United States v. David H. Moore

613 F.2d 1029, 198 U.S. App. D.C. 296
CourtCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
DecidedJanuary 2, 1980
Docket78-1594
StatusPublished
Cited by96 cases

This text of 613 F.2d 1029 (United States v. David H. Moore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the D.C. 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. David H. Moore, 613 F.2d 1029, 198 U.S. App. D.C. 296 (D.C. Cir. 1980).

Opinion

SPOTTSWOOD W. ROBINSON, III, Circuit Judge:

In the case before us, the Government appeals from the District Court’s dismissal of a four-count indictment charging David H. Moore with making false declarations before a grand jury. 1 The dismissal followed the Government’s refusal to allow Moore to reappear before the grand jury to retract the allegedly fabricated testimony, and thereby to invoke a dispensation from prosecution statutorily accorded recanting perjurers in specified circumstances. 2

At the outset, we were concerned that jurisdiction to entertain this appeal might be foreclosed by the Double Jeopardy Clause, 3 and accordingly we requested supplemental briefs addressing the question. With that assistance and our own intensive study of the problem, we now conclude that the Double Jeopardy Clause poses no barrier to resolution of the issues tendered. 4 On the merits, we reverse the District Court’s order of dismissal and remand the case for further proceedings. 5

I

This case had its genesis in a grand jury probe into possible corruption and bribery within the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. In the early spring of 1977, prior to the grand jury proceeding, the Department’s Internal Affairs Division placed Bosco’s Carryout — an establishment in Northwest Washington— under observation in an effort to ascertain whether criminal activities were being conducted therein, and, if so, whether any police officers were implicated in them. 6 Physical and photographic surveillance of the carryout was conducted until an officer working undercover in connection with the investigation learned that ■ the vigil had been detected by the carryout’s proprietor. 7 Reacting to this discovery, the Internal Affairs Division attempted to mask the real purpose of the operation by circulating se *1032 lectively a false cover story concerning its objective.

Moore, a police officer, heard the cover story from Walter Whited, a fellow officer. Moore was told that the investigation was aimed at apprehending a suspected narcotics dealer. 8 Moore came under suspicion as a possible conduit of information when shortly thereafter the undercover officer found out that the owner of the carryout had the story as it had been related to Moore by Whited. 9 A month later, at Moore’s request, Whited met him at a service station; there, equipped with a concealed recorder, Whited taped their conversation, including Moore’s detailed questions concerning the surveillance, the cover story, and the involvement of another police officer in the investigation. 10

After passage of another month, the investigation was terminated, and a grand jury was convened. 11 Early in the proceeding, the grand jury inquired whether Moore and other suspected officers had endeavored to secure information on the carryout surveillance from within the Department, and whether any such information had been passed on to the carryout’s proprietor'in exchange for remuneration. 12 Moore went before the grand jury and was quizzed on his two conversations with Whited. Moore denied any recollection at all of the first session or the date of the second, though he admittedly did remember a meeting with Whited at a service station. 13 Moore, however, avowed that the latter colloquy was unrelated to police business; he stated that he had never called anyone, including Whited, to ask about the investigation of the carryout. 14 This testimony formed the basis of the subsequent indictment against Moore for making false statements before the grand jury. 15

Toward the end of 1977, Moore and his counsel met with representatives of the Internal Affairs Division and an assistant United States attorney in the latter’s office. After additional questioning on his rendezvous with Whited at the service station, Moore was informed of the tape recording of their conversation. 16 The tape was played, and counsel informed Moore that by statute he might escape criminal liability for perjurious statements by reappearing before the grand jury and admitting the falsity of his prior testimony. 17 Moore conferred with his attorney and stated that he would do so; he agreed to a tape-recorded rehearsal of the testimony he proposed to give. In that rendition, Moore acknowledged the occurrence of the first conversation with Whited and provided a facially innocent explanation for the second. A few minutes later, however, Government counsel stopped Moore from continuing with his *1033 new version, stating that he did not deem it credible. 18 In 1978, Moore was indicted.

On the day appointed for Moore’s trial, the District Court made known its desire to begin the session with a ruling on the materiality of Moore’s statements to the grand jury. 19 There was a delay, however, occasioned by the absence of the Government’s primary witness on materiality, and the court stated that during this interval it would commence selection of a jury. At this juncture, Moore’s counsel revealed that his client’s sole defense would be strictly legal — -predicated entirely upon an asserted lack of materiality 20 — thus eliminating any factual dispute for submission to a jury. The court then advised Moore of his constitutional right to a trial by a jury, and informed him that “your waiver of that means that this would be a matter that is submitted to the Court.” 21 After consultation with his attorney and an explanation of the consequences by the court, Moore expressly waived his right to a jury trial. 22

An evidentiary-type proceeding was then conducted. The only witness was the deputy foreman of the grand jury, whose testimony went exclusively to the issue of materiality. This phase completed, Moore’s counsel raised an additional defense. Counsel contended that Moore’s statements in the prosecutor’s office brought the case within the purview of the statutory provision barring prosecution of recanting witnesses. 23 The court heard argument on the point and, after a two-hour recess, ruled that the prosecution was barred.

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Bluebook (online)
613 F.2d 1029, 198 U.S. App. D.C. 296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-david-h-moore-cadc-1980.