Court Opinion

ID: 4158918
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-07 19:01:13.8104+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:43.848399
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 16-4361

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                    Plaintiff - Appellee,

             v.

JOSIAH JOHN WEISS, a/k/a Malachi Sivad,

                    Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at
Alexandria. T. S. Ellis, III, Senior District Judge. (1:15-cr-00354-TSE-1)

Submitted: March 30, 2017                                         Decided: April 7, 2017

Before MOTZ, DUNCAN, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Jeffrey D. Zimmerman, JEFFREY ZIMMERMAN, PLLC, Alexandria, Virginia, for
Appellant. Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney, Carina A. Cuellar, Michael E. Rich,
Assistant United States Attorneys, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

      Josiah John Weiss was convicted by a jury of possessing firearms as a convicted

felon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (2012), and sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment.             He

appeals, arguing that the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress

identification testimony based on a single photograph. Finding no error, we affirm.

      In April 2015, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and

Explosives (“ATF”) observed what they believed was an illegal weapons purchase in the

parking lot of a gun show in Chantilly, Virginia. The man purchasing the firearms placed

them in his car and drove away. Although he was able to elude the police, agents traced

the vehicle through its license plate and identified Weiss—who had six felony

convictions—as the driver. Booking photos were sent to the agents on their cellphones.

      Officers also located the seller of the weapons, Jerry Crawford, through the license

plates on his vehicle. Crawford confirmed that he had sold three firearms from his

vehicle that day to a man he only knew as “Brian.” Crawford was shown the booking

photo of Weiss that had been emailed to the investigating agents and Crawford stated “I

would say that was him.” One of Weiss’ known aliases was “Brian Anthony Hill.”

      Weiss moved to suppress Crawford’s identification of him from the photo shown

to him by police, arguing that a single photograph—as opposed to a photographic array—

was unduly suggestive. The district court denied the motion.

      We review for clear error a district court’s factual findings in ruling on a motion to

suppress and its legal determinations de novo, construing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the prevailing party. United States v. Lull, 824 F.3d 109, 114-15 (4th Cir.

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2016). Due process concerns arise “when law enforcement officers use an identification

procedure that is both suggestive and unnecessary.” Perry v. New Hampshire, 565 U.S.

228, 238-39 (2012). Even when the police use a suggestive procedure (such as a single

photograph), however, suppression of the resulting identification is not automatic. See

Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 112–113 (1977). Rather, “reliability is the linchpin

in determining the admissibility of identification testimony.” Id. at 114. Factors to be

considered in evaluating the reliability of such evidence include: “the opportunity of the

witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime, the witness’ degree of attention, the

accuracy of the witness’ prior description of the criminal, the level of certainty

demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation, and the length of time between the

crime and the confrontation.” Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 199-200 (1972). Here,

Crawford was able to observe Weiss during an approximately 20-minute transaction,

described Weiss’ distinctive clothing, and identified him by a known alias.           And,

Crawford was shown the photo within a “few hours” after he sold the guns to Weiss.

Accordingly, we find no error in the district court’s conclusion that Crawford’s

identification was reliable.

       Moreover, a single photograph—even if unduly suggestive—may be used for

identification where it is deemed necessary due to exigent circumstances. See Simmons

v. United States, 390 U.S. 377 (1968). As the district court noted, the circumstances here

were nearly identical to those in Simmons: a serious felony had been committed, police

reasonably believed that a six-time felon was in possession of three firearms, and Weiss

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was seen driving erratically and at high speeds. Therefore, even if the identification was

unduly suggestive, it was nevertheless necessary given exigent circumstances.

       Therefore, we affirm Weiss’ conviction. We dispense with oral argument because

the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court

and argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                              AFFIRMED

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