our holding was that Ignacio Novo Sampol was not even named in the conspiracy count, in which his co-defendants were accused of participating in an intentional and extremely violent assassination scheme, the gory details of which were described with extreme accuracy to the jury. Id. at 646. Moreover, we noted that the vast bulk of the testimony concerned the crimes of conspiracy to assassinate and murder for which [the co-defendants] were being tried. Id. (emphasis in original). 116 The facts in the present case clearly distinguish it from Mardian and Sampol. Sucher was not tried with a co-defendant against whom the government's evidence was overwhelmingly damning. Rather, Sucher was named as a co-conspirator in three counts of a five-count indictment, and his actions were part and parcel of an ongoing attempt to obstruct the investigation of the Department of Energy. Sucher's participation was not limited to a brief portion of the conspiracy, but extended throughout the entire duration of the conspiracy. In fact, Sucher willingly communicated with Maxwell about Sutton's criminal trial in Oklahoma long after Kolbert and Peacock had dropped from the conspiratorial chain. In a sense, Sucher was the linchpin of the conspiracy since he was the source of the confidential documents and information that were used to impress Sutton with the influence that the co-conspirators had inside the DOE. The Vantage document particularly served this purpose as a show document to stimulate the flow of money from Sutton on down through those in the conspiracy. Sucher also was the illegal source of DOE documents relevant to the investigation of Sutton and his BPM companies. 117 Moreover, we cannot ignore the general policy favoring joint trials of defendants indicted together, see United States v. Hines, 455 F.2d 1317, 1334 (D.C.Cir.1971), especially when, as here, the respective charges require presentation of much of the same evidence, testimony of the same witnesses, and involve two defendants who are charged, inter alia, with participating in the same illegal acts. The trial court committed no error in denying Sucher's motion for severance.
118 Sucher was arraigned with Maxwell and Gazzara on October 15, 1984. A trial was scheduled for November 30, 1984, but on November 29, 1984 (as a result of Maxwell's cooperation and guilty plea on November 13, 1984) the government obtained additional evidence and on November 29, 1984 returned a superseding indictment that included Sutton as co-defendant. Trial commenced on January 24, 1985. Sucher argues that he was denied the right to a trial within seventy days, as required by the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3161 et seq. 119 However, Sucher misreads the Act, which requires trial to commence within 70 days of arraignment, but excuses 120 [a] reasonable period of delay when the defendant is joined for trial with a codefendant as to whom the time for trial has not run and no motion for severance has been granted. 121 Id. Sec. 3161(h)(7). The Senate Report on the Speedy Trial Act states that the quoted provision 122 provides for the exclusion of time from the time limits where the defendant is joined for trial with a codefendant who was arrested or indicted after the defendant. The purpose of the provision is to make sure that [Sec. 3161(h)(7) ] does not alter the present rules on severance of codefendants by forcing the Government to prosecute the first defendant separately or be subject to a speedy trial dismissal motion.... 123 S.Rep. No. 83-1021, 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 38 (1974) (emphasis added). The trial date was 101 days after Sucher's initial arraignment, but only 55 days after the second arraignment, which was a reasonable period of delay in order to allow the newly indicted Sutton adequate time to prepare for trial. The trial of Sucher was conducted fully within the text and intent of the relevant statute.
124 Sucher objects to the taping of his conversations with Kolbert and Peacock after the government became aware on October 25, 1983 that Sucher was represented by counsel. Sucher bases his argument on the Sixth Amendment right to counsel and the Canons of Legal Ethics, contending that the government should have notified his attorney. The trial court denied Sucher's motion to suppress the resulting tapes that were subsequently admitted into evidence at trial. 125 The Sixth Amendment 14 is not applicable here. It provides that an accused is entitled to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence  (emphasis added). Sucher was not an accused when the taping occurred. The right to counsel attaches only after the initiation of adversary judicial criminal proceedings, e.g., formal charge, preliminary hearing, indictment, information, or arraignment. See United States v. Gouveia, 467 U.S. 180, 189, 104 S.Ct. 2292, 2298, 81 L.Ed.2d 146 (1984); United States v. Lemonakis, 485 F.2d 941, 953-54 (1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 989, 94 S.Ct. 1587, 39 L.Ed.2d 885 (1974). The taping here occurred at the investigatory stage before the initiation of any judicial proceedings which would call for Sucher's defense. 126 Likewise, Sucher's objection based on Disciplinary Rule 7-104 of the Code of Professional Responsibility was explicitly rejected in Lemonakis, 485 F.2d at 956. Rule 7-104 was never meant to apply to situations such as this one, but was meant to ensure that lawyers not prey on persons known to be represented by counsel. Id. In short, neither the Sixth Amendment nor the Canons of Legal Ethics provide a basis for excluding the taped conversations.
127 Sucher's final issue involves his unsuccessful attempt, prior to his cross-examination of Peacock, to introduce portions of transcript from the taped conversations between Sucher and Peacock. Specifically, Sucher sought to introduce approximately four pages of transcript from the conversation of October 28, 1983 at 2:00 p.m. (J.A. 132-35). Those four pages are set out in full in the margin. 15 128 The government had introduced, as part of its direct examination of Peacock, portions of the conversations of October 25, 1983, October 26, 1983, and the conversation that began at 3:20 p.m. on October 28, 1983 (there were three taped conversations between Sucher and Peacock on October 28, 1983, one in the morning, one at 2:00 p.m., and one at 3:20 p.m.). The portions of the conversations introduced by the government gave the impression that Sucher was afraid of Maxwell and Kolbert because Sucher thought they would reveal his role in the conspiracy. In short, the government's evidence tended to show Sucher's consciousness of guilt. 129 The government objected to Sucher's attempt to introduce portions of the 2:00 p.m. conversation on October 28, 1983, arguing that these pages constituted excludable out-of-court exculpatory statements concerning Sucher's state of mind at the time of the alleged crime. See Federal Rules of Evidence 801, 802. The court sustained the government's objection, finding the statements excludable as exculpatory extra-judicial statements as to a past fact (Tr. 906, 912-14). Sucher based his request for admission in part on the rule of completeness contained in Federal Rule of Evidence 106, infra, which generally permits the contemporaneous admission of portions of writings or recorded statements when the already introduced portions might be misleading unless properly placed in context. 130 Sucher contends that he requested the admission of the entirety of at least three separate recorded conversations with Peacock. This argument, however, was not properly preserved for appellate review. It is true that the initial request was for admission of all conversations recorded by Peacock, but Sucher's attorney sought to assuage the court's fears by saying, I am going to focus Mr. Peacock on a couple of discrete areas. (Tr. 849). The court denied this broad request, telling Sucher's attorney, I would like very much to see discrete portions of the manuscripts rather than entire telephone conversations which you think are particularly significant for purposes of an explanatory context for the phone conversations that the government did introduce ... (Tr. 899). Sucher's attorney replied, The Court is correct. I understand what the Court's reservation is and its seems like the ball is in my court. (Tr. 900). A moment later, the court instructed Sucher's attorney to [h]one in on particular portions of the transcript, and Sucher's attorney again indicated his consent (Tr. 902). Sucher's attorney affirmed for a third time the limited nature of his specific request for admission of portions of the tapings (Tr. 909). Against this backdrop it is clear that Sucher waived whatever objections he may have had to the court's prohibition on introducing the entirety of the other taped conversations. 131 Sucher attempts, in addition, to challenge the correctness of the court's ruling that the statements from the 2:00 p.m. October 28 conversation were excludable hearsay as assertions of past fact offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted therein. Here, too, it is clear that Sucher waived his right to raise the issue on appeal. In response to the court's statement that a particular statement was an assertion of past fact, Sucher's attorney said, I agree with that. Therefore, although the Court wants for me to maybe suggest an 803 argument, I really don't think that is what this is all about. (Tr. 909). At any rate, as shown by the underscored portions of the conversation, the court was quite correct in characterizing the statements as excludable assertions of past fact and exculpatory hearsay statements. 132 This is not, however, the end of our inquiry. In the government's direct examination of Peacock, other recorded conversations had been used in part to support the government's case. One of the key issues at trial was whether Sucher had the requisite mens rea when he passed the documents to Kolbert. Sucher's defense was significantly based on an alternative construction of his role in passing the documents: namely, that Sucher innocently passed the documents to Kolbert because Kolbert was superior to Sucher in the hierarchy at DOE. Sucher's argument conceded that he may have violated certain ethical obligations in talking with Maxwell and Peacock about the Sutton case, but, without taking the stand, he denied taking money in exchange for giving the documents to Kolbert, and denied knowing that Kolbert was acting illegally. Sucher's attorney therefore had quite a different interpretation of some portions of his conversations with Sucher and Peacock. Sucher contended that these conversations did not show the necessary criminal intent, but rather demonstrated a fear of the falsehoods that Maxwell and Kolbert might tell the government. Sucher argued that his fear of Kolbert was rational considering the character of Kolbert and the variety of shady activities Kolbert had been engaged in. Since Sucher admitted providing Kolbert with documents, but denied receiving money or having any illegal intent, such an interpretation is not entirely implausible, and such an inference would have contradicted the government's inference that the conversations supported its case. 133 Such circumstances raise the question whether Rule 106 permits the introduction of evidence that is otherwise inadmissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence. Rule 106 provides: 134 When a writing or recorded statement or part thereof is introduced by a party, an adverse party may require him at that time to introduce any other part or any other writing or recorded statement which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with it. 135 The Advisory Committee note to Rule 106 states that [t]he rule is based on two considerations. The first is to correct a misleading impression created by taking matters out of context. The second is the inadequacy of repair work when delayed to a point later in the trial. 136 Rule 106 explicity changes the normal order of proof in requiring that such evidence must be considered contemporaneously with the evidence already admitted. Whether Rule 106 concerns the substance of evidence, however, is a more difficult matter. The structure of the Federal Rules of Evidence indicates that Rule 106 is concerned with more than merely the order of proof. Rule 106 is found not in Rule 611, which governs the Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation, but in Article I, which contains rules that generally restrict the manner of applying the exclusionary rules. See C. Wright & K. Graham, Federal Practice and Procedure: Evidence Sec. 5078, at 376 (1977 & 1986 Supp.). Moreover, every major rule of exclusion in the Federal Rules of Evidence contains the proviso, except as otherwise provided by these rules, 16 which indicates that the draftsmen knew of the need to provide for relationships between rules and were familiar with a technique for doing this. Id. There is no such proviso in Rule 106, which indicates that Rule 106 should not be so restrictively construed. See id. 17 137 Rule 106 can adequately fulfill its function only by permitting the admission of some otherwise inadmissible evidence when the court finds in fairness that the proffered evidence should be considered contemporaneously. A contrary construction raises the specter of distorted and misleading trials, and creates difficulties for both litigants and the trial court. 138 The most sensible course is to allow the prosecution to introduce the inculpatory statements. 18 The defense can then argue to the court that the statements are misleading because of a lack of context, after which the court can, in its discretion, permit such limited portions to be contemporaneously introduced as will remove the distortion that otherwise would accompany the prosecution's evidence. Such a result is more efficient and comprehensible, and is consonant with the requirement that the rules shall be construed to secure fairness in administration, elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay, and promotion of the law of evidence to the end that the truth may be ascertained and proceedings justly determined. Federal Rule of Evidence 102. 19 139 Moreover, under this approach the trial court can focus solely on issues of distortion and timing as mandated by Rule 106. The trial court has a wide range of discretion to expeditiously structure the inquiry, as the judge did in this case by requiring Sucher's attorney to point to specific passages of the transcript that ought to have been admitted to avert the distorting effect of the portions already introduced by the government. In addition, the provision of Rule 106 grounding admission on fairness reasonably should be interpreted to incorporate the common-law requirements that the evidence be relevant, and be necessary to qualify or explain the already introduced evidence allegedly taken out of context. See United States v. McCorkle, 511 F.2d 482, 486-87 (7th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 826, 96 S.Ct. 43, 46 L.Ed.2d 43 (1975) (applying the doctrine of verbal completeness prior to the passage of the Federal Rules of Evidence); VII J. Wigmore, Evidence Sec. 2113 (3d ed. 1940). The response of Sucher's attorney typically indicates the limited scope of the Rule 106 admission because he pointed to only four pages of transcript, from which Judge Jackson excluded four parts. In almost all cases we think Rule 106 will be invoked rarely and for a limited purpose. 140 We turn, therefore, to the specific portions of the transcript that Sucher requested under Rule 106. They are numbered below: 141 (1) (J.A. 133). 142 Sucher: I don't know, to be honest with you, what Shelley had going with (inaudible) Maxwell that uh, I just kind of guessed because I don't know if Shelley made representations to Maxwell about Uh, I guess.... 143