Court Opinion

ID: 181314
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-12-17 17:46:21+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:52.744193
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                _____________

                                     No. 09-2467
                                    _____________

                           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                           v.

                 RAKAHN BURTON, a/k/a Rakhan Burton a/k/a Rak

                                    Rakahn Burton,
                                              Appellant
                                   _______________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                               (D.C. No. 07-cr-00640-001)
                      District Judge: Honorable Juan R. Sanchez
                                   _______________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 December 16, 2010

      Before: JORDAN, HARDIMAN and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.

                              (Filed: December 17, 2010)
                                   _______________

                              OPINION OF THE COURT
                                  _______________

JORDAN, Circuit Judge.

      On February 2, 2009, Rakahn Burton was found guilty of distribution of crack

cocaine and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Burton appeals his conviction on
numerous grounds. He asserts that the District Court erred by refusing to suppress

incriminating evidence seized during three separate searches, denying his motion to sever

the counts against him arising from his drug dealing activity in 2005 and 2007, and

permitting a narcotics expert to testify at his trial. We will affirm.

I.     Background

       A.     The Searches

       Burton asserts that drug evidence seized during three separate searches should be

suppressed since those searches were conducted without probable cause: the search of a

residence at 7545 Battersby Street in 2005; the search of a residence at 7209 Kindred

Street in 2007; and the search of an Oldsmobile car in 2007 which was located in the

driveway of the home in which Burton was arrested.

              i.     7545 Battersby Street

       In 2005, police officers searched 7545 Battersby Street pursuant to a warrant. An

officer with years of narcotics investigation experience executed the affidavit for the

search warrant for the Battersby residence and asserted that he believed evidence of

illegal drug dealing would be found in the home. The basis for that belief included the

following: the police received numerous anonymous complaints about drug activity at

7545 Battersby Street; narcotics officers observed individuals, including Burton, leave

the house momentarily on numerous occasions to drop off black bags to drivers parked in

front of the residence; when stopped for investigation, Burton gave a fictitious address

even though officers had observed him entering the home with a key; and a search of the

trash of the home had revealed various items consistent with the packaging and

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distribution of illegal drugs, including small plastic bags and a box for a digital scale

typically used by drug dealers. The search of the residence in fact did uncover illegal

drugs and drug paraphernalia. The District Court denied Burton’s motion to suppress that

evidence.

              ii.    7209 Kindred Street

       In 2007, police officers and agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”)

searched 7209 Kindred Street pursuant to a warrant. A DEA agent executed the affidavit

for the search warrant of the Kindred residence and asserted that he believed evidence of

illegal drug dealing would be found in the home because of the following: a DEA

confidential informant, who had been reliable in the past, identified Burton as a large

volume cocaine dealer and stated that Burton stored drugs at his girlfriend’s house and

that Tyree Barnwell helped Burton deal drugs; Burton’s girlfriend was observed entering

and leaving the Kindred residence; undercover DEA agents purchased cocaine from

Barnwell four times; Barnwell identified Burton as his partner and supplier of cocaine;

Barnwell stated that he had seen Burton cooking crack cocaine inside the Kindred

residence; and Barnwell admitted to picking up drugs from Burton at the Kindred

residence on nine separate occasions. A search of 7209 Kindred Street revealed evidence

that linked Burton to the distribution of crack cocaine. The District Court denied

Burton’s motion to suppress that evidence.

                                              3
              iii.   The Oldsmobile

       When officers arrested Burton in September, 2007 at a residence in Coatesville,

Pennsylvania, a white Oldsmobile was parked in the driveway of the home. Burton

stipulated to the District Court that the officers who executed the arrest warrant had

information that Burton and Barnwell used a white Oldsmobile to distribute crack

cocaine. The arresting officers searched the car and found two packets of crack cocaine.

The District Court denied Burton’s motion to suppress that evidence.

       B.     Joinder

       Burton was initially charged with two counts relating to his distribution of crack

cocaine in 2005. A superseding indictment added five charges against Burton and Tyree

Barnwell relating to distribution of crack cocaine in 2007. Barnwell pled guilty on

March 3, 2008. On March 13, 2008, Burton filed a motion pursuant to Federal Rules of

Criminal Procedure 8(a) and 14(a) to sever the new counts against him. The District

Court denied the motion, and Burton was tried on all counts of the superseding

indictment.

       C.     Admission of Expert Testimony

       Seven months before trial, the government stated in a hearing before the District

Court that it intended to call an expert witness on the use, production, and distribution of

crack cocaine. Later, two weeks before trial and after plea negotiations between Burton

and the government had ended unsuccessfully, the government formally disclosed to

Burton the name of its expert witness, Detective Andrew Callaghan, and the topics of his

anticipated testimony, as required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16. After

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receiving the disclosure, Burton filed a motion in limine to exclude Callaghan’s

testimony on four grounds: that it was inadmissible under Federal Rule of Evidence

(“FRE”) 702 because it would be unreliable and would not assist the jury in any

significant way; that it would be inadmissible under FRE 704(b) because it would address

Burton’s state of mind; that it would be inadmissible under FRE 403 because its

prejudicial effect outweighed its probative value; and that the government did not provide

adequate notice of its intent to call Callaghan as an expert witness. The District Court

permitted Callaghan to testify as an expert over Burton’s objections.

II.       Discussion1

          Burton argues that the District Court erred in denying his motions to suppress, his

motion to sever, and his motion in limine to exclude Callaghan’s testimony. We address

each contention in turn.

          A.     Motions to Suppress

          When reviewing a denial of a motion to suppress, “we review factual findings for

clear error and exercise plenary review over the District Court’s legal conclusions.”

United States v. Mundy, 621 F.3d 283, 287 (3d Cir. 2010). We adopt the well-reasoned

opinion of the District Court with regard to the suppression of evidence in this case, as all

three challenged searches were reasonable under the Fourth Amendment because they

were supported by probable cause. The corroboration of the anonymous tips and the

experienced officer’s reasonable belief that 7545 Battersby Street contained contraband

      1
    The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction
under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                                5
gave rise to probable cause sufficient to support issuance of the search warrant for that

residence. See Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-39 (1983) (holding that a “fair

probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place”

will justify a search and that confirmation of anonymous tips may give rise to probable

cause). The corroboration of the proven reliable DEA informant’s statements and the

experienced agent’s reasonable belief that the house at 7209 Kindred Street contained

contraband likewise gave rise to probable cause sufficient to support issuance of the

search warrant for that residence. See United States v. Whitner, 219 F.3d 289, 297 (3d

Cir. 2000) (“[A] number of … courts of appeals have held that evidence of involvement

in the drug trade is likely to be found where the dealers reside.”); United States v.

Singleton, 439 F.2d 381, 384 (3d Cir. 1971) (probable cause may be established by

verifying the tip of a previously reliable informant). As for the automobile search, since

the local officers who arrested Burton had probable cause to believe that contraband

would be found in the Oldsmobile, the warrantless search of that car was permissible.

See Arizona v. Gant, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 1721 (2009) (“If there is probable cause to believe a

vehicle contains evidence of criminal activity … a search of any area of the vehicle in

which the evidence might be found [is authorized].” (citing United States v. Ross, 456

U.S. 798, 820-21 (1982))).

       B.     Joinder

       We review the joinder of offenses de novo. United States v. Irizarry, 341 F.3d

273, 287 (3d Cir. 2003). The counts against Burton were properly joined. Rule 8 of the

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure governs joinder of offenses and defendants in a

                                              6
criminal prosecution. Both parties acknowledge that Rule 8(a) provides the proper

standard to analyze joinder of the counts in this case. That rule provides that a defendant

may be charged with two or more offenses if the offenses “are of the same or similar

character, or are based on the same act or transaction, or are connected with or constitute

parts of a common scheme or plan.” Burton’s acts in 2005 concerned distribution of

crack cocaine and so did his acts in 2007. At a minimum, those acts were of the same or

similar character, as required for joinder under Rule 8(a).

       Likewise, Rule 14 does not prevent joinder of the offenses against Burton. Rule

14 requires a defendant to show that the prejudice from joinder was “clear and

substantial.” See United States v. McGlory, 968 F.2d 309, 340 (3d Cir. 1992). Burton

has not shown, and the record does not support a conclusion of, any such prejudice in this

case. Evidence of Burton’s activities in 2005 likely would have been admissible under

Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) to prove intent, knowledge, and absence of mistake for

his drug activities in 2007, and vice versa. See United States v. Boone, 279 F.3d 163, 187

(3d Cir. 2002). Moreover, a jury instruction was given directing the jury to consider each

count and offense separately.2 Because the evidence of one set of crimes was likely

admissible in a prosecution for the other and the jury was instructed to consider each

count separately, we conclude that Burton was not substantially prejudiced by the joinder

of offenses against him.

   2
     It is an “almost invariable assumption of the law that jurors follow their
instructions.” Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 206 (1987) (citing Francis v.
Franklin, 471 U.S. 307, 325 (1985)).

                                             7
       C.     Admission of Expert Testimony

       We review a District Court’s decision on the admissibility of expert testimony for

abuse of discretion.3 Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 152 (1999). “The

Rules of Evidence embody a strong preference for admitting any evidence that may assist

the trier of fact.” Pineda v. Ford Motor Co., 520 F.3d 237, 243 (3d Cir. 2008).

Therefore, “[w]e will not interfere with the district court’s decision unless there is a

definite and firm conviction that the court below committed a clear error of judgment in

the conclusion it reached upon a weighing of the relevant factors.” Id. (internal citation

and quotation marks omitted). Burton argues that the District Court erred under FRE

702, FRE 704(b), and FRE 403 by permitting Detective Callaghan to testify at his trial as

a narcotics expert, and further erred under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16

because there was inadequate notice regarding the government’s intent to call Callaghan

as a witness. We see no reason to disturb the District Court’s finding that Detective

Callaghan’s testimony was admissible.

              i.      FRE 702

        “Rule 702 has three major requirements: (1) the proffered witness must be an

expert, i.e., must be qualified; (2) the expert must testify about matters requiring

scientific, technical or specialized knowledge [, i.e., reliability]; and (3) the expert’s

testimony must assist the trier of fact [, i.e., fit].” United States v. Schiff, 602 F.3d 152,

   3
     “An abuse of discretion arises when the District Court’s decision rests upon a clearly
erroneous finding of fact, an errant conclusion of law or an improper application of law to
fact.” Pineda, 520 F.3d at 243 (internal citation and quotation marks omitted).

                                               8
172 (3d Cir. 2010) (quoting Pineda, 520 F.3d at 244) (internal quotations omitted). “It is

well established that experts may describe, in general and factual terms, the common

practices of drug dealers.” United States v. Watson, 260 F.3d 301, 309 (3d Cir. 2001).

Furthermore, “the operations of narcotics dealers have repeatedly been found to be a

suitable topic for expert testimony because they are not within the common knowledge of

the average juror.” Id. at 307 (citing United States v. Theodoropoulos, 866 F.2d 587,

590-92. (3d Cir. 1989)). In this case, Callaghan’s twenty years of experience as a

narcotics officer qualified him to testify as an expert on narcotics, his testimony was

reliably based on that experience, and his testimony assisted the jury to understand

aspects of the drug trade outside the purview of a lay juror. See Kumho Tire, 526 U.S. at

141-42, 147-49 (1999). The District Court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that

Callaghan’s testimony met the requirements of Rule 702.

              ii.    FRE 704(b)

       Nor did the Court err in deciding that Detective Callaghan’s testimony was

consistent with Rule 704(b). Under FRE 704(b), no expert witness “testifying with

respect to the mental state or condition of a defendant in a criminal case may state an

opinion or inference as to whether the defendant did or did not have the mental state or

condition constituting an element of the crime charged or of a defense thereto.” Fed. R.

Evid. 704(b). Callaghan’s testimony did not cross that line. Instead, Callaghan described

the relevance of the drug evidence admitted in the case. Callaghan’s testimony simply

supported the inference that the evidence admitted in the case was indicative of someone

                                             9
who distributed crack cocaine. See Watson, 260 F.3d at 307-8. Hence, the testimony did

not violate Rule 704(b). See United States v. Davis, 397 F.3d 173, 179 (3d Cir. 2005).

                 iii.   FRE 403

       Callaghan’s testimony also did not violate Rule 403, because the probative value

of the testimony was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. “A

district court’s ruling under Rule 403 may be reversed only if it is arbitrary or irrational.”

United States v. Lee, 612 F.3d 170, 185 (3d Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and

citation omitted). As already noted, Detective Callaghan’s testimony was helpful to

explain the meaning and relevance of the drug evidence in the case against Burton. The

testimony elicited the “inferential step” that certain items, some seemingly innocuous,

were typically used by a person who distributed drugs. Id. The testimony may have been

prejudicial to him, of course, but only in the permissible way that any evidence indicative

of guilt is to any defendant. It certainly was not unfairly prejudicial. See id. The District

Court’s decision that the testimony would be admissible under Rule 403 was not arbitrary

or irrational.

                 iv.    Adequate Notice

       The District Court did not abuse its discretion by permitting Detective Callaghan

to testify when Burton received notice two weeks before trial that the government

intended to call Callaghan as a witness. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16 requires

the government to give the defendant a “written summary” of any expert testimony, at the

                                              10
defendant’s request.4 The government complied with the requirements of the rule by

sending an appropriate “written summary” to Burton’s counsel. Burton’s argument that

he was prejudiced by the timing of the government’s written disclosure is unavailing on

this record. He was aware for months before trial of the government’s intention to call an

expert on narcotics and of the subject of that expert’s testimony. There was no bad faith

or inordinate delay that we can discern from the government’s interaction with Burton.

The government’s formal written notice under Rule 16 was sent in early January, 2009,

promptly after it learned that an expert would indeed be needed for a trial. On these

facts, we cannot conclude that the District Court abused its discretion by admitting the

expert testimony of Detective Callaghan.

III.   Conclusion

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of conviction.

   4
     The required disclosure under Rule 16 is not an automatic obligation on the
government; it arises only upon request of a defendant. Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a)(1)(G) (“At
the defendant’s request, the government must give to the defendant a written summary of
any testimony that the government intends to use under Rules 702, 703, or 705 of the
Federal Rules of Evidence during its case-in-chief at trial.”).

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