Court Opinion

ID: 9466424
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:15:09.277177+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:43.281330
License: Public Domain

MERRITT, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur in Judge Celebrezze’s opinion for the Court. But on two points my reasoning would be slightly different in emphasis.
With respect to the prosecutor’s opening remarks about the other robbery, I agree that this evidence should have been admitted under Rule 404(b) as evidence of “other crimes, wrongs or acts” for the purpose of proving identity. Except on the ski slopes, not many people walk around with goggles, a ski mask and a jumpsuit on. Although it is not unusual for a bank robber to attempt *641to conceal his identity by using a hood, bandana or ski mask, the combination of goggles, ski mask and jumpsuit is sufficiently distinctive and unusual to meet the “signature” requirement which this Court has adopted. United States v. Phillips, 599 F.2d 134, 136-37 (6th Cir. 1979). Since the evidence was admissible, I do not think that the District Court had “discretion” to exclude it. Since the evidence should have been admitted, I do not think the prosecutor’s opening statement referring to the evidence was improper.
Likewise, I think the .32 and .38 caliber pistols and the sawed-off shotgun should have been admitted. There was evidence that the robbers used a .32 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber pistol and a sawed-off shotgun in the robbery of the bank. The fact that these weapons plus a jumpsuit were found during a search of Underwood’s residence was clearly relevant on the issue of his identity as one of the bank robbers. It corroborated the testimony of Davis at the grand jury that he, Woods and Underwood robbed the bank. These weapons were admissible and I do not agree that the trial judge was justified in excluding them from evidence. Since the evidence was admissible, the prosecutor did not act improperly in bringing it to the courtroom and having it ready for introduction.