UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Gilberto BALDENEGRO-VALDEZ, Defendant-Appellant. United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Juan Francisco Rodriguez-Guerra, also known as Felipe Camarena, Defendant-Appellant.
Nos. 11-3183, 11-3581.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted: June 13, 2012. Filed: Jan. 16, 2013.
703 F.3d 1117
We affirm the bankruptcy court‘s Order dated June 15, 2011, and deny the Trustee‘s motion to dismiss the appeal.
Stephen C. Moss, Asst. Fed. Public Defender, Kansas City, MO, argued (Raymond C. Conrad, Jr., Fed. Public Defender, on the brief), for appellant Juan Rodriguez-Guerra.
Justin G. Davids, Asst. U.S. Atty., Kansas City, MO, argued (David M. Ketchmark, Acting U.S. Atty., on the brief), for appellee.
Before BYE, BEAM, and SMITH, Circuit Judges.
BEAM, Circuit Judge.
Gilberto Baldenegro-Valdez and Juan Rodriguez-Guerra (also known as Felipe Camarena) (collectively, “defendants“) appeal their convictions, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, following their joint jury trial. They assert several pretrial and trial errors. We affirm the district court.1
I. BACKGROUND
In March 2010, Franklin Espana, a suspect in a different methamphetamine conspiracy investigation than the one at issue here, spoke with FBI agents, offering information about a methamphetamine supplier in Kansas City, Camarena. Espana began helping the government and in that capacity, set up a controlled buy with Camarena. Espana, who was wearing a wire,2 and Camarena agreed to meet at a Price Chopper grocery store in Independence, Missouri. When they met, another person accompanied Camarena, later identified as Baldenegro-Valdez. The parties proceeded to a nearby carwash to complete the transaction. The controlled-buy plan was for Espana to first purchase one ounce, and arrange for the purchase of another pound later the same day. During the one-ounce transaction, Camarena and Espana spoke out of earshot of Baldenegro-Valdez, and Espana understood Camarena to indicate that Baldenegro-Valdez was the source of the methamphetamine.
During the second, one-pound-buy transaction, Espana, Camarena and Baldenegro-Valdez met in one location (a Hardee‘s restaurant), then traveled to another location (a QuikTrip) in separate vehicles. At that locale, Camarena got into Espana‘s vehicle and followed the vehicle (a Taurus) Baldenegro-Valdez was then driving. Espana, who was still wearing a wire, signaled to law enforcement by using a predetermined word that he had seen the methamphetamine in Camarena‘s possession. Law enforcement soon stopped both vehicles. Espana got word to law enforcement where the methamphetamine was located in the car, and officers recovered 195.6954 grams of nearly pure methamphetamine from Espana‘s car. Officers determined before Espana left for the controlled buy that there were no drugs in Espana‘s car prior to the controlled buy. Camarena was arrested, he invoked his Miranda rights and he did not make a statement to law enforcement officers.
Baldenegro-Valdez moved to suppress the evidence found in his car and the incriminating statements he made to police, arguing that the officers did not have probable cause to pull over his vehicle, that there was not probable cause to arrest him for having an invalid driver‘s license or a cracked windshield, and that officers conducted an improper warrantless search of the car. The district court rejected these arguments and refused to suppress the evidence and statements. Prior to trial, Baldenegro-Valdez also moved in limine attempting to exclude the methamphetamine found in his vehicle as well as several statements that he made while under surveillance and statements he made to police officers post-arrest. Baldenegro-Valdez also moved to exclude the English translations of the transcripts from the Spanish audio recordings. The district court refused to keep this evidence from the jury.
At defendants’ joint trial, a primary point of contention between the government and defendants was the impeachment of Espana. Defendants wished to impeach Espana regarding the facts surrounding his narcotics convictions, ranges of punishment for the convictions, other uncharged drug activities, and the fact that Espana had lied to the police before he began cooperating. The district court ruled that cross-examination would be limited to the existence and nature of the convictions, the statutory range of punishment, and the benefit he expected to receive by cooperating and testifying. Also at trial, defendants requested specific jury instructions that were rejected by the district court. Camarena requested that the district court instruct the jury that it could consider Espana‘s prior convictions in evaluating Espana‘s credibility. Baldenegro-Valdez requested that the district court instruct the jury about the possibility of a second uncharged conspiracy to account for the person referred to as “Plebe,”3 and a specifically tailored “mere presence” in-
On appeal, Camarena alleges the district court erred: (1) by limiting his Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine Espana; (2) by failing to give his proffered instruction regarding Espana‘s credibility; and because (3) the cumulative effect of these errors rendered his trial fundamentally unfair. Baldenegro-Valdez alleges the district court erred: (1) in denying his motion to suppress; (2) in making various evidentiary rulings, including the rulings on the motions in limine; (3) in refusing to grant a mistrial based upon Espana‘s alleged perjury, and based upon the prosecutor‘s inadvertent mention of the suppression hearing; (4) in violating his Sixth Amendment rights by limiting Espana‘s cross-examination; (5) in refusing to give his proffered jury instructions regarding an alleged second uncharged conspiracy and mere presence; and (6) in improperly limiting his closing argument.
II. Sixth Amendment
Defendants allege that their Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the district court limited the scope of their impeachment of Espana. The jury was informed of Espana‘s convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and the statutory range of punishment for both. The jury was also informed that Espana had a plea agreement with the government and was hoping to receive a reduced sentence on the charges in exchange for his cooperation. Both defendants declined to call Espana as part of their case-in-chief. Defendants challenge the district court‘s limitations on their cross-examinations.
The Sixth Amendment provides a criminal defendant the right to confront the witnesses against him. The primary purpose of this right is to guarantee the opportunity for effective cross-examination, particularly with respect to a witness‘s potential bias. Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 678-79 (1986). However, courts “retain wide latitude insofar as the Confrontation Clause is concerned to impose reasonable limits on such cross-examination based on concerns about, among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.” Id. at 679. A limitation on cross-examination does not violate the Sixth Amendment unless the defendant shows that a reasonable jury might have received a “significantly different impression” of the witness‘s credibility had defense counsel “been permitted to pursue his proposed line of cross-examination.” Id. at 680. We review the district court‘s limitation of cross-examination of a witness for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Stroud, 673 F.3d 854, 860 (8th Cir.2012).
While a witness may be impeached by inquiring into his prior convictions, we have previously limited the scope of such examination to avoid possible confusion resulting from the trial of collateral issues, and also to avoid unfairness to the witness. United States v. Street, 548 F.3d 618, 627 (8th Cir.2008). In Street, the district court limited the defendant‘s questioning of a witness to establishing his prior convictions following a jury trial. We affirmed, reasoning that “[t]o inquire further and to contest the truthfulness of [the witness‘s]
In the present case, defendants cross-examined Espana about the fact of his two convictions; the statutory range of punishments; the minimum and maximum punishment he faced; the fact that he had a plea agreement with the government; the fact that he hoped to receive a lesser sentence by cooperating with the government; and the fact that he could receive a sentence under the statutory minimum if the government filed the requisite motion. Consequently, defendants were able to fully cross-examine Espana on any potential bias or incentive for his testimony. Allowing them to cross-examine Espana about the purity of the methamphetamine he was arrested with in the unrelated conspiracy and other similar facts would have created a mini-trial on irrelevant collateral matters and risked confusing the jury. See Street, 548 F.3d at 627. Defendants were able to elicit for the jury that Espana faced a lengthy sentence (five to forty years) for his role in the conspiracy, and that he was hoping to get a sentence even lower than the five-year minimum by testifying. Given that the “touchstone of our inquiry” is whether defendants had an “adequate opportunity to impeach” Espana, we find that they did have such opportunity. United States v. Dale, 614 F.3d 942, 957 (8th Cir.2010).
Defendants cite United States v. Caldwell, 88 F.3d 522 (8th Cir.1996), in support of their arguments that the district court violated their Sixth Amendment rights by limiting cross-examination. In Caldwell we found that the district court abused its discretion by disallowing defense counsel to cross-examine a testifying witness about the ten-year mandatory minimum the witness would have faced had he not cooperated with the government by testifying. Id. at 525. We found that such evidence was accurate and relevant rather than collateral, but ultimately concluded that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. Caldwell is distinguishable because in it, the witness had already received the benefit of cooperation because the government had dismissed the charge with the mandatory minimum. Id. In this case, however, defendants were allowed to cross-examine Espana about whether he pleaded guilty and received a cooperation deal, and about the lower sentence he hoped to receive, including the possibility of a government departure motion. Given the complex nature of the government‘s charging decisions, plea bargains and the sentencing guidelines, it was not an abuse of the district court‘s discretion to limit the somewhat technical sentencing and charging arguments counsel sought to make, as well as Espana‘s receipt of a Kastigar4 letter. See United States v. Jasso, 701 F.3d 314, 316-18 (8th Cir.2012) (holding there was no Sixth Amendment violation
III. Camarena
Camarena also contends the district court erred in failing to give his proffered jury instruction. Camarena proposed the following instruction based upon Eighth Circuit Model Criminal Instruction No. 2.18: “You have heard evidence that Franklin Espana was once convicted of a crime. You may use that evidence only to help you decide whether to believe the witness and how much weight to give his testimony.” Instead, the district court gave model instruction 4.05B, which, in pertinent part, was read to the jury by the court as follows:
You have heard evidence that Franklin Espana hopes to receive a reduced sentence on criminal charges pending against him in return for his cooperation with the government in this case. Franklin Espana entered into a plea agreement with the government which provides that in return for his assistance, the government will file a motion for reduction in his sentence.... If such a motion for reduction of sentence for substantial assistance is filed by the government, then it is up to the judge to decide whether to reduce the sentence at all, and if so, how much to reduce it. You may give the testimony of this witness such weight as you think it deserves. Whether or not testimony of a witness ... may have been influenced by his hope of receiving a reduced sentence is for you to decide.
As illustrated, the instruction actually given is lengthier, incorporates similar language to that in model instruction 2.18, and even further, informs the jury that it could consider whether the witness was influenced by hope of a reduced sentence. It does not explicitly state that Espana was “once convicted of a crime,” but it states that he has criminal charges pending against him and that he has entered a plea agreement with the government. A district court should give instructions that correctly state the law and are supported by the evidence. United States v. Meads, 479 F.3d 598, 601 (8th Cir.2007). Counsel is not entitled to one specific instruction over another if the instruction given was appropriate and covered the same ground that the rejected instruction would have covered. United States v. Brown, 478 F.3d 926, 928 (8th Cir.2007). Given the district court‘s considerable discretion in this area, there was no abuse of that discretion. The instruction given, taken as a whole and viewed in light of the evidence and applicable law, fairly and adequately submitted the issue of Espana‘s credibility to the jury. United States v. Payton, 636 F.3d 1027, 1040 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, U.S., 132 S.Ct. 349, 181 L.Ed.2d 220 (2011).
Camarena‘s final argument is that the cumulative effect of the foregoing errors led to a violation of his Sixth Amendment rights. As our preceding discussion indicates, the district court did not commit error with regard to the first two issues. We may reverse on the basis of cumulative error only where the case as a whole presents an image of unfairness resulting in
IV. Baldenegro-Valdez
A. Motion to Suppress
Baldenegro-Valdez argues the district court erroneously denied his motion to suppress evidence obtained from the stop and search of the Taurus, including the statement he ultimately gave to the police. An investigatory stop does not violate the Fourth Amendment if the police have reasonable suspicion that the vehicle or its occupants are involved in criminal activity. United States v. Bell, 183 F.3d 746, 749 (8th Cir.1999). In the instant case, the police had the requisite reasonable suspicion to stop the Taurus because police had observed that the same car, with Baldenegro-Valdez as an occupant, was involved in a controlled buy earlier the same day, and then the car was peripherally involved (by following Espana‘s car) in the scheduled second controlled buy that day. Though Camarena left the Taurus to ride with Espana, this does not negate the reasonable suspicion associated with the Taurus and its driver. The fact that the car was legally stopped, however, does not necessarily mean that Baldenegro-Valdez was validly arrested. Instead, probable cause to make a warrantless arrest only exists when “considering all the circumstances, police have trustworthy information that would lead a prudent person to believe that the suspect has committed or is committing a crime.” United States v. Parish, 606 F.3d 480, 486 (8th Cir.2010) (quotation omitted).
The government concedes that Baldenegro-Valdez‘s arrest for having an improper driver‘s license was not a valid arrest, because his driver‘s license was actually valid in his native country, see
Further, because Baldenegro-Valdez‘s arrest was constitutional, the search of the Taurus was a valid inventory search. In general, when taking custody of property such as a suspect‘s vehicle, law enforcement officers may conduct a warrantless search and inventory of the contents of the vehicle in order to protect the owner‘s property, to protect the police against claims of lost or stolen property, and to protect the police from potential danger. Colorado v. Bertine, 479 U.S. 367,
Even if the inventory search was not valid, the district court also found that the vehicle search was valid under the automobile exception. Given the involvement of this particular car in the previous controlled scenarios, known to the officers making the stop, we agree that the automobile exception could also vitiate the search at issue. See United States v. Hambrick, 630 F.3d 742, 747 (8th Cir.) (holding that officers have probable cause to search a vehicle under the automobile exception if they reasonably believe, based upon a reliable source, a fair probability exists that contraband would be found in a vehicle), cert. denied, U.S. —, 131 S.Ct. 2919, 179 L.Ed.2d 1259 (2011). The arresting officers reasonably believed, based upon information obtained from the drug task force officers, that either drugs or the proceeds of the earlier drug transaction, would be found in the Taurus. Accordingly, the motion to suppress was properly denied.
B. Motion in Limine
By way of a motion in limine, Baldenegro-Valdez sought to exclude: the methamphetamine found in the Taurus, statements made on the surveillance tapes about his prowess in bar fights, as well as his Mirandized statement about being involved in other methamphetamine transactions. The latter two of these items Baldenegro-Valdez argued violate
With regard to the methamphetamine and the Mirandized statements, when the motion to suppress was denied, the drugs and statement were admissible, relevant evidence at the methamphetamine conspiracy trial. After admission, Baldenegro-Valdez was able to argue to the jury that he did not know anything about the methamphetamine in the Taurus, but the drugs were certainly admissible, relevant evidence. Similarly, the statements Baldenegro-Valdez made about being present for earlier methamphetamine transactions that occurred during the conspiracy are not Rule 404(b) evidence; they are admissions directly linking him to the metham-
Nor did the district court abuse its discretion in refusing to exclude the “bar fight” statement under Rule 404(b). The government did not offer it to show that Baldenegro-Valdez had engaged in other bad acts; it offered the statement to provide context for the meeting the three had to set up the second controlled buy. See United States v. Ruiz-Chavez, 612 F.3d 983, 988 (8th Cir.2010) (holding that evidence of prior wrongful conduct is considered contextual and admissible when offered for the purpose of completing the story of the charged crime). And, the evidence was not highlighted—though it was admitted with the entire transcript of the recorded conversations, it was not played for the jury or mentioned during the government‘s closing argument. Therefore, any possible error in admitting the evidence was harmless.
Baldenegro-Valdez also asserts that the district court should have excluded, for lacking foundation and authentication, the government‘s proffered English translated transcripts of the recorded Spanish calls and conversations that occurred while Espana was wearing a wire. The government points out that it properly authenticated the documents with Espana‘s testimony, and also with expert testimony from a linguist regarding the substantive content of the translations. This satisfies the relatively low authentication burden under
C. Mistrial
Baldenegro-Valdez argues the district court should have granted a mistrial because Espana allegedly committed perjury, and because the prosecutor inadvertently used the phrase “suppression hearing” in referencing a transcript. We review the district court‘s refusal to grant a mistrial for an abuse of discretion. Street, 548 F.3d at 624.
As a threshold matter, Baldenegro-Valdez cannot establish that Espana testified falsely. Baldenegro-Valdez points to a portion of the transcript wherein Espana tells Camarena that he talked to Baldenegro-Valdez about not getting paid for a drug deal; and then at trial Espana confirmed that he told Camarena that Espana had talked to Camarena‘s friend (Baldenegro-Valdez) at the car wash. The government then confirmed with Espana5
The prosecutor‘s use of the words “suppression hearing” also did not require a mistrial. The prosecution‘s inadvertent use of the term, while examining a witness on redirect (after Baldenegro-Valdez introduced the suppression transcript to cross-examine the witness), was immaterial and not prejudicial. There was no reference to the content of the suppression hearing or the result. The trial court sustained Baldenegro-Valdez‘s objection and immediately gave a curative instruction to the jury to disregard the question. See United States v. Thomas, 93 F.3d 479, 487 (8th Cir.1996) (holding no abuse of discretion for denying mistrial where reference to suppression hearing was brief, inadvertent, quickly corrected and curatively instructed). We presume that the jury will follow such admonitions. United States v. Farmer, 73 F.3d 836, 844 (8th Cir.1996). This argument is without merit.
D. Jury Instructions
Baldenegro-Valdez argues that the district court should have given his proffered “mere presence” instruction. Baldenegro-Valdez‘s theory of defense was that he was not part of the conspiracy but simply present during Camarena‘s travels. He argued that in addition to the model “mere presence” instruction, the court should have added the language, “mere presence at the scene and knowledge that another is going to distribute a controlled substance” is not sufficient for a finding of guilt. Instead, the court gave the unchanged language of model instruction 5.06B which contains “mere presence” language, but did not personalize the instruction to a drug deal. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to give Baldenegro-Valdez‘s proffered instruction because the instruction it gave covered the bases. Payton, 636 F.3d at 1040.
Baldenegro-Valdez‘s final argument is that the district court should have instructed the jury about the possibility of a second conspiracy, based upon the references to the person known as “Plebe,” who, as previously noted, was actually Camarena. The parties used a neutral pronoun in place of Plebe, and never clearly explained to the jury who this person was in order to steer clear of any possible Bruton problems. However, because apparently Plebe and Camarena were the same person, regardless of what the jury knew, there was no actual evidence to support the existence of multiple conspiracies in this case. Accordingly, the district