Opinion ID: 389313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Defendant's Motion for Mistrial

Text: 37 In the pretrial suppression hearing defendant challenged the admissibility of the evidence seized from Klinger on the theory that the search violated § 3109. On the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing the District Judge ruled sua sponte that defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the house on Klinger, so lacked standing to challenge the legality of the search under Rakas v. Illinois, supra. Defendant did not ask for reconsideration of this ruling at any time before trial. 6 38 As the Government introduced its evidence at trial, it became clear that its case depended in part on the theory that defendant had the use of one bedroom of his mother's house. In support the Government introduced several receipts addressed to defendant at Klinger along with other items seized from Klinger that allegedly belonged to defendant. Defendant made no objection to the testimony identifying the Government's exhibits until they were all before the jury, although he had a list of proposed exhibits before trial. Defendant then objected to their admission on the ground that the evidence showed that defendant had an expectation of privacy in the bedroom on Klinger, and so had standing to challenge the search. The trial judge agreed that on the record then before him that defendant did have standing. Because he earlier found that defendant lacked standing the judge had never decided whether the warrant was executed in a lawful manner. The judge and the attorneys for defendant and the Government entered into a discussion about the proper procedure to follow. The judge suggested that he reserve a ruling on the admissibility of this evidence until the close of all proofs. Defendant's counsel not only agreed, but argued in favor of this procedure. Delaying the decision until the close of proofs enabled defendant to present to the jury the testimony of his mother and a family friend, both of whom were inside the Klinger home when the DEA agents entered. They were sympathetic witnesses whose testimony was favorable to defendant. 39 After the close of all of the evidence the District Judge ruled that the search warrant was improperly executed in that the agents failed to announce their purpose to the occupants of the house and that the evidence seized from Klinger was therefore not admissible. He instructed the jury to disregard that evidence. Defendant moved for a mistrial on the ground that having the evidence before the jury during the trial so prejudiced him as to deny him a fair trial. The District Judge denied the motion, pointing out that it was largely because of defendant's deliberate choice that the evidence remained before the jury. 40 Our consideration of the record convinces us that defendant's counsel made a tactical decision that defendant would be helped more than hurt by postponing a decision on the admissibility of the evidence from Klinger until after all the evidence was in. Defendant, therefore, waived any objection to the fact that the evidence remained before the jury during trial, and cannot now predicate a motion for mistrial on any supposed prejudice that resulted. See United States v. Sanders, 462 F.2d 122, 124 (6th Cir. 1972). 41 Defendant also claims that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. The only supporting evidence is that at one point in the trial the judge asked counsel to keep his temper when counsel became overzealous in his efforts to persuade the judge to reconsider his refusal to excuse the jury so a record could be made on a question that had already been asked and answered. Whether this is viewed as evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel, or more properly as a claim that the judge's attitude denied defendant the right to counsel, defendant's claim is baseless.