Opinion ID: 491580
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: fenton sellers' guilty plea

Text: 17 Appellant's next assertion of error concerns the district court's denial of his motion to introduce co-defendant Fenton Sellers' guilty plea into evidence. Massell's central defense was that he did not know about the secret compartment aboard the Navesink, and that Sellers was wholly responsible for hiding the narcotics. He argues that Sellers' guilty plea tended to prove this theory, therefore, the court should have presented it to the jury. 18 A defendant is entitled to prove his innocence by showing that someone else committed the crime. United States v. Brannon, 616 F.2d 413, 418 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 908, 100 S.Ct. 2993, 64 L.Ed.2d 858 (1980). However, in this case, the lower court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellant's motion. The guilty plea would not have indicated that appellant was innocent. Sellers had assumed no responsibility for the modifications of the boat that created the hidden compartment in the keel. More importantly, however, Sellers also pled guilty to conspiracy to import a controlled substance, along with conspiracy while on board a United States vessel to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Therefore, Sellers' plea was more likely to incriminate than exonerate Massell. Of course, Massell might have attempted to call Sellers as a witness; however, the government would then have cross-examined Sellers and asked him about Massell's actions in these crimes. Evidently, Massell thought this would not benefit his defense.