Court Opinion

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Opinions of the United
2004 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

11-1-2004

USA v. Minerd
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 02-3305

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                                                                   NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                       No: 02-3305

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                               v.

                                  JOSEPH P. MINERD,

                                            Appellant

                       Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Western District of Pennsylvania
                                  (Crim. No. 99-00215)
                        District Court: Hon. Maurice B. Cohill, Jr.

                    Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 September 23, 2004

                          Before: McKEE, Circuit Judge,
               and ALDISERT and GREENBERG, Senior Circuit Judges.

                                (Filed: November 1, 2004)

                                        OPINION

McKEE, Circuit Judge.

       Joseph P. Minerd appeals his conviction for maliciously destroying property by

means of fire and explosives. He contends that the evidence at trial did not satisfy the

interstate commerce element of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). Minerd also argues that the

government did not introduce sufficient evidence to convict him of the crime. For the
reasons that follow, we will affirm.

                                              I.

       Because we write only for the parties, it is not necessary to recite the facts of this

case in detail except insofar as maybe helpful to our brief discussion. A jury convicted

Minerd of maliciously destroying property by means of fire and explosives in violation of

18 U.S.C. § 844(i). Following a separate sentencing hearing, Minerd was sentenced to

life in prison without the possibility of parole. This appeal followed.

                                              II.

       As noted, Minerd raises two issues in this appeal. Each is considered separately.

                A. Interstate Commerce Element of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i).

       Minerd argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the property in

question was used in an activity affecting interstate commerce, as required under 18

U.S.C. § 844(i). That provision makes it a crime to “maliciously damage or destroy, by

means of fire or an explosive, any building

. . . used in interstate or foreign commerce.” 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). The property Minerd

destroyed, a rental townhouse unit in an apartment complex, was used by its tenants as a

private residence. Minerd claims that the townhouse unit was therefore not a building

used in an activity affecting interstate commerce. We disagree.

       In Russell v. United States, 471 U.S. 858 (1985), the Supreme Court held that

section 844(i) could be constitutionally applied to a rented apartment building. In Russell,

the defendant attempted to set fire to an apartment building that he owned and used as
rental property. In responding to Russell’s claim that the federal arson statute did not

apply because the apartment building was not used in interstate commerce, the Supreme

Court stated, “By its terms . . . [Section 844(i)] only applies to property that is ‘used’ in an

‘activity’ that affects commerce. The rental of real estate is unquestionably such an

activity.” 471 U.S. at 862. We have previously noted that Russell establishes that renting

real estate is an activity that affects interstate commerce for purposes of Section 844(i).

See United States v. Gaydos, 108 F.3d 505, 509 (3d Cir. 1997).

       Minerd fails to explain why Russell does not control here. Rather, he argues that

under a more recent Supreme Court opinion, Jones v. United States, 529 U.S. 848 (2000),

property that is used as a private residence falls outside the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i).

This argument misconstrues the holding of Jones.

       In Jones, the Supreme Court held that an owner-occupied residence not used for

any commercial purpose does not satisfy the “property used in interstate commerce”

requirement of section 844(i). 529 U.S. at 859. The defendant in Jones threw an

explosive device into his cousin’s home. His cousin owned and occupied the house as a

residential dwelling for everyday family living. Id. at 851. The government argued that

the cousin’s home was property “used in” interstate commerce because it was “used” as

collateral for a mortgage from an Oklahoma lender and was “used” to receive natural gas

from sources outside Indiana. Id. at 855. The Supreme Court disagreed stating that the

“use” requirement in Section 844(i) refers to active employment for commercial purposes,

and is not satisfied by a passive or past connection to commerce. Id.

       In deciding Jones, the Supreme Court in no way overruled its earlier decision in
Russell. Rather, the Supreme Court merely distinguished Russell noting that, in Russell,

the “dispositive fact” was that the defendant was renting his apartment building to tenants

at the time the defendant attempted to set fire to the building. 529 U.S. at 853.

Moreover, the Supreme Court explicitly stated that Jones forced the court to “confront a

question that was not before the Court in Russell,” namely, whether section 844(i) covers

property that is occupied and used by its owner “not for any commercial venture, but as a

private residence.” Id. at 854.

       Minerd nevertheless argues that because the apartment unit destroyed here was

used as a residence, it does not fall within the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). However, this

contention overlooks the fact that the apartment unit here was “used” by its tenants as a

private residence, and was also “used” by its owner as a source of rental income. The

apartment unit in the instant case was owned by Home Properties of New York, a

company that owns approximately 50,000 rental units. App. 909. This unit is therefore

factually distinguishable from the building destroyed in Jones, a private owner-occupied

family residence. The instant unit falls squarely within the ambit of Russell. As clearly

articulated in Russell, the mere fact that the apartment unit was rental property generating

rental income is sufficient to bring the property within the reach of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i).

       Minerd also makes a related argument in claiming that section 844(i) only applies

to rental units when the owner destroys the property for financial gain. Indeed, Minerd

correctly points out that several defendants who have been convicted under section 844(i)

were allegedly motivated by greed, including the defendant in Russell. E.g. United States

v. Parsons, 993 F.3d 38 (4th Cir. 1993) (affirming conviction of a defendant who
solicited arson of a rental residential property to collect insurance proceeds). However,

18 U.S.C. § 844(i) merely requires that a defendant act “maliciously.” Minerd’s attempt

to suggest that the tragic killings in this case were not “malicious” because he was not

motivated by financial gain merits little comment. In several instances, persons have

been convicted under the statute even though their crimes were not motivated by financial

gain. E.g. United States v. Jimenez, 256 F.3d 330, 334 (5th Cir. 2001) (upholding

conviction of defendant who threw an explosive into a residence with a home office in an

attempt to retaliate against one of the home’s occupants for a recent drive-by shooting).

                                B. Sufficiency of Evidence

       Minerd next claims that the government failed to introduce sufficient evidence to

directly implicate him in the charged offense. In evaluating whether a jury verdict is

based on legally sufficient evidence, we apply a “particularly deferential” standard of

review. United States v. Dent, 149 F.3d 180, 187 (3d Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S.

1085, 119 S.Ct. 833, 142 L.Ed.2d 689 (1999)). In applying this standard, our role is not

to weigh the evidence or to determine the credibility of witnesses. Id. (internal citations

omitted). Instead, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the

government. Id. (citing United States v. Thomas, 114 F.3d 403 (3d Cir. 1997)). A

finding of insufficiency should be confined to cases where the prosecution’s failure is

clear. United States v. Smith, 294 F.3d 473, 477 (3d Cir. 2002) (quoting United States v.

Wolfe, 245 F.3d 257, 262 (3d Cir. 2001)). We will sustain the verdict if any rational trier

of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dent, 149 F.3d at 187 (internal citations omitted). We agree that the evidence here is
entirely circumstantial. It is also entirely compelling.

       Deana and Kayla Mitts were killed on January 1, 1999, when a pipe bomb

exploded in Deana’s apartment. App. 121-22, 1317. Minerd argues that the government

presented no physical evidence to link him to the pipe bomb. That argument asks us to

turn a blind eye to the evidence against him. At trial, the government presented evidence,

including testimony by two expert witnesses, that the pipe used in the pipe bomb had been

threaded at Brillhart’s Hardware Store. App. 1002-03, 1018-19, 1044. The bomb was a

two-inch by eight-inch pipe that included two end caps and one eight-inch long pipe.

App. 491, 515. While searching Minerd’s residence, the government discovered a receipt

from the plumbing department of Brillhart’s Hardware Store which reflected the purchase

of two unspecified items priced at $3.29 each, and one item priced at $5.59. App. 381,

771-72; S. App. 46. After conducting an inventory of the plumbing department of

Brillhart’s department store, the government concluded that the store sold eight-inch

pieces of pipe, identical to the pipe used in the pipe bomb, for $5.59. App. 773-74; S.

App. 46-47. The government also found that Brillhart’s sold end caps identical to those

used in the pipe bomb for $3.29 each. App. 773-74; S. App. 46-47. Thus, the jury could

easily have reasoned that the receipt found in Minerd’s home linked him to the sale of the

eight-inch pipe bomb and its two end caps. Minerd argues that the receipt is not

probative because it could have reflected an innocent purchase of supplies for his home.

Indeed it could have, but the jury concluded it didn’t. The evidence does not need to be

inconsistent with every conclusion save that of guilt. See Dent, 149 F.3d at 188.

Moreover, that is not the only link that binds Minerd to the fatal fire bomb.
      Minerd was a skilled machinist, App. 752, and the government also presented

evidence that two of Minerd’s neighbors had heard of explosions coming from his

property in the months preceding Deana Mitts’ death. App. 863-64, 878-80. Lastly, the

jury learned that four cans of gunpowder, consistent with the type of gunpowder used in

pipe bombs, were found in Minerd’s home. App. 533-34, 1129-30.

      The government also presented evidence strongly suggesting motive and

opportunity for Minerd’s actions. Minerd admitted to a police officer that he wanted

Deana Mitts to have an abortion and that she had refused. App. 811-12. Minerd told the

officer that he believed that Deana Mitts was carrying someone else’s child. App. 812.

In addition, the government presented evidence that Minerd had repeatedly driven by

Deana Mitts’ apartment and her parents’ home, and had followed her home from church

on multiple occasions. App. 559, 591-600. The jury also heard testimony from neighbors

who had seen Minerd shove Deana Mitts, as well as testimony from Deana Mitts’ mother,

who testified that she had seen bruises on Deana’s neck. App. 643, 689. Lastly, one of

Minerd’s co-workers testified that Minerd tried to get a stun gun repaired, commenting

that he wanted to shock Deana Mitts into a miscarriage. App. 732-33, 749-50, 757-60.

      Minerd’s whereabouts were unaccounted for between 2:30 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on

the day that Deana M itts was killed. App. 1068, 1099. The jury learned that during this

time frame, Deana Mitts was staying at her parents’ house and that her car was visibly

parked at their house. App. 593, 605-606. The jury also learned that Minerd had a key to

Deana Mitts’ apartment. App. 591, 821. Minerd argues that no eyewitness testimony

placed him at Deana Mitts’ apartment in the early morning hours before her death. We
agree. There was none, but none was required for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 844(i)

on this record.

       The evidence here was clearly sufficient to support a reasonable inference that

Minerd used a pipe bomb to destroy Deana Mitts’ apartment, killing Deana and Kayla

Mitts in the process. A conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) requires proof of the

following elements: 1) that the defendant used fire or an explosive to damage or destroy

property; 2) that the defendant acted maliciously; and 3) that the property was used in or

affected interstate commerce. The government must prove each element beyond a

reasonable doubt, but may do so by circumstantial evidence. See Dent, 149 F.3d at 188

(citing United States v. Barrow, 363 F.2d 62, 64 (3d Cir. 1966)). Here, a reasonable jury

could readily infer from the aforementioned testimony that Minerd maliciously used an

explosive to destroy property.

       Section 844(i) does not provide a definition for the term “maliciously.” At

common law, one acted “maliciously” if he or she acted intentionally or with willful

disregard of the likelihood that damage or injury would result. See United States v.

Gullett, 75 F.3d 941, 947 (4th Cir. 1996) (internal citations omitted). Because Congress

did not define the term “maliciously” we must assume that Congress adopted the common

law definition of the term. Gullett, 75 F.3d at 947 (citing Morissette v. United States, 342

U.S. 246, 263, 72 S.Ct. 240, 250, 96 L.Ed. 288 (1952)). Here, a reasonable jury could

easily infer from the fact that a pipe bomb was used to destroy Deana M itts’ apartment,

that Minerd acted with willful disregard of the likelihood that damage to rental property

and/or injury would result if the pipe bomb exploded. Thus, the government produced
sufficient evidence to support its contention that Minerd acted maliciously.

       Lastly, as addressed in the previous section, the government presented evidence

from which a reasonable jury could infer that the apartment building in the instant case

was used in interstate commerce.

       We therefore find that the government introduced sufficient evidence to prove its

case and to support Minerd’s conviction. Minerd’s second claim is therefore denied.*

                                               III.

       Based on the foregoing analysis, we will affirm the conviction of Joseph P.

Minerd.

       *
         In reviewing the evidence here, we cannot help but note the painstakingly meticulous and
thorough investigation that forged the evidentiary link to Minerd. As we have noted above, the
evidence was circumstantial. That is not surprising given the destructive force of a fire bomb and
the difficulty of gathering direct evidence following an explosion and fire. Nevertheless, the
patient, careful and thorough investigation that followed gathered sufficient circumstantial
evidence to inexorably establish Minerd’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.