Opinion ID: 403387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: effect of stipulation entered into under a mistake of law

Text: 9 At trial, defense counsel entered into a written stipulation that the means used to destroy Cutler's warehouse constituted an explosive within the meaning of § 844(i). 1 After Cutler's conviction this court held, in United States v. Gere, 662 F.2d 1291 (9th Cir. 1981), that a fire set for delayed ignition by the use of trailers was not an explosive within the meaning of § 844(i). Id. at 1295-96. Thus, the written stipulation entered into during the trial of this matter was based on an erroneous understanding of the law as interpreted by this court in Gere. 10 Cutler argues that it would be unconscionable to affirm his conviction on the explosives charge where it appears that his attorney was in error as to the legal effect of the facts upon which the stipulation was premised. We agree. It is our view that it would be manifest injustice to permit a conviction to stand where counsel have entered into a stipulation that certain facts established an element of the offense when, as a matter of law, assuming the truth of such facts, no crime was proved. See Marshall v. Emersons, Ltd., 593 F.2d 565, 568 (4th Cir. 1979). If we were to affirm this charge, Cutler would stand convicted of an offense which under Gere he did not commit. 11 Nothing we say here should be construed as a holding that defense counsel may escape the consequences of a stipulation solely because it was entered into without a full understanding of the law. We hold, instead, that upon an appeal from a criminal charge, an appellant may be relieved of a stipulation, when it would be manifestly unjust to uphold a conviction where, because of an intervening change in the law, there is insufficient evidence to establish the commission of a crime. 12 In the matter before us, without the stipulation, there is insufficient evidence to establish that an explosive was used as required under § 844(i). Accordingly, Cutler's conviction must be reversed on this charge.