Opinion ID: 2978893
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Proposed Jury Instruction on Venue

Text: Powers argues that the district court erred when it declined to give a jury instruction on venue with regard to Count I of the indictment—related to the creation of the Yahoo group that contained child pornographic images. This court reviews a jury charge “as a whole to determine whether the charge fairly and adequately submit[ted] the issues and law to the jury.” United States v. Heath, 525 2 This court has also said that “[t]he applicable standard of review for an evidentiary ruling of the district court where the evidentiary issues relate to a claimed violation of the Sixth Amendment is the de novo standard.” United States v. Robinson, 389 F.3d 582, 591-92 (6th Cir.2004). 7 F.3d 451, 455-56 (6th Cir. 2008) (citing United States v. Buckley, 934 F.2d 84, 87 (6th Cir. 1991)). “A trial court's refusal to give a requested jury instruction is reversible error only if the instruction is 1) correct, 2) not substantially covered by the actual jury charge, and 3) so important that failure to give it substantially impairs defendant's defense.” United States v. Sassak, 881 F.2d 276, 279 (6th Cir. 1989) (citing United States v. Parrish, 736 F.2d 152, 156 (5th Cir. 1984)). This court reverses a district court’s decision “only if the instructions, viewed as a whole, were confusing, misleading and prejudicial.” Heath, 525 F.3d at 456 (quoting United States v. Clark, 988 F.2d 1459, 1468 (6th Cir. 1993)). The Government had to prove venue by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Cooper, 40 F. App'x 39, 40 (6th Cir. 2002) (citing United States v. Crozier, 259 F.3d 503, 519 (6th Cir. 2001)). The district court did not err in refusing to give a venue instruction before submitting the issue to the jury because the “record clearly reflects that the [G]overnment had established venue, despite the trial court's failure to instruct the jury . . . .” Id. Specifically, Powers did not dispute evidence and testimony related to the IP address that established that the “luvbeauty03” group was created, and the pictures uploaded and viewed, from the Elwoods’ home—located in the Western District of Tennessee. See Crozier, 259 F.3d at 519 (“Venue is proper in the state or district where the offense was committed.”). Because venue was clearly established, a venue instruction could not have been important enough to substantially impair Powers’ defense.