Opinion ID: 790646
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Instruction A

Text: 12 Ellerman contends that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to give his offered instruction A regarding multiple conspiracies. According to Ellerman, if the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was involved in a conspiracy that lasted from April 1998 through July 2002, the jury must acquit. Ellerman maintains that the actual conspiracy began at the earliest in 2000 and with only few isolated events to 2002. We review for abuse of discretion an accused's challenge to a court's refusal to give a specifically worded theory of defense instruction. United States v. Gonzales, 90 F.3d 1363, 1371 (8th Cir.1996). 13 Ellerman argues for the existence of two separate conspiracies — one conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from 1998 to 1999 and another to distribute larger amounts of methamphetamine from 2000 to 2002. Ellerman cites United States v. England, 966 F.2d 403, 406 (8th Cir.1992) for support. But England only indicates that the existence of multiple conspiracies is a fact question for the jury. The critical issue is, can a reasonable jury conclude a single conspiracy existed? 14 Ellerman is entitled to a theory of defense instruction if a timely request is made, the evidence supports the proffered instruction, and the instruction correctly states the law. United States v. Risch, 87 F.3d 240, 242 (8th Cir.1996) (citing United States v. Cheatham, 899 F.2d 747, 751 (8th Cir.1990)). The district court evaluates the adequacy of instructions by reviewing them as a whole. United States v. McQuarry, 726 F.2d 401, 402 (8th Cir.1984) (per curiam). 15 According to the evidence, during a search of Burns's residence in 1998, police found an address book with the name Lonzo and a phone number. Neustel was introduced to Ellerman in the summer of 1998. Sometime later, Neustel began observing methamphetamine transactions between Burns and Ellerman. Neustel supplied Ellerman and Ellerman had a long-standing relationship with Bums to move a large quantities of methamphetamine for Burns. In exchange, Ellerman received a lower price for methamphetamine supplies. While the evidence is somewhat unclear as to the dates of Ellerman's involvement, we must consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature of the activities involved, the location where the alleged events of the conspiracy took place, the identity of the conspirators involved, and the time frame in which the acts occurred. United States v. McCarthy, 97 F.3d 1562, 1571 (8th Cir.1996). Given the evidence before the trial court, we cannot say there was an abuse of discretion for not giving a multiple conspiracy instruction. No reasonable jury would conclude that two conspiracies existed.