Court Opinion

ID: 9459201
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:13:07.165547+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:03.619291
License: Public Domain

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL, Senior District Judge
(dissenting):
The record in this case convinces me that I must part company with my esteemed brothers and respectfully express my disagreement.
At the conclusion of the evidence, the defendant tendered the court an accomplice instruction similar to the one approved by this court in United States v. Battaglia, 394 F.2d 304, 313-314 (7th Cir. 1968). The district judge refused the instruction on the ground that the witness Ball was not an accomplice. An accomplice has been characterized as one who is associated with the commission of the crime charged in the indictment, one who aids or assists or is an accessory, and one who can himself be indicted for the principal offense. United States v. Balodimas, 177 F.2d 485, 487 (7th Cir. 1949); United States v. Holt, 427 F.2d 1114, 1117 (8th Cir. 1970). Unless the witness could be indicted or convicted of the identical offense for which the defendant is being prosecuted, the witness is not an accomplice. United States v. DeCicco, 424 F.2d 531, 532 (5th Cir. 1970). Although the question of whether one is an accomplice is generally committed to the jury, under appropriate circumstances it may be determined as a matter of law by the court. See United States v. Balodimas, 177 F.2d 485, 487 (7th Cir. 1949).
In the instant case, the witness Ball was not implicated as a principal or as an accessory in the specific offense (i. e., the sale from Wasko to Ball) for which the defendant Wasko was charged. Ball was not connected with any law enforcement agency, nor was he involved in any official attempt to investigate and arrest the defendant Wasko. He merely purchased LSD from the defendant and then in a separate transaction attempted to sell the drugs to Officer Green. There was no evidence suggesting that Wasko and Ball conspired in the sale of the drugs. Under these circumstances, I would hold as a matter of law that Ball was not an accomplice in the original sale of LSD; he was simply a purchaser.
It should also be observed in this regard that the concerns which prompted *1286the defendant to tender the instruction were largely satisfied through cross examination of the witness Ball and through the defendant’s closing argument to the jury. The district judge permitted wide latitude on cross examination. Defendant’s counsel was permitted to examine whether the witness Ball had received any benefits from the government in exchange for his testimony and whether the government had extended to him any immunity with respect to the charges then pending against him. The credibility of this witness was argued fully and forcefully to the jury.
The defendant also maintains that he was prejudiced and deprived of a fair trial by the prosecutor’s closing argument. Relying on United States v. Cotter, 425 F.2d 450 (1st Cir. 1970), it is claimed that the prosecutor improperly expressed a personal opinion as to the guilt of the defendant. Viewing the record as transcribed by the official court reporter, I conclude that although it was improper for the prosecutor to express a personal opinion regarding the defendant’s guilt, the evidence of guilt was overwhelming and thus the error must be considered harmless. There was direct testimony from the person who purchased the drugs from the defendant. Although the witness’ credibility was a critical factor in the case, it was for the jury to assess, and generally credibility determinations are not reviewable on appeal. United States v. Sangster, 442 F.2d 1289, 1293 (7th Cir. 1971). Moreover, the testimony offered by Randy Ball was corroborated to a certain extent by the testimony of witnesses Green and Rogowski. Because the evidence of guilt was so strong, I consider that the improper remark of the prosecutor constituted harmless error. Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U. S. 750, 764-765, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 90 L.Ed. 1557 (1946).
Thus, in my view the judgment of conviction should be affirmed.