United States v. Daniel Lee Rucker and Eugene C. Smith

586 F.2d 899, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 8739
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedSeptember 28, 1978
Docket924, 925, Dockets 77-1478, 1479
StatusPublished
Cited by92 cases

This text of 586 F.2d 899 (United States v. Daniel Lee Rucker and Eugene C. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Daniel Lee Rucker and Eugene C. Smith, 586 F.2d 899, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 8739 (2d Cir. 1978).

Opinions

[902]*902MEHRTENS, Senior District Judge:

The defendants, Daniel Lee Rucker and Eugene C. Smith, appeal from convictions on a four-count indictment charging Rucker in Count I with entering a federally insured bank with intent to take by force and violence money belonging to the bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and Section 2, and in Count III charging him with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Count II charged Rucker and Smith with entering with intent to commit a bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and Section 2, while Count IV charged Rucker and Smith with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.

Finding no merit in their numerous asserted errors, we affirm.

Smith’s Motion for a Separate Trial-on Counts II and IV and Admission of Rucker’s Prior Conviction

Smith asserts that it was improper for the trial court to deny his motion for a separate trial of Counts II and IV of the indictment while Rucker contends that the admission of evidence of his prior conviction was error.

The four-count indictment arose out of two separate bank robberies. Counts I and III charged only Rucker with the robbery of, and conspiracy to rob, the Marine Midland Bank. Counts II and IV charged Rucker and Smith with the robbery of, and conspiracy to rob, the First National Bank. Some time prior to trial both defense counsel reviewed the government’s file, including the criminal records of both Rucker and Smith. Three days before trial the government disclosed its intention to offer in evidence Rucker’s prior conviction for robbery of the same Marine Midland Bank.

Some time after the selection of ;he jury on October 17 and before the start of testimony on October 24, Smith moved for a separate trial on Counts II and IV, that is, the First National Bank robbery. He wanted a separation of counts, but not defendants. Smith was willing to be tried with Rucker on the First National Bank charges but wanted a severance from Rucker on the Marine Midland Bank charges. His reason was that he would be prejudiced by the government’s use of Rucker’s prior conviction.

Smith does not contend, as indeed he could not, that the joinder of the counts was not permissible under Rule 8, Fed.R. Cr.P. This claim must of necessity be based upon Rule 14, Fed.R.Cr.P. which empowers the court to grant severance to a defendant who will be prejudiced by a joinder of defenses or defendants. The matter is addressed to the discretion of the trial court and a conviction will be reversed only if the refusal of the trial court to grant relief was a clear abuse of discretion. Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84, 75 S.Ct. 158, 99 L.Ed. 101 (1954); United States v. Aviles, 274 F.2d 179 (2d Cir.), cert, denied, 362 U.S. 974, 80 S.Ct. 1057, 4 L.Ed.2d 1009 (1960); United States v. Lebron, 222 F.2d 531 (2d Cir.), cert, denied, 350 U.S. 876, 76 S.Ct. 121, 100 L.Ed. 774 (1955). The burden is upon a moving defendant to show facts demonstrating that he will be so severely prejudiced by a joint trial that it would in effect deny him a fair trial. The defendant must demonstrate that he suffered such prejudice as a result of the joinder, not that he might have had a better chance for acquittal at a separate trial. United States v. Borelli, 435 F.2d 500 (2d Cir. 1970), cert, denied, 401 U.S. 946, 91 S.Ct. 963, 28 L.Ed.2d 229 (1971); United States v. DeSapio, 435 F.2d 272 (2d Cir. 1970), cert, denied, 402 U.S. 999, 91 S.Ct. 2170, 29 L.Ed.2d 166 (1971).

Smith failed to sustain that burden. The fact that evidence may be admissible against one defendant but not against others does not require separate trials. United States v. Hoffa, 349 F.2d 20 (6th Cir. 1965), aff’d, 385 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 408, 17 L.Ed.2d 374 (1966). Rucker’s prior conviction would have been admissible in the First National Bank trial if the severance had been granted because it tended to show his motive, intent, knowledge, and a plan or design as a co-conspirator on both banks. [903]*903In a prosecution for conspiracy an individual defendant is not entitled to a separate trial upon the ground that he would be unable to obtain a fair trial in the company of defendants who had pled guilty to a separate indictment and also with a defendant who had a criminal record. The court in United States v. Stracuzza, 158 F.Supp. 522 (S.D.N.Y.1958), held that “These facts alone are not sufficient to warrant the granting of a severance,” aff’d sub nom. United States v. Schaffer, 266 F.2d 435 (2d Cir. 1959), affirmed, 362 U.S. 511, 80 S.Ct. 945, 4 L.Ed.2d 921 (1960). In United States v. Robinson, 503 F.2d 208 (7th Cir. 1974), the court, in passing upon a similar contention, stated:

* * * Robinson’s allegation that the testimony relating to Taylor’s criminal record and narcotics activity prejudiced him is not sufficient to make out a showing of prejudice warranting severance. * * *

See also: United States v. Campanile, 516 F.2d 288 (2d Cir. 1975); United States v. Benedetto, 571 F.2d 1246 (2d Cir. 1978); United States v. Brozyna, 571 F.2d 742 (2d Cir. 1978); United States v. Hayes, 553 F.2d 824 (2d Cir. 1977); United States v. Corr, 543 F.2d 1042 (2d Cir. 1976), holding that evidence as to a prior bank robbery is plainly admissible to show a modus operandi; United States v. Viruet, 539 F.2d 295 (2d Cir. 1976); United States v. Cavallino, 498 F.2d 1200 (5th Cir. 1974).

Smith’s argument is without merit. Under a long line of cases and under new Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) the court did not abuse its discretion. There was a sufficient parallel between the acts charged in the indictment and Rucker’s prior conviction so that it had real probative value regarding modus operandi and Rucker’s willingness and intent to enter into the conspiracies. See United States v. Bermudez, 526 F.2d 89 (2d Cir. 1975). Rucker’s prior conviction would be admissible as to Rucker on both bank robberies even if the severance had been granted and hence Smith cannot now complain. See United States v. Turbide, 558 F.2d 1053, 1061 (2d Cir. 1977).

The district judge carefully weighed the probative value against the danger of unfair prejudice and admitted the evidence.

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Bluebook (online)
586 F.2d 899, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 8739, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-daniel-lee-rucker-and-eugene-c-smith-ca2-1978.