Opinion ID: 2976975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Peoples’ Trial

Text: Despite his alleged involvement in multiple armed robberies, Peoples was only charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; the first concerning the two handguns found in the trunk of the rental car at the time of his arrest, and the second concerning his possession of the confiscated AK-47. Peoples pled not guilty to both charges. During Peoples’ trial, the government presented significant evidence linking Peoples to the armed robberies in order to show that he possessed a firearm during his participation in these robberies. Peoples did not object to this evidence, but did request that a limiting instruction be given to the jury. During final instructions, the judge did, in fact, give the following instruction: You heard testimony during this trial that the defendant may have committed other crimes than the ones charged in the indictment. If you found and if you find that he did commit earlier crimes, you may consider this only as it relates to the government’s contention that this defendant intended to carry the firearms that are at issue in Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment. You may not consider this evidence for any other purpose, remembering that this defendant is on trial only for being a felon Nos. 06-2239/2413 United States v. Mayberry, et al. Page 4 in possession of firearms and not for any other acts. Do not return a guilty verdict unless the government proves those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. (Peoples J.A. 283–84) Also during Peoples’ trial, the prosecution called Bowman to testify. Although Bowman had previously testified to a grand jury regarding Peoples and Mayberry’s plans to conduct additional robberies, he claimed that he was unable to remember numerous facts which he had recently revealed to the grand jury. As a result, the prosecution read excerpts of Bowman’s prior sworn statements to the grand jury, and asked Bowman if he remembered making those statements, but Bowman continued to claim poor recollection. Despite counsel’s objection to the introduction of these prior, sworn statements, the judge overruled the objection, and allowed the statements to be admitted as substantive evidence.