Michael Anthony Davis v. United States

425 F.2d 673, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 9657

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: April 21, 1970
• Docket: 24894_1
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant was indicted, tried and convicted in a jury trial of violating 18 U. S.C. § 914 1 and 18 U.S.C. § 1708. 2 He appeals from his judgment of conviction on each count. We affirm.

Appellant assigns two errors:

I.

MIRANDA WARNING

Appellant received and signed a warning card, patterned to conform to Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). He complains of the language: “* * * anything you say can be used against you in court.”, and argues that the language should be: “* * * anything you say can and will be used against you in court.” This contention is patently without merit. Craft v. United States, 403 F.2d 360 (9th Cir. 1968).

II.

EYE-WITNESS IDENTIFICATION

While we do not condone the practice, followed in this case, of attempting to influence a witness’s recollection by displaying to her a photograph. of appellant immediately prior to testifying, we hold that the admission of the identification testimony on the record before us, did not, in any way, affect the substantial rights of the appellant. 3

The witness had an excellent chance to closely observe the person who committed the crimes and there is nothing in the record which even remotely suggests that her in court identification was in any way influenced by her view of the photograph. Additionally, appellant was identified by another witness whose testimony is wholly untainted. It is only when the photographic identification procedure is so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification, that the verdict should be set aside. Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968). Viewing the record as a whole, it cannot be said that such was here the case or that appellant was denied due process. Borchert v. United States, 405 F.2d 735, 737 (9th Cir. 1968).

An additional obstacle stands in appellant’s path to relief on this issue. No objection was made in the lower court. Consequently, the contention is not properly before us unless we find plain error under F.R.Crim.P., Rule 52(b). The plain error rule should be invoked only in exceptional cases, that is, situations where it appears to be necessary in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice or to preserve the integrity and reputation of the judicial process. Marshall v. United States, 409 F.2d 925 (9th Cir. 1969). We find nothing in this ease which would justify the employment of Rule 52(b).

1 . False impersonation of a holder of an obligation of the United States.

2 . Possession of stolen mail,

3 . Rule 52, F.R.Crim.P.