Court Opinion

ID: 4106018
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-09 17:01:04.735285+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:32.973718
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             For the Eighth Circuit
                         ___________________________

                                 No. 16-1711
                         ___________________________

                              United States of America

                         lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee

                                            v.

                               Sean Gerald Penoncello

                       lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
                                       ____________

                     Appeal from United States District Court
                      for the District of Minnesota - St. Paul
                                  ____________

                            Submitted: December 7, 2016
                              Filed: December 9, 2016
                                   [Unpublished]
                                   ____________

Before SMITH, BOWMAN, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
                          ____________

PER CURIAM.

       Sean Penoncello directly appeals the district court’s1 judgment entered after a
jury found him guilty of producing and possessing child pornography, in violation of

      1
      The Honorable Patrick J. Schiltz, United States District Judge for the District
of Minnesota.
18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a) & (e) and 2252(a)(4)(B) & (b)(2). Penoncello’s counsel has
filed a brief filed under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), challenging (1) the
sufficiency of the evidence, (2) the admission of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
404(b) evidence, (3) the government’s alleged intimidation of an alibi witness, and (4)
the reasonableness of Penoncello’s sentence. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       This court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence in the light most favorable
to the government, resolving evidentiary conflicts in favor of the government, and
accepting all reasonable inferences that support the jury’s verdict. See United States
v. Birdine, 515 F.3d 842, 844 (8th Cir. 2008). The evidence introduced at trial was
ample to support the jury’s verdict, notwithstanding Penoncello’s argument that law
enforcement officials should have attempted to find DNA or fingerprint evidence on
two thumb drives found hidden in a dryer vent during a search of his residence. See
United States v. Manning, 738 F.3d 937, 945-46 (8th Cir.) (possession conviction),
cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 149 (2014); United States v. Coutentos, 651 F.3d 809, 823 (8th
Cir. 2011) (production conviction). In addition, we find no abuse of discretion in the
district court’s admission of Rule 404(b) evidence that was not unduly prejudicial, and
that was probative of Penoncello’s ownership and use of the thumb drives. See United
States v. Grant, 721 F.3d 505, 509 (8th Cir. 2013) (reviewing admission of Rule
404(b) evidence for abuse of discretion, and noting that court will reverse only when
evidence had no bearing on case and was introduced solely to show defendant’s
propensity to engage in criminal misconduct). We further see no evidence that the
government violated Penoncello’s right to due process by interfering with any defense
witness’s choice to testify. Cf. United States v. Henricksen, 564 F.2d 197, 198 (7th
Cir. 1977) (per curiam) (substantial government interference with defense witness’s
free and unhampered choice to testify violates due process). We conclude, as well,
that Penoncello’s 400-month prison sentence is not unreasonable. See United States
v. Young, 644 F.3d 757, 762 (8th Cir. 2011) (standard of review).

                                          -2-
        In a pro se supplemental brief, Penoncello argues that his counsel rendered
ineffective assistance. That argument is not appropriate for consideration, however,
in this direct appeal. See United States v. Looking Cloud, 419 F.3d 781, 788-89 (8th
Cir. 2005). Finally, having reviewed the record independently under Penson v. Ohio,
488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988), we have found no nonfrivolous issues.

      The judgment is affirmed, and counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted.
                      ______________________________

                                        -3-