Opinion ID: 739344
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence Underlying the Kidnapping Conviction

Text: 10 Bancalari was convicted of kidnapping in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1). This provision reads: 11 (a) Whoever unlawfully seizes, confines, inveigles, decoys, kidnaps, abducts, or carries away and holds for ransom or reward or otherwise any person, except in the case of a minor by the parent thereof, when: 12 (1) the person is wilfully transported in interstate or foreign commerce; 13 ... 14 shall be punished by imprisonment for any term of years or for life. 15 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1). In convicting Bancalari, the Government was required to prove: (1) that Bancalari unlawfully restrained Muniz by kidnapping, seizing, or carrying her away; in order to obtain some ransom, reward, or other benefit; and (2) that Bancalari wilfully transported Muniz across a border in interstate or foreign commerce while so kidnapped. See id; United States v. Toledo, 985 F.2d 1462, 1467 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 878, 114 S.Ct. 218, 126 L.Ed.2d 174 (1993). 16 Bancalari argues that there was insufficient evidence for a rational jury to find that his kidnapping of Muniz was still in progress at the time that she and Bancalari crossed the border into Mexico. Because Bancalari moved under Fed.R.Crim.P. 29 for a judgment of acquittal at the close of evidence, he has preserved his right to test the sufficiency of the evidence against him here on appeal. United States v. Riggins, 40 F.3d 1055, 1057 (9th Cir.1994). Our review of his claim, however, is highly deferential to the jury's findings. United States v. Rubio-Villareal, 967 F.2d 294, 296 (9th Cir.1992) (en banc). There is sufficient evidence to support his conviction if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); United States v. Jones, 84 F.3d 1206, 1210 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 405, 136 L.Ed.2d 319 (1996). 17 In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we presume that all issues of witness credibility were resolved below in favor of the Government, and as such, are generally immune from appellate review. United States v. Garza, 980 F.2d 546, 552 (9th Cir.1992); United States v. Gordon, 844 F.2d 1397, 1405 (9th Cir.1988). Similarly, when we are faced with a record of historical facts that supports conflicting inferences [we] must presume--even if it does not affirmatively appear in the record--that the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the prosecution. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326, 99 S.Ct. at 2793. 18 The record manifests ample evidence upon which a rational jury could have found that Bancalari's unlawful kidnapping of Muniz continued at the time that Bancalari and Muniz had crossed the border into Mexico. The record shows that Bancalari dragged Muniz from Pittman's car, pushed her into his truck, and drove her past the Mexican border. Just after crossing into Mexico, Bancalari took out a gun, pointed it at Muniz's head, dry fired it, and showed Muniz the bullets with which he could in truth discharge his weapon. Testimony shows that he also threatened to have two men rape her, held her in Mexico without her consent, and failed to release her until she made a number of concessions. 19 The defense theory was that, although Muniz was apprehended against her will, she crossed over into Mexico not because she was being kidnapped, but because she did not want to be separated from her child. The defense's argument in this regard is based on a prior inconsistent statement that Muniz provided an investigator regarding her daughter while she was not under oath. She told Bancalari's investigator that she never thought that [Bancalari] had intentions of physically harming me, but I would never leave without my daughter.The essential issue is whether the kidnapping had terminated by the time they crossed the border. United States v. Toledo, 985 at 1467. The district court correctly instructed that 20 If Maria Elena Muniz was initially seized, kidnapped or carried away at some place in the United States but then voluntarily consented to accompany the defendant by the time they reached a foreign border, the defendant cannot be found guilty. 21 There was considerable evidence from which the jury could have found that the kidnapping continued at the time the Mexican border was crossed. There is no evidence that Muniz consented to being transported across the border, and strong evidence the involuntary kidnapping continued for some time after they crossed the border.