Homer Payne v. United States

340 F.2d 748, 1965 U.S. App. LEXIS 6798
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJanuary 22, 1965
Docket19422_1
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 340 F.2d 748 (Homer Payne v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Homer Payne v. United States, 340 F.2d 748, 1965 U.S. App. LEXIS 6798 (9th Cir. 1965).

Opinion

JERTBERG, Circuit Judge:

After trial to a jury, appellant was found guilty and thereafter sentenced to a three year term of imprisonment for violating 18 U.S. § 2312. 1

Two assignments of error are relied upon: Plain error on the part of the District Court: (1) to admit into evidence testimony of a confession made by appellant; and (2) to fail to instruct the jury that it must disregard the confession of the defendant if found to be coerced or given involuntarily.

The facts are uncontroverted. On September 8, 1963, a green, 1953, four door, Dodge sedan was stolen from the used car lot of Tucson Auto Brokers in Tucson, Arizona. The theft was reported to the police. At the trial, a United States Customs Inspector testified that at approximately 1:45 P.M., the same day, in the course of his duties at the border between Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona, (Nogales, Arizona is 66 miles from Tucson, Arizona) he was approached by a man who stated that his name was Homer Payne and that he wished to cross into Mexico. The Customs Inspector further testified that such person signed the name “Homer Payne” on Customs Form 3231, a registration certificate of narcotic users and violators, 2 entered an older model green sedan, and crossed the border into Mexico. The Customs Inspector could not identify appellant as that person at the trial.

Although a discrepancy of one day exists in the testimony, it is apparent from the chronology of events disclosed by the record and by the Government’s *750 exhibit #3, that appellant was arrested by Mexican police the same day, September 8. The arrest was made pursuant to a request to the United States Customs Agency Service by the Mexican police for information concerning Homer Payne and the license number of the Dodge automobile. The investigation revealed that the car had been stolen. The Mexican police had noticed the car parked on a side road outside Nogales, Mexico, but did not see appellant near it. Appellant and two companions were taken into custody, held for about 4 hours, and then released at the International Crossing into the custody of William Dalrymple, a Special Agent of the F.B.I.

On September 9th, the following morning, at about 9:00 A.M., appellant was taken before the United States Commissioner. Appellant does not contend that Rule 5(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 3 was not fully complied with. Appellant does not claim that he informed the Commissioner that he was without means to employ counsel, or that he requested the appointment of counsel, or an opportunity to consult counsel, or that he failed to understand the import of the statement made by the Commissioner.

The next day, September 10th, at approximately 9:00 A.M., appellant was visited at the county jail in Nogales, Arizona by Mr. Dalrymple, who testified that he informed appellant he did not have to make any statement; that any statement he made could be used against him in a court of law; and that he had a right to consult an attorney. He further testified, in substance, that appellant fold him that he had taken the Dodge automobile in question from the used car lot and had driven it to Nogales, Mexico intending to trade it to a Mr. Sanchez for narcotics; that negotiations for the trade had been consummated; and that he had been arrested by the Mexican police while waiting for payment.

The record discloses that no testimony was offered on appellant’s behalf.

Appellant first contends that the confession was erroneously admitted into evidence because at the time it was made appellant was without counsel. 4

Relying upon recent decisions of the Supreme Court, appellant contends that incriminating statements made at the accusatory stage of the proceedings are inadmissible on trial unless the accused has first been informed of his right to the assistance of court appointed counsel, and unless he has knowingly waived such right.

The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution provides inter alia, that:

“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” U.S.C.Const. Amend. 6.

In Hamilton v. State of Alabama, 368 U.S. 52, 82 S.Ct. 157, 7 L.Ed.2d 114 (1961), petitioner was sentenced to death following a conviction of a capital offense. On appeal he claimed that he had been denied counsel at the time of arraignment. His conviction was reversed. The court held the accused was entitled to the benefit of counsel at the time of arraignment because in Alabama it is a critical stage in a criminal proceeding.

In Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799, 93 A.L.R.2d *751 733 (1962), Gideon was charged with a felony under Florida law. Appearing in court without funds and without a lawyer, Gideon asked the court to appoint counsel for him, which request was denied. Gideon’s conviction was reversed, the court holding that the right to assistance of counsel contained in the Sixth Amendment was obligatory on the States under the Fourteenth Amendment.

In White v. State of Maryland, 373 U. S. 59, 83 S.Ct. 1050, 10 L.Ed.2d 193 (1964), the accused was arrested in Maryland on the charge of murder. He was taken before a Maryland magistrate for a preliminary hearing and he pleaded guilty without having the advice or assistance of counsel. Counsel was later appointed for him and he pleaded not guilty at his formal arraignment, but the plea of guilty made at the preliminary hearing was introduced in evidence at his trial. White’s conviction was reversed. The court held that the preliminary hearing was a critical stage in the proceeding at which the accused was entitled to the assistance of counsel.

In Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201, 84 S.Ct. 1199, 12 L.Ed.2d 246 (1964), the defendant was indicted with one Col-son for a federal offense and after pleading not guilty while represented by counsel was released on bail. Colson thereafter decided to cooperate with Government agents and succeeded in eliciting several incriminating statements from the accused, in the absence of counsel, while the two were engaged in conversation in Colson’s automobile which had been wired for sound. The Supreme Court held that these statements, made during the absence of counsel, were inadmissible at the trial.

In June of this year, Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977 (1964), was decided. There the defendant was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his brother-in-law. Although held for 14% hours, he made no statement during interrogation.

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Bluebook (online)
340 F.2d 748, 1965 U.S. App. LEXIS 6798, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/homer-payne-v-united-states-ca9-1965.