Opinion ID: 337643
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: escamilla.

Text: 47 Bernard Escamilla was charged with robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was acquitted by a jury of these charges but found guilty of the lesser included offense of simple assault. 48 The facts leading to Escamilla's arrest and conviction can be briefly stated. On March 11, 1973, two local ranchers, named Charles Merrill and Louis Hanson, were stopped at a roadblock outside of Wounded Knee, South Dakota. They were ordered to get out of their truck by an armed man, later identified as appellant Escamilla. They were searched and the weapons carried in their truck were confiscated by Escamilla. They were then driven into Wounded Knee by Escamilla and led into a building known as the Museum. Merrill and Hanson were ordered to empty their pockets, were tied to a chair and subsequently released. 49 Escamilla asserts that the trial judge erred in failing to recuse himself. We denied the appellant's petition for mandamus on this issue, Richard McArthur, et al. v. Bogue, No. 75-1299 (8th Cir. April 29, 1975), and the Supreme Court denied certiorari on May 12, 1975, Escamilla v. Bogue, 421 U.S. 968, 95 S.Ct. 1960, 44 L.Ed.2d 456 (1975). 50 We consider this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 455 and 28 U.S.C. § 144. Section 455 states: 51 Any justice or judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any case in which he has a substantial interest, has been of counsel, is or has been a material witness, or is so related to or connected with any party or his attorney as to render it improper, in his opinion, for him to sit on the trial, appeal or other proceeding therein. 17 Section 144 states in part: 52 Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding. 53 Judge Bogue properly took the appellant's affidavits under advisement to determine whether the facts alleged give fair support to the charge of bias and prejudice. Pfizer v. Lord, 456 F.2d 532, 537 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 406 U.S. 976, 92 S.Ct. 2411, 32 L.Ed.2d 676 (1972). He determined they did not and promptly denied the motion. It is our duty on appeal to independently ascertain whether Escamilla's charges of bias and prejudice are legally sufficient to give fair support to the charge of a bent of mind that may prevent or impede impartiality of judgment. Berger v. United States, 255 U.S. 22, 33-34, 41 S.Ct. 230, 233, 65 L.Ed. 481, 485 (1921). For the purpose of determining the validity of Escamilla's allegations, we accept the truth of the facts recited in his affidavits. United States v. Trevithick, 526 F.2d 838 (8th Cir. 1976); Parrish v. Board of Com'rs of Alabama State Bar, 524 F.2d 98 (5th Cir. 1975) (en banc). 54 Escamilla asserts that Judge Bogue should have recused himself because: 55 (1) Judge Bogue recused himself in the case of Russell Means and Dennis Banks, which also arose out of incidents at Wounded Knee; 56 (2) Judge Bogue made derogatory comments about certain Indian spectators at an earlier civil trial; 57 (3) Judge Bogue made derogatory comments about certain members of AIM during a criminal trial which took place during the incident at Wounded Knee; 58 (4) Judge Bogue has made rulings in other criminal prosecutions arising out of Wounded Knee that one of Escamilla's attorneys alleges were improper; 59 (5) Judge Bogue failed to grant temporary injunctive relief sought by the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization during the time of the incident at Wounded Knee; and 60 (6) Judge Bogue recused himself in an earlier criminal case concerning certain land located in the Black Hills in which he may have had a financial interest. 61 None of these allegations indicate that Judge Bogue possessed a personal bias or prejudice against Escamilla or the issues raised in his case. As to the first ground, the fact that Judge Bogue may have felt some prejudice against Means and Banks is not a basis in and of itself to show that he was prejudiced against Escamilla. The second and third grounds, which relate to comments made about Indian spectators and AIM do not indicate bias by Judge Bogue against Indians generally, members of AIM generally or this appellant specifically. As to the fourth ground, this relates to charges of one of Escamilla's attorneys that on certain occasions in 1973, Judge Bogue excluded the public from certain court proceedings so as to impair counsel's ability to represent his clients. Again, there is no allegation that Escamilla was involved in these proceedings in any way. As to the fifth ground, this relates to rulings in a civil matter during the incident at Wounded Knee where Judge Bogue denied certain relief sought by some of those involved in Wounded Knee, and there is no allegation that Escamilla was involved in this matter at all. As to the sixth ground, there is no allegation in this case that Judge Bogue has any potential financial interest in appellant Escamilla's case. 62 Finding no personal bias or prejudice in this record by Judge Bogue against Escamilla, we affirm his decision denying the motion for recusal. 63 Escamilla also contends that the trial judge prejudicially limited his right to confrontation by restricting his cross-examination of Merrill and Hanson. The defense counsel attempted to show the bias of these witnesses by questioning them about their attitude towards the occupants of Wounded Knee and of any actions they may have taken against the American Indian Movement or its supporters. The trial judge allowed cross-examination about their attitudes prior to the roadblock incident on March 11, 1973, but refused to allow questions or evidence as to the possible activities of Merrill and Hanson occurring after March 11, 1973, as it might pertain to their prejudice towards AIM or its followers. 64 The trial court has wide discretion as to materiality and relevancy. The exercise of this discretion in limiting cross-examination will not be reversed unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion coupled with a showing of prejudice to the appellant. United States v. Brown, 482 F.2d 1226, 1229 (8th Cir. 1973); United States v. Cole, 449 F.2d 194, 199 (8th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 931, 92 S.Ct. 991, 30 L.Ed.2d 806 (1972); United States v. Bensinger Co., 430 F.2d 584, 591 (8th Cir. 1970). 65 The trial court allowed extensive cross-examination of these witnesses as to the identification of the appellant, their attitudes toward the occupation of Wounded Knee and of the general credibility of their testimony. We do not find prejudice or reversible error in the refusal to allow cross-examination into the actions subsequent to March 11, 1973, by these witnesses either in support of or in opposition to the American Indian Movement. 66 Escamilla asserts that there was insufficient identification evidence. The record indicates that the sole witness identifying Escamilla was Charles Merrill. He initially identified the appellant from a group of police photographs within hours after he was released from Wounded Knee on March 11, 1973, and he subsequently identified the appellant from a second group of photos. Merrill also identified Escamilla at trial. 67 It is well established that the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness may be sufficient to sustain a conviction. Neil v. Biggers,409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972); United States v. Montgomery, 503 F.2d 55, 57 (8th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 910, 95 S.Ct. 830, 42 L.Ed.2d 839 (1975); United States v. Cole, supra at 197. Our review of the record indicates that there was sufficient identification testimony to go to the jury. The factual disputes between Merrill and the defense witness as to the identity of the person who assaulted him was properly a subject for the jury. See United States v. May, 419 F.2d 553 (8th Cir. 1969). We also find no reversible error in the manner of photographic identification of Escamilla by Merrill. 68 Escamilla also asserts error in the trial judge's refusal to give proposed instructions on identification. Escamilla suggested that two specific identification instructions be given. Proposed Instruction No. 3 states: 69 Identification may be made through the perception of any of the witness's senses, and it is not essential that the witness himself be free from doubt as to the correctness of his opinion. The identification testimony may be treated as a statement of fact by the witness: (1) if the witness had the opportunity to observe the accused; (2) if the witness is positive in his identification; (3) if the witness' identification testimony is not weakened by prior failure to identify or by prior inconsistent identification; and (4) if, after cross-examination, his testimony remains positive and unqualified. In the absence of any of these four conditions, however, the witness' testimony as to identity must be received with caution and scrutinized with care. The burden of proof on the prosecution extends to every element of the crime charged, including the burden of providing beyond a reasonable doubt the identity of the defendant as the perpetrator of the crime for which he stands charged. Proposed Instruction No. 6 states: 70 A reasonable doubt may arise from the circumstances under which Merrill previously identified the defendant from photographs, such as the fact, if you so find, that his descriptions of the perpetrator varied from time to time or varied from defendant's actual appearance, or from the fact that he on one or more occasions described the perpetrator as an Indian and on one or more other occasions as a Mexican, or from the fact that he identified some photographs of defendant but failed to identify others. 71 The trial court gave the following instruction on identification: 72 One of the most important issues in this case is the identification of the defendant as the perpetrator of the crime. The defendant has the burden of proving identity, beyond a reasonable doubt. It is not essential that the witness himself be free from doubt as to the correctness of his statement. However, you, the jury, must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the accuracy of the identification of the defendant before you may convict him. If you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the person who committed the crime, you must find the defendant not guilty. 18 73 The trial court also gave the following instruction on credibility of a witness's testimony: 74 You should carefully study all the testimony given, the circumstances under which each witness has testified, and every matter in evidence which tends to show whether a witness is worthy of belief. Consider each witness's ability to observe the matters as to which he has testified and whether each witness is either supported or contradicted by other evidence in the case. 75 Appellant's Proposed Instruction No. 3 is based upon the suggested instruction set forth in United States v. Barber, 442 F.2d 517, 528 (3rd Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 958, 92 S.Ct. 327, 30 L.Ed.2d 275 (1972). This proposed instruction was used as a basis for the model identification instruction for the courts in the District of Columbia, set forth in United States v. Telfaire, 152 U.S.App.D.C. 146, 469 F.2d 552, 558-559 (1972). The Fourth Circuit in United States v. Holley, 502 F.2d 273 (4th Cir. 1974), and the Seventh Circuit in United States v. Hodges, 515 F.2d 650 (7th Cir. 1975), have adopted the Telfaire model instruction or its substantial equivalent in cases where there is no evidence of identification except eyewitness testimony. 76 We have previously considered the Telfaire instruction and have found much to commend it in those cases in which eyewitness identification is essential to support a conviction. United States v. Roundtree, 527 F.2d 16, 19 (8th Cir. 1975). However, we do not find today that the failure of the trial court to give appellant's Proposed Instructions Nos. 3 and 6 constitutes reversible error. The trial court gave a specific instruction on identification that alerted the jury to the crucial nature of that issue in this case, and properly instructed them that they must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the accuracy of the identification of the defendant before you may convict him. The jury was also given a careful instruction on the credibility of witnesses. 77 The factual situation in this case also differs in important respects with those in Holley and Hodges. In Holley, the sole eyewitness who identified the defendant had earlier failed to select him out of a group of photographs and was finally able to identify him only under very suspect circumstances. In Hodges, the trial judge did not give a special identification instruction at all, although the principal issue in that case appears to have been one of identification. Here, we have a clear and positive identification of appellant by Merrill within several hours after the roadblock incident as well as a subsequent photograph identification and an in-court identification of Escamilla while he was seated in the spectator section of the court from among a number of similar looking persons. The trial judge here did give a special identification instruction along with a credibility instruction. 78 We remain, however, deeply concerned with the inherent fallibility of eyewitness identification and the great injustice that can arise from misidentification. See Biggers v. Tennessee, 390 U.S. 404, 88 S.Ct. 979, 19 L.Ed.2d 1267 (1968); Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968); Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967). Although we do not specifically adopt the Telfaire model instruction today, we will view with grave concern the failure to give specific and detailed instructions on identification in future cases where identification of the defendant is based solely or substantially on eyewitness testimony. 79 Finally, Escamilla asserts that the prosecutor made prejudicial remarks in his rebuttal argument. Our review of the record indicates that these remarks, read in context, were neither unfair nor prejudicial. 80 For the reasons stated above, we affirm the conviction of appellant Escamilla. 81