Court Opinion

ID: 3160776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-08 18:00:26.657787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:00:59.228369
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 _____________

                                      No. 15-1484
                                     _____________

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                             v.

                                       IVAN LEE,
                                             Appellant
                                     _____________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                              for the District of New Jersey
                            (Crim. No. 2-13-cr-00056-002)
                        District Judge: Hon. Susan D. Wigenton
                                     _____________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                  November 2, 2015
                                  ______________

     BEFORE: McKEE, Chief Judge, JORDAN, and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges.

                           (Opinion Filed: December 8, 2015)

                                     ______________

                                        OPINION*
                                     ______________

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
McKEE, Chief Judge.

         Ivan Lee was charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm in connection

with a crime of violence. Although he pled guilty to the carjacking, he denied use of a

firearm in connection with that crime and stood trial on those charges. The jury convicted

him of one count of use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, in violation

of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). He was thereafter sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 168

months. He now appeals his conviction and sentence. For the reasons that follow, we will

affirm.1

                                              I.

                                             A.

         Because we write for the parties who are familiar with the facts and procedural

history, we set forth only those facts necessary to our conclusion. During direct

examination, the government offered testimony from the victim, Fatimah Hamden, and

Detective Post. They testified about the circumstances under which Post showed Hamden

photographs of individuals. When Post showed her these images, Hamden told him that

she recognized one of the individuals in the photographs based on his eyes. However, on

cross examination, Hamden clarified that she never identified the defendants as the

perpetrators.

         The government then asked Post about the photographs shown to Hamden. Post

stated that he showed Hamden the photographs to give her “some closure.” On re-direct,

the government further probed Post: “when you played subsequent showings of

1
    We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 (2012).
                                              2
photographs to Miss Hamden, without telling us what she said, did she make indications

as it related to his eyes?” To which Post replied, “when she looked at [Lee], she identified

him through his eyes.”

       Lee contended these statements constituted an out-of-court identification, and he

moved for a mistrial on that basis. In the alternative, he requested that the district court

strike the identification statements from the record and provide a curative instruction. The

district court denied the motion for a mistrial based on its conclusion that there had not

been any identification. Nevertheless, the district court did strike the contested testimony

about the eyes of the person in the photograph, and the court gave a curative instruction.

       Lee now argues that Post’s decision to show Hamden his photograph and tell her

that the man pictured was the carjacker was an “impermissibly suggestive” identification

procedure. Indeed, had the government tried to submit as an identification Post’s decision

to show Hamden a photograph of Lee while telling her the man pictured was her attacker,

as Lee contends, we would agree that this raises due process concerns.

       However, that is not what happened. Post testified that he showed Hamden the

photograph to give her closure, not to solicit an identification, and the district court

credited that testimony. Post never asked Hamden to look at a photo array or lineup

because his past conversations with her—including one in which he showed her video

surveillance footage of Lee and Darby using her credit cards right after the carjacking —

established that she was “absolutely” unable to identify her attackers. Furthermore, the

government never attempted to paint Post’s display of the photographs to Hamden as an

identification. Instead, the government solicited testimony from Post clarifying that he

                                               3
had shown Hamden the photograph for the purposes of closure rather than identification.

Evidence of Detective Post’s decision to show Hamden a photograph of Lee “for closure”

was as irrelevant as it was odd. It was also unwise given the obvious risk of prejudice.

Indeed, it is difficult to view the government’s explanation for offering this evidence as

anything less than disingenuous given the tenuous relevance of the “closure” evidence

and the obvious need to establish the identity of the perpetrators. Nevertheless, the record

supports the district court’s finding that no identification occurred, and given the court’s

commendable caution in striking this troublesome testimony and giving a curative

instruction, there was no abuse of discretion.

       Thus, even if Hamden and Post’s statements did create confusion regarding

whether Hamden identified Lee, we still would not conclude that the district court abused

its discretion in denying a mistrial. The court struck the testimony2 and provided a

forceful curative instruction.3

2
  When analyzing whether a witness’s prejudicial statement necessitates a new trial, we
examine three factors: “(1) whether [the witness’s] remarks were pronounced and
persistent, creating a likelihood they would mislead and prejudice the jury; (2) the
strength of the other evidence; and (3) curative action taken by the district court.” United
States v. Riley, 621 F.3d 312, 336 (3d Cir. 2010) (alteration in original) (citing United
States v. Lore, 430 F.3d 190, 207 (3d Cir. 2005)), as amended (Oct. 21, 2010); United
States v. Suggs, 230 Fed. App’x. 175, 187 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Lore, 430 F.3d at 207).
A mistrial is not necessary where the improper remarks were harmless, “considering their
scope, their relation to the context of the trial, the ameliorative effect of any curative
instructions and the strength of the evidence supporting the conviction.” United States v.
Rivas, 493 F.3d 131, 140 (3d Cir. 2007). We review a denial of a motion for mistrial for
abuse of discretion. United States v. Franz, 772 F.3d 134, 151 n.20 (3d Cir. 2014).
3
  The court instructed the jury as follows:

       Neither victim in this case identified the defendant Ivan Lee at trial as the
       perpetrator of the charged offenses. In addition, neither victim at any time
                                              4
       In sum, we conclude that district court did not clearly error in finding that no out-

of-court identification occurred, nor did it abuse its discretion in declining to order a

mistrial on this basis.

                                              B.

       The district court permitted the government to introduce evidence that Lee and

Darby had used the shotgun together to commit robberies in the weeks before the

carjacking. The district court found that this evidence was admissible as intrinsic

evidence, and also admissible under Rule 404(b). Lee contends such evidence was neither

intrinsic nor properly admitted under 404(b). Instead, he argues it should have been

excluded under Rule 403. We review for abuse of discretion.4

       We need not address whether the evidence of Lee’s past robberies with the

shotgun was intrinsic, because it is clear that the district court did not abuse its discretion

in admitting such evidence under Rule 404(b).

       Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides:

       Evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not admissible to prove a
       person’s character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person
       acted in accordance with the character. . . . This evidence may be
       admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent,

       prior to this trial identified the defendant Ivan Lee as the perpetrator of the
       charged offenses. If you believe you have heard testimony at trial to the
       contrary, I direct you to disregard it and not to consider it in your
       deliberations.

The court further instructed the jury that it could not base its conclusions on evidence it
had been told to disregard.
4
  See United States v. Green, 617 F.3d 233, 239 (3d Cir. 2010).
                                               5
       preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of
       accident.5

To be admissible under Rule 404(b), evidence of uncharged crimes or wrongs must “(1)

have a proper evidentiary purpose; (2) be relevant; (3) satisfy Rule 403; and (4) be

accompanied by a limiting instruction (where requested) about the purpose for which the

jury may consider it.”6

       We take this opportunity to emphasize (yet again)7 the risks inherent in admitting

evidence of past bad acts. The tendency to assume that one who has engaged in criminal

conduct in the past is likely to be guilty of the charged offense is too obvious to require

citation. Indeed, the ease (and concomitant danger of) this inference drives Rule 404(b)’s

express command that evidence of past bad acts be admitted only if a proper relationship

between the prior bad act and subsequent charged criminal conduct is established.8

However, even when the strictures of Rule 404(b) are satisfied, potential for mischief and

unfair prejudice of suggesting criminal propensity remain. Accordingly, to ensure that

evidence offered under Rule 404(b) is put forth for a proper purpose only, the proponent

of such evidence must clearly articulate why the evidence establishes something other

than criminal propensity or bad character.9

5
  FED. R. EVID. 404(b).
6
  Green, 617 F.3d at 249 (citing United States v. Butch, 256 F.3d 171, 175 (3d Cir.
2001)).
7
  See United States v. Himmelwright, 42 F.3d 777 (3d Cir. 1994); United States v. Givan,
320 F.3d 452, 466 (3d Cir. 2003) (McKee, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part);
United States v. Morley, 199 F.3d 129, 133-34 (3d Cir. 1999); United States v. Jemal, 26
F.3d 1267, 1272 (3d Cir. 1994).
8
  See Green, 617 F.3d at 250; Morley, 199 F.3d at 134; Jemal, 26 F.3d at 1272.
9
  See Green, 617 F.3d at 250; Morley, 199 F.3d at 133-34; Jemal, 26 F.3d at 1272.
                                              6
        The evidence of Lee’s past robberies served a proper purpose and was highly

relevant to the conduct for which he was being tried. A proper purpose is one that is

“probative of a material issue other than character.”10 Knowledge, intent, and lack of

mistake or accident are well-established non-propensity purposes for admitting evidence

of prior crimes or acts.11 However, such evidence must fit “into a chain of logical

inferences, no link of which may be the inference that the defendant has the propensity to

commit the crime charged.”12 Evidence is relevant if “it has any tendency to make a fact

more or less probable than it would be without the evidence[,] and [] the fact is of

consequence in determining the action.”13 This definition is “very broad.”14

       The district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that evidence of Lee’s

past use of the shotgun was relevant for a proper purpose. The government presented

evidence that Darby and Lee had taken turns using the shotgun to rob drug dealers prior

to the carjacking. During these robberies, one would sit in a getaway car, while the other

threatened drug dealers with the gun. The district court found that Lee’s recent use of the

shotgun was directly relevant to his knowledge at the time of the charged carjacking as

well as his intent.

       We agree that this evidence tends to show Lee knew the shotgun would be present

during the carjacking. This evidentiary link “‘recognizes that a prior act involving the

10
   Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 686 (1988).
11
   See FED. R. EVID. 404(b).
12
   Green, 617 F.3d at 250 (quoting United States v. Himelwright, 42 F.3d 777, 782 (3d
Cir. 1994)).
13
   FED. R. EVID. 401.
14
   Green, 617 F.3d at 251 (quoting Gibson v. Mayor & Council of Wilmington, 355 F.3d
215, 232 (3d Cir. 2004)).
                                             7
same knowledge decreases the likelihood that the defendant lacked the requisite

knowledge in committing the charged offense.’”15 Thus, Lee’s prior use of the shotgun is

relevant for a proper purpose.16

       We also think that the evidence survives the Rule 403 balancing test because this

proper purpose outweighed the possible prejudice. Rule 403 requires a trial judge to

exclude relevant evidence if “its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger

of . . . unfair prejudice.”17 “The term ‘unfair prejudice,’ as to a criminal defendant, speaks

to the capacity of some concededly relevant evidence to lure the factfinder into declaring

guilt on a ground different from proof specific to the offense charged.”18 As the Supreme

Court has explained, “‘Although . . . ‘propensity evidence’ is relevant, the risk that a jury

will convict for crimes other than those charged—or that, uncertain of guilt, it will

convict anyway because a bad person deserves punishment—creates a prejudicial effect

that outweighs ordinary relevance.’”19 Thus, this rule requires courts to balance the

prejudicial impact of admissible evidence to ensure that its probative value outweighs the

15
   United States v. McGlothin, 705 F.3d 1254, 1263 (10th Cir. 2013) (quoting United
States v. Moran, 503 F.3d 1135, 1145 (10th Cir. 2007)) (prior acts of weapon possession
were relevant for the proper purpose of demonstrating the defendant knowingly
undertook the charged offense of firearm possession) cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 2406
(2013); see United States v. Boone, 279 F.3d 163, 187 (3d Cir. 2002).
16
   See Boone, 279 F.3d at 187.
17
   FED. R. EVID. 403.
18
   Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172, 180 (1997).
19
   Id. at 181 (alterations in original) (quoting United States v. Moccia, 681 F.2d 61, 63
(1st Cir. 1982)).
                                              8
risk of unfair prejudice. Such balancing is particularly important when evidence of bad

acts is being admitted under Rule 404(b).20

       The district court satisfied this important balancing requirement because its ruling

with respect to Rule 403 was neither “arbitrary [n]or irrational.”21 Lee’s knowledge was

critical. The government had to prove that Lee either carried the gun during the

carjacking or at least knew it would be present. The government had no proof of those

facts other than Darby’s testimony, and his testimony was subject to impeachment given

Darby’s admitted role in the offense and resulting motive to ingratiate himself to the

government. Moreover, in line with Rule 404(b), the district court issued a limiting

instruction to the jury.22 This instruction helped minimize the risk of unfair prejudice. For

these reasons, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the

challenged evidence under Rule 404(b).

                                              C.

                                              1.

       Lee also contends that the district court committed three separate errors in

sentencing. First, Lee argues that the trial court should have made the documentation

20
   See United States v. Givan, 320 F.3d 452, 471 (3d Cir. 2003) (McKee, J., concurring
in part, dissenting in part).
21
   United States v. Green, 617 F.3d 233, 252 (3d Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v.
Universal Rehab. Servs. (PA), Inc., 205 F.3d 657, 665 (3d Cir. 2000) (en banc) (internal
quotations omitted)).
22
   This instruction read: “You have heard testimony from Hanzah Darby that the
defendant committed bad acts prior to October 30th, 2011. This evidence of other acts
was admitted only for limited purposes. You may consider this evidence only for the
purposes of deciding whether the defendant had the state of mind, knowledge, or intent
necessary to commit the crime charged in the indictment in determining his relationship
with Hanzah Darby. Do not consider this evidence for any other purpose.”
                                              9
underlying his one-level loss enhancement available to him. Lee fails to cite any authority

requiring the district court to order disclosure of the documentation underlying the

presentencing report. In fact, in United States v. Ausburn,23 we rejected a similar

argument.

       Moreover, Lee has failed to provide any specific reason to doubt the accuracy of

the report’s loss figure. The district court reviewed the materials and explained that they

added nothing to what was already reported in the presentencing document. Accordingly,

Lee’s speculation that the materials might have helped him is baseless,24 and the district

court’s reliance on the report was not clearly erroneous.25

                                             2.

       Lee next argues that the district court erred when it refused to give him a

downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility. Pursuant to U.S. Sentencing

Guidelines Manual § 3E1.1, the district court may adjust a defendant’s offense level

where he or she “clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense.” A

defendant seeking an adjustment “bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of

the evidence that a reduction under this provision is warranted.”26 We review the district

23
   502 F.3d 313, 322-33 (3d Cir. 2007).
24
   See United States v. Kluger, 722 F.3d 549, 566 (3d Cir. 2013).
25
   See United States v. Jimenez, 513 F.3d 62, 86 (3d Cir. 2008) (reviewing the district
court’s loss calculation for clear error); United States v. Gibbs, 190 F.3d 188, 207 n.10
(3d Cir. 1999) (stating that the district court did not err in adopting a Post-Sentencing
Report where the defendant came forward with no evidence to rebut it); United States v.
McDowell, 888 F.2d 285, 290 n.1 (3d Cir. 1989) (explaining that the party challenging a
conclusion in the presentencing report has the “burden of production” and must “come
forward with evidence that tends to indicate that the report is incorrect or incomplete”).
26
   United States v. DeLeon-Rodriguez, 70 F.3d 764, 767 (3d Cir. 1995).
                                             10
court’s refusal to grant such an adjustment with “great deference,”27 only reversing if the

district court has committed clear error.28

       Lee argues that the district court erroneously concluded he was ineligible for this

reduction because he went to trial on one of the two counts. He then argues that he is both

eligible for, and deserving of, such a reduction because he pled guilty to the carjacking.

       Lee is correct that a district court may sometimes grant a reduction where the

defendant has pled guilty to one count, but gone to trial on other counts of an

indictment.29 However, Lee’s focus on the court’s authority to grant a downward

departure is beside the point because a sentencing court is not required to bestow this

benefit. We afford the district court’s decision to grant or withhold a downward

adjustment for acceptance of responsibility with “great deference on review.”30 Nothing

on this record suggests that the factual findings underlying the district court’s decision

not to grant the reduction were clearly erroneous.

       We must also reject Lee’s claim that the court’s failure to grant a downward

adjustment for acceptance of responsibility is tantamount to an unconstitutional

punishment for exercising his right to go to trial. Although the argument seems quite

logical, it is precluded by binding precedent. Numerous courts, including this one, have

explained that the § 3E1.1 adjustment is a benefit that courts can grant at their discretion

27
   U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 3E1.1 cmt. n.5.
28
   See United States v. Lessner, 498 F.3d 185, 199 (3d Cir. 2007) (reviewing the factual
findings underlying an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility for clear error).
29
   See United States v. Williams, 344 F.3d 365, 381 (3d Cir. 2003); United States v.
Cohen, 171 F.3d 796, 806 (3d Cir. 1999).
30
   U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 3E1.1 cmt. n.5.
                                              11
to defendants who accept responsibility, and that it does not amount to punishment for

exercising one’s right to go to trial.31

                                              3.

       Last, Lee argues that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to vary his

sentence on account of his prior incarceration for an unrelated offense. Lee was arrested

by the State of New Jersey on October 16, 2007, and was detained until he was acquitted

of that charge. He was involved in the carjacking at issue about two years after he was

acquitted. Lee now argues that the district court should have varied his sentence to

account for the time he was detained on a charge for which he was later acquitted.

Although the court clearly could have adjusted his sentence for that reason, it was not

required to do so and its election not to does not constitute grounds for relief.

                                              II.

       For the above reasons, we affirm Lee’s conviction and sentence.

31
  See Cohen, 171 F.3d at 805 (“Sentencing Guideline 3E1.1 creates an . . . incentive for
defendants to plead guilty, and under Corbitt [v. New Jersey, 439 U.S. 212 (1978)], this
incentive is constitutional.”); see also United States v. Saunders, 973 F.2d 1354, 1362-63
(7th Cir. 1992).
                                             12