The United States of America v. Nigel Fancutt

491 F.2d 312
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 27, 1974
Docket73-1410 to 73-1412
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 491 F.2d 312 (The United States of America v. Nigel Fancutt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The United States of America v. Nigel Fancutt, 491 F.2d 312 (10th Cir. 1974).

Opinion

JONES, Circuit Judge:

The appellants, Nigel Fancutt, Kevin Smith and Paul Bushnell, together with Jeffery Whitfield, were charged in a one count indictment with the unlawful distribution of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C.A. § 2. A jury trial resulted in the conviction of the appellants. Their separate appeals have been consolidated.

Through an informer, Michael Franzen, David Hanks, an agent of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, was put in contact with the appellants Smith and Bushnell and negotiations were had for the purchase by Hanks of LSD. A meeting was arranged with Hanks by Smith and Bushnell. The meeting was held in a motel room in Boulder, Colorado. At the meeting were Hanks, the appellants, the informer, an unidentified girl, and Jeffery Whitfield, who was indicted with appellants but not tried. Fancutt delivered 2,000 LSD tablets to Hanks who paid Fancutt $650. Hanks asked if Fancutt would take care of the others in the room. Smith and Bushnell each claimed and were paid $100. It was said that Hanks was to take care of Whitfield and Hanks gave him $20. Eleven days later the appellants were taken into custody.

The appellants assert that reversible error was committed by the prosecuting attorney in his jury argument. In his opening summation Government counsel said:

“Now, the evidence is clear that Mr. Fancutt actually handed over or delivered the pills, and he actually received the money. I think the conversation is clear enough in this case as to how the money was to be split up, and that both Mr. Smith and Mr. Bushnell took a principal part, really, in the sale, but aided and abetted for certain Mr. Fancutt in that sale.”

In his closing jury argument, and in response to comments of defense counsel, the prosecutor stated:

“And his [defense counsel’s] primary question to you was: ‘Where did the money go,’ and my answer is, T do not know.’
“Fortunately, it is not a part of the burden of proof upon the Government to know where that money went. You can’t explain what happened to it in ten days. I know where it initially went. It was given to Nigel Fancutt. I know where Mr. Smith said $200 was going; $100 to him and $100 to Paul Bushnell. I don’t know what the three of those defendants did with the money, but it is not necessary that I prove that to you.
“If you truthfully believe that Agent Hanks purposely, knowingly, and wilfully testified falsely to material facts in this case, then you should by all means dismiss all three of these defendants.
“But if you believe, as I believe the evidence indicates, that Agent Hanks testified truly, he testified to the transactions that took place; and I submit to you that the only verdict you can arrive at is guilty as to all three defendants. Thank you.”

*314 No objection was made to the statements of counsel when they were made. No request was made for a jury instruction to disregard the statements. No reference to them was made in the motions for a new trial. Jury verdicts in criminal cases are to be rendered upon the facts as disclosed by evidence and the law as pronounced by the court. That which the prosecutor thinks, believes or knows are not to be given consideration. Such argument is improper. The evidence of guilt is strong. No fundamental right of the appellants has been jeopardized. No such prejudice is shown as requires this Court to invoke the plain error rule. Hall v. United States, 10th Cir. 1969, 404 F.2d 1367; Findley v. United States, 10th Cir. 1966, 362 F.2d 921; McManaman v. United States, 10th Cir. 1964, 327 F.2d 21.

Prior to the trial, at the direction of the court, the Government had furnished defense counsel with the last known address of the informer, Michael Franzen. Franzen was not at the trial and no request had been made by the Government or the defendants for a witness subpoena to procure his attendance. Agent Hanks testified that he had seen Fran-zen during the week prior to the trial. No inquiry was made of Hanks as to whether he knew of Franzen’s then whereabouts. The defendants requested the giving of the following instruction,

“You are instructed that the government has failed to produce a witness who would have elucidated certain facts which are presently at issue. This witness is peculiarly available to the government and the defense has been unable to locate him. Consequently, you are to presume that this witness would have testified against the government.”

The trial court refused to give the instruction and the refusal is asserted as error.

In appellants’ brief it is recited that defense counsel had stated to the trial court that the Government had supplied an address of Franzen but “That address in defenses’ investigation failed to locate him.” The record reflects the accuracy of the recital in the brief. The brief does not show, as does the record, that the court made the comment that “There wasn’t any evidence to that effect.” Nor does the brief show, as does the record, that counsel responded to the court’s comment by saying, “Okay, I will withdraw that.” Litigants should not rely, in this Court, upon that which was withdrawn in the district court. The' same unsubstantiated statement is set forth in the instruction tendered by the defense. This, without more, would require the court to refuse to give the instruction.

The Government is not, as a general rule, under a duty to have its informer present at the trial. The Government is required to give reasonable assistance to defendants and their counsel in making it possible for them to procure the informer as their witness. United States v. D’Angiolillo, 2nd Cir. 1965, 340 F.2d 453, cert. den. 380 U.S. 955, 85 S.Ct. 1090, 13 L.Ed.2d 972. Here the Government did all that was asked of it. If more was needed then more should have been demanded. United States v. Hayes, 10th Cir. 1973, 477 F.2d 868. The trial court properly refused to give the requested instruction.

On cross-examination Agent Hanks testified that he thought the unidentified girl was Smith’s girl friend, that he understood that Bushnell had arranged for the motel room and that he did not believe he had told Smith that next time he, Hanks, wanted to deal with Smith. Smith testified on his own behalf. He testified as to his name, his age and his address. In an apparent attempt to discredit Agent Hanks, he stated that the unidentified girl was not his girl friend, that he did not rent the motel room and that Agent Hanks had said that next time he wanted to do business with Smith. Such was Smith’s testimony and none other was put on by any of the defendants.

*315 In his jury argument Government counsel said,

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491 F.2d 312, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-united-states-of-america-v-nigel-fancutt-ca10-1974.