United States v. Michael Anthony MadridUnited States v. Michael Anthony Madrid
Defendant Michael Anthony Madrid appeals from his convictions by a jury on two counts in connection with a bank robbery and from his 10-year sentence on the verdict. See note 5,
infra.
On appeal, Madrid asserts principally three claims of error: (1) the admission of statements he -made to a psychiatrist examining him as to competence to -stand trial, which ruling was allegedly contrary to
I
The factual background
On March 21,1979, Madrid and an accomplice, Michael. Luna, 1 attempted to rob the American Bank of Commerce in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Madrid was a regular customer at the bank, On the morning of the robbery before the bank opened Rosemary Romero, a teller, was driven to work by her father, accompanied by two young nephews. She took the children into the bank to get some candy and then returned to the car with them. As she was putting the children back in the car she felt something heavy on her back and a man (Madrid) told her to put the children in the car right away. A second man (Luna), armed with a gun, got into the car with Romero’s father and nephews while Madrid led her into the bank and tied her to a chair. When Holly Bostick, the branch manager, arrived she was ordered to open the night vault. She did so and helped Madrid stuff money into a knapsack.
Two policemen arrived in time to see a robber running out of the bank with a gun
II
The pre-trial proceedings
On the day following his arrest Madrid was ordered to be confined at the Bernalillo County Mental Health facility. On April 4, 1979, on defense counsel’s motion, pursuant to
On July 12,1979, after receiving a report from Dr. Bailey, who examined Madrid in San Diego, the court found that Madrid was incompetent to stand trial. Pursuant to state court commitment proceedings Madrid was committed to the New Mexico State Hospital where he remained until February 4, 1980. On the Government’s motion for further examination as to Madrid’s competency to stand trial pursuant to
After a hearing on March 24, 1980, the court found Madrid competent to stand trial. (I R. 17). That same day Madrid’s counsel gave notice as required by
1. Defendant Madrid has given the government notice that it intends to rely on a defense of insanity.
2. Dr. Dempsey has examined the defendant on the issue of competence, but needs a further examination to determine sanity at the time of the offense.
3.Rule 12.2(c) provides that the Court, upon the motion of the attorney for the government, may order the defendant to submit to a psychiatric examination by a psychiatrist designated for this purpose.
4. Counsel for the defendant does not oppose this motion.
The motion was granted that day and Dr. Dempsey examined the defendant again on April 30.
Ill
The proceedings at trial
At trial the Government in its casein-chief established the elements of the offenses. The defense case consisted solely of evidence as to Madrid’s mental state. Three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist testified that he suffered from schizophrenia and depression and was legally insane at the time of the offense, because he was incapable of conforming his conduct to the requirements of the law.
2
(Ill R. 177, 202, 233, 259-60). An additional psychologist indicated that he was unable to state an opinion due to the lapse of time between
The prosecution then presented rebuttal evidence on the issue of insanity. Luna, Madrid’s accomplice, testified that they had first discussed the idea of robbing a bank about a month before the offense. (Ill R. 269). They planned the details of the robbery the night before. (Ill R. 270). Luna testified that Madrid’s behavior was not unusual. (Ill R. 272-73, 274). The two bank employees who were present at the time of the robbery also testified that Madrid acted normally. (Ill R. 282-84, 286-88).
The prosecution then called Dr. Dempsey. He testified that in his opinion Madrid suffered from major depression, in the upper 25% of severity. (Ill R. 299). However, he further stated that at the time of the offense Madrid was able to know what he was doing and that he could conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. (Ill R. 300). Over the objection of defense counsel, he stated that an important basis for his opinion was Madrid’s statements to him in his initial interview that he had committed armed robberies of stores prior to the offense in question in order to support a heroin addiction.
3
(Ill R. 302). Dr. Dempsey stated that this indicated “a past history of antisocial behavior, in particular, robbery for profit rather than robbery for some bizarre motive like committing suicide.” (Ill R. 302-03). In his charge to the jury, the trial judge stated that this testimony was admitted solely as a basis for Dr. Dempsey’s opinion.
4
The jury returned verdict's of guilty on both of the two counts of the indictment.
5
On the verdict, one sentence of ten years’ imprisonment was imposed, the defendant to become eligible for parole under
We turn to defendant’s appellate contentions.
IV
The claim of violation of
Defendant argues that Dr. Dempsey’s testimony as to past crimes and heroin ad
No statement made by the accused in the course of any examination into his sanity or mental competency provided for by this section, whether the examination shall be with or without the consent of the accused, shall be admitted in evidence against the accused on the issue of guilt in any criminal proceeding.
In
United States v. Alvarez,
As was the case in
Alvarez,
the initial examination here by Dr. Dempsey was ordered solely for the purpose of ascertaining defendant’s competence to stand trial. However, without expressing any view on the holding in
Alvarez,
7
we are convinced that other facts make this appeal clearly distinguishable from
Alvarez.
Here Dr. Dempsey’s second examination was ordered pursuant to
We need not decide whether a defendant, by giving notice of an insanity defense under
This conclusion as to waiver of objections under
The language of
The rule does not preclude use of statements made by a defendant during a. court-ordered psychiatric examination. The statements may be relevant to the issue of defendant’s sanity and admissible on that issue. However, a limiting instruction would not satisfy the rule if a statement is so prejudicial that a limiting instruction would be ineffective. Cf. practice under18 U.S.C. § 4244 .
H.Conf.Rep.No.94-414, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. 1975, p. 10, reprinted in 1975 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 713, 715. 12
The admission of defendant’s statements as a basis for an expert’s opinion on the issue of sanity is consistent with the practice followed prior to enactment of
Thus the statements made by the defendant during the
Along with his arguments under
Estelle v. Smith does uphold Fifth Amendment objections to the admission in a sentencing proceeding of statements of a defendant where they were obtained during a pretrial examination to determine competence to stand trial in a state court, and where no warning of his right to remain silent and of possible use of his statements against him was given. We feel the case is clearly distinguishable.
The opinion in
Estelle v. Smith
emphasized the fact that it involved a criminal defendant who had neither initiated a psychiatric evaluation nor attempted to introduce any psychiatric evidence.
V
The admissibility of evidence of past crimes under
Defendant also contends that, especially since the only issue at trial was de
Other crimes, wrongs, or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
Admissibility of past crimes evidence is also subject to the provision of
In
United States v. Bell,
There remains the question of balancing the probative value against the prejudicial effect of the evidence. The probative value of the past crimes evidence is diminished by the fact that there was no proof of addiction to heroin or its use at the time of the robbery. Further, Dr. Dempsey testified on voir dire that his opinion would have been the same, though less forceful, even if defendant did not have a history of drug addiction and robberies (III R. 292-93), thus weakening the argument for probative value of the statements. And the prejudicial effect of the admission of the statements was increased because they introduced both drug addiction and other crimes.
See United States v. Johnson,
Nevertheless, the determination under
VI
The sufficiency of the evidence
Finally, Madrid argues that the trial court should have directed a judgment of acquittal because of failure of the Government to establish beyond a reasonable
Once the presumption of sanity was dissipated, as it clearly was by the substantial evidence for the defense, the prosecution had the burden of proving competence at the time of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States v. Munz,
Dr. Dempsey examined the defendant on March 17 and April 30, 1980. Each examination was of about one to one and one-half hours. Dr. Dempsey also reviewed earlier testimony of three Government witnesses and observed the testimony of three Government witnesses at the trial describing defendant’s conduct at the robbery. This included hearing the testimony of Luna, who testified about defendant’s mentioning robbing a bank about a month before the robbery, then playing basketball the night before the robbery, and then planning the robbery that night. (Ill R. 269-70). Dr.. Dempsey also reviewed a forensic report of a psychologist employed by the State of New Mexico who testified for the defendant, and Dr. Dempsey talked briefly with, defendant’s parents. (Ill R. 298^-99, 309-10).
Dr. Dempsey’s opinion was that defendant was suffering from a mental disease which he diagnosed as “[mjajor depression,” and that this illness was moderately severe, in the upper 25% of severity. (Ill R. 290, 312-13). He concluded, however, that defendant was not and had never been schizophrenic as far as he knew, based on defendant’s history, including Madrid’s family’s testimony on his history up to the time of the robbery. (Ill R. 300-303).
We conclude that from Dr. Dempsey’s testimony and that of the lay witnesses, including those who observed Madrid at the scene of the attempted robbery,
16
the jury could justifiably have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Madrid was competent at the time of the robbery.
Wion v. United States,
AFFIRMED.
Notes
. Luna was tried separately and convicted.
. A defendant is entitled to acquittal by reason of insanity if, at the time of the offense, “as a result of mental disease or defect, he lacked substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.”
Wion
The Government bears the burden of proof of competency at the time of the offense, beyond a reasonable doubt, when evidence of insanity is produced from whatever source.
Fitts v. United States,
... at the time the accused committed the unlawful act, he was mentally capable of knowing what he was doing, was mentally capable of knowing that it was wrong, and was mentally capable of controlling his conduct.
Wion v. United States, supra,325 F.2d at 430 .
. There was no evidence that Madrid was still addicted to heroin at the time of the attempted bank robbery in question here.
. The cautionary instruction was as follows:
Now, the defendant is not on trial before you for any act or conduct not charged in the indictment, specifically any evidence as to the possible use by the defendant of heroin or possible commission of other crimes was admitted solely for the reason that one of the experts utilized those claimed facts as a portion of the basis of his opinion as to the mental competency of the defendant at the time of the offense alleged in the indictment.
I have instructed you as to opinions by experts and that they may state their reasons for such opinions. You are not to consider such evidence for any other purpose that [sic] in evaluating the expert testimony.
(IV R. 367). (Emphasis added).
. The indictment was returned in two counts. Count I alleged that Madrid and Luna had, by force and violence, attempted to take and taken from Bostick and Romero, the bank employees, approximately $5651 and had assaulted them and put their lives in danger, in violation of
. This broad interpretation of the statute is supported by its legislative history. The House Report noted that:
The accused’s rights are protected by the added provision that his (or her) statements at such hearing shall not be admitted in evidence at any subsequent criminal proceeding.
H.Rep.No.1309, 81st Cong., 1st Sess. 1949, reprinted in 1949 U.S.Code Cong.Serv. 1928, 1928.
. The question in
Alvarez
was not addressed by us in
United States v. Cassidy,
.
Psychiatric Examination. In an appropriate case the court may, upon motion of the attorney for the government, order the defendant to submit to a psychiatric examination by a psychiatrist designated for this purpose in the order of the court. No statement made by the accused in the course of any examination provided for by this rule, whether the examination shall be with or without the consent of the accused, shall be admitted in evidence against the accused on the issue of guilt in any criminal proceeding.
. Dr. Dempsey’s March 18, 1980, report to the court on defendant’s competence to stand trial bears a notation that it was read by the Assistant United States Attorney and defense counsel respectively on March 20 and 21. It was stipulated by both sides at a March 24, 1980, hearing on defendant’s competency to stand trial that if called Dr. Dempsey would testify as set out in his report. (II R. 10-11).
. The statute’s protection against admission of defendant’s statements may be waived by the defendant.
E.g., United States
v.
Smith,
. The pertinent portion of the prohibition in
No statement made by the accused in the course of any examination provided for by this rule, whether the examination shall be with or without the consent of the accused, shall be admitted in evidence against the accused on the- issue of guilt in any criminal proceeding.
. It has been remarked that the legislative history indicates that the language used in the Rule “means something rather different from what it would ordinarily be understood to say.” 1 Wright & Elliott,
Federal Practice & Procedure
§ 209, 1980 Supp., p. 200. The reference in the report to the practice under
. Evidence of past crimes has also been admitted, even though not related to a psychiatrist’s opinion, where it bears on the issue of sanity by tending to show that defendant was a “well organized, goal directed individual; that his acts ... indicated no lack of coordination or reasoning, nor acts of a person acting out of impulse, but clearly indicated that he was acting according to design or plan, wholly consistent with the acts of a sane person and equally inconsistent with one afflicted with a mental disease.”
United States v. Davis,
. We note that one of the defense experts mentioned defendant’s use of drugs in responding to a defense question about his opinion. (Ill R. 204). This same expert volunteered on cross-examination that a “diehard bank robber” might have planned a robbery similar to the one at issue here. (Ill R. 213).
.
See
note 4,
supra.
It would have been preferable had there also been a cautionary instruction at the time the evidence was admitted. None was requested at that time, however, and the failure to give one was not plain error, especially since an instruction was given in the charge.
Cf. United States v. Bridwell,
. Lay testimony from witnesses who have had an opportunity to observe the defendant’s appearance and behavior is admissible on the issue of sanity.
United States v. Stewart,