Court Opinion

ID: 9452625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:46:42.23527+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:17.607486
License: Public Domain

WISDOM, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. (1) The trial judge limited the use of Doby’s affidavit to impeachment purposes only and repeated this limitation in his charge to the jury. Before reading the affidavit into the record, the United States Attorney cautioned the jury, “We offer [the affidavit] limited only to impeachment of this witness.” (2) The amount *215of unreported sales to Doby was $353.88 of the total understatement of $28,266.99. (3) The record shows overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt. In these circumstances and recognizing the superior position of a trial judge to determine the effect of the incident on the jury, I would say that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in allowing the limited admission of Doby’s affidavit.