Opinion ID: 344061
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: edwin brown's appeal

Text: 30 We turn now to the two separate issues raised on appeal by Edwin Brown. He initially argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the value of the goods in question exceeded $100. 18 He asserts that the value question was erroneously submitted to the jury. We disagree. 31 The value of the stolen certificates as being over or under $100 was in issue only as a determinant of whether the theft involved was a felony or a misdemeanor. Title 18, U.S.C., Section 659. Edwin Brown urges that the monetary value of the Sears certificates differs considerably from their face value. His position is that there was no jury question presented as to value, but that he was entitled to an affirmative charge that their value was less than $100. He advances two facts as supportive of his theory: (1) the shipment of certificates was insured for only $150, and (2) the certificates were unstamped. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, Glasser v. United States, 1942, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680, 704, we must determine if reasonable minds could conclude that the evidence is inconsistent with the hypothesis that the certificates' value was less than $100. See United States v. Warner, 5 Cir. 1971, 441 F.2d 821, 825, cert. denied, 404 U.S. 829, 92 S.Ct. 65, 30 L.Ed.2d 58. The value placed on the shipment for insurance is not determinative of the value question in this case, but is only a single factor to be assessed in weighing all of the evidence. Testimony was introduced indicating that the certificates were worth their face amount, whether they were stamped or unstamped. Several Sears' employees testified that the stamping procedure is merely a form of identification for accounting purposes, and that the certificates are negotiable at a Sears store with or without the stamp. Significantly, on August 9, 1974, the day that Mary and Phyllis Brown were arrested, the Sears store in Miami accepted $100 in unstamped certificates in exchange for merchandise. On the previous day, $1,200 in unstamped certificates were exchanged for merchandise. 32 Value may be proved by circumstantial evidence. United States v. Tyler, 5 Cir. 1973, 474 F.2d 1079. The certificates had a fixed value and a potential worth which greatly exceeded $100, persuasive evidence of their value. United States v. Tyler, supra. Moreover, the conduct of the parties indicated a belief that the certificates were fully negotiable. All reasonable inferences and credibility choices as will support the jury's verdict . . . must be made. United States v. Black, 5 Cir. 1974, 497 F.2d 1039, 1041. While the evidence was subject to conflicting inferences, we perceive that it was sufficient to sustain the jury's determination that the certificates were worth more than $100. 33 Edwin Brown finally argues that admission of his co-defendants' false exculpatory statements violated his rights under the Sixth Amendment. He urges that Bruton v. United States, 1968, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476, is controlling in this case and requires reversal. We do not agree that a Bruton question was presented. In Bruton, a co-defendant's confession directly inculpated the defendant, who had no opportunity to cross-examine the co-defendant when he failed to testify. The Supreme Court found the confession to be powerfully incriminating and devastating to the defendant. 391 U.S. at 135-36, 88 S.Ct. at 1628. Bruton does not require that all out of court confessions or statements by co-defendants be excluded. See United States v. Hicks, 5 Cir. 1975, 524 F.2d 1001. Only those should be excluded which directly inculpate the complaining co-defendants, as well as the declarant. United States v. Hicks, supra, 524 F.2d at 1003. 34 Edwin Brown claims that statements made by his co-defendants Mary and Phyllis Brown, in which they denied knowing him were unduly prejudicial and thus their admission violated the Bruton rule. He argues that the evidence against him was weak and that these false statements supplied the necessary direct nexus between him and his co-defendants. We disagree. The statements made by Mary and Phyllis Brown were by no means equivalent to confessions. Indeed, they were exculpatory, although apparently false at least in part. These statements, while perhaps indicative of consciousness of guilt on the part of Mary and Phyllis, did not at all reflect Edwin's guilt. Other evidence linked him to the co-defendants as well as to the stolen certificates. For example, the birth certificates alone demonstrated his relationship to his co-defendants. His fingerprints were found on two coupon books and on a certificate found in the Sears security room trash can. Of the utmost importance to the case against him was proof that he and Marion Williams were on duty as markers unloading the shipment of certificates. Since the statements by Mary and Phyllis did not inculpate Edwin Brown, we deem the connection between the statements and Edwin's culpability to be too remote to require reversal under Bruton. 35 Accordingly, we affirm appellant Edwin Brown's conviction. Appellant Mary Brown's conviction is reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent herewith. 36 REVERSED as to Mary C. Brown's appeal; 37 AFFIRMED as to Edwin Brown's appeal.