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United States v. Harold E. StaplesUnited States v. Harold E. Staples

Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jul 21, 1994
91-5033
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Anderson
STEPHEN H. ANDERSON, Circuit Judge.

Pursuant to the opinion of the United States Supreme Court in Staples v. United States, — U.S. ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‍-, 114 S.Ct. 1793, 128 L.Ed.2d 608 (1994), the court recalls its mandate and vacates its judgment. The judgment of conviction entered by the district court is also vacated.

The appellant has consistently challenged the sufficiency of the evidence in this case, ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‍including motions at trial for a judgment of acquittal at the close of the government’s case and at the close of all the evidence, and argument of the point on appeal. We address those contentions anew in light ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‍of the opinion of the Supreme Court. See United States v. Cooley, 1 F.3d 985, 996-98 (10th Cir.1993); United States v. Haddock, 961 F.2d 933, 934 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 88, 121 L.Ed.2d 50 (1992) (and cases cited therein); United States v. ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‍Jelsma, 630 F.2d 778 (10th Cir.1980); and United States v. Morris, 612 F.2d 483, 491-92 (10th Cir.1979).

Upon reviewing the record we conclude that no rational juror could find Mr. Staples guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the offense charged. Accordingly, the case ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‍is REMANDED to the district court with instructions to enter a judgment of acquittal. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

Case Details

Case Name: United States v. Harold E. Staples
Court Name: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Date Published: Jul 21, 1994
Citations: 30 F.3d 108; 1994 WL 378672; 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 18234; 91-5033
Docket Number: 91-5033
Court Abbreviation: 10th Cir.
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