Opinion ID: 2995304
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: At the conclusion of the government’s case in chief and also at the conclusion of the trial, Bogan moved for judgement of acquittal, contending that the evidence was insufficient to establish his guilt. Bogan renews his argument here. A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction poses a nearly insurmountable burden. United States v. Frazier, 213 F.3d 409, 415 (7th Cir. 2000). When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we view the evidence and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from it in the light most favorable to the government. Id. Only where the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may an appellate court overturn the verdict. United States v. Lundy, 809 F.2d 392, 396 (7th Cir. 1987). Bogan’s argument fails before it can get off the ground. Bogan contends that so many varying stories were presented to the jury regarding the altercation . . . that no reasonable juror could have concluded from the evidence that Bogan forcibly assaulted Degenhardt through the use of deadly or dangerous weapons. Bogan points out that another inmate, Miquel Jackson, also allegedly witnessed the altercation and testified that he never saw Bogan strike Degenhardt with a weapon, contrary to Degenhardt’s and Hilpipre’s testimony. Obviously this is a credibility determination, which is solely within the province of the jury. United States v. Jefferson, 252 F.3d 937, 942 (7th Cir. 2001); United States v. Pulido, 69 F.3d 192, 205 (7th Cir. 1995). In this case overwhelming evidence existed linking Bogan to the attack. Degenhardt testified that Bogan threw him to the floor and violently assaulted him when he was down. Degenhardt’s testimony was corroborated by the testimony of an inmate who observed the attack from ten feet away, Hilpipre. Furthermore, both Degenhardt’s and Hilpipre’s testimony was corroborated by the physical evidence found by the investigators, which included a broken iron found in the officer station, Bogan’s t-shirt covered with Degenhardt’s (DNA identified) blood found in a trash can shortly after the incident, and Calhoun’s broken wrist band and watch found in the officer station. There is more than sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict, and Bogan’s argument that this evidence is insufficient is without merit.