United States v. Durriel E. Gillaum

355 F.3d 982, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 761, 2004 WL 77923
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedJanuary 20, 2004
Docket02-4015
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 355 F.3d 982 (United States v. Durriel E. Gillaum) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh 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. Durriel E. Gillaum, 355 F.3d 982, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 761, 2004 WL 77923 (7th Cir. 2004).

Opinions

MANION, Circuit Judge.

A jury found Durriel Gillaum guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon and sentenced him to a prison term of 188 months. On appeal, Gillaum challenges the execution of the search warrant that uncovered the prohibited firearm, his interrogation, the failure of the government promptly to disclose a police report to defense counsel, the calculation of his prison sentence, and the constitutionality of the federal felon-in-possession of a firearm statute. We affirm.

I. Background

On December 4, 2001, at approximately 7:00 a.m., members of the Dane County (Wisconsin) Narcotics and Gangs Task Force, led by Detective Steven Greiber and Sergeant Gary Anderson, executed a search warrant for the apartment of Dur-riel Gillaum. The purpose of the search warrant was to search for drugs (specifically, but not exclusively, cocaine base), drug paraphernalia, and other items likely to constitute evidence of drug trafficking. In the four months prior to December 2001, on four occasions undercover officers had purchased cocaine from persons in the apartment.

Prior to entering Gillaum’s apartment, Anderson pounded on the door to the apartment and shouted, “Police, search warrant.” Anderson then began counting to himself and waving his arm to let the entry team know how much time had elapsed. After he waited five seconds, Anderson heard the sound of footsteps coming from inside the apartment. Anderson testified that the footsteps did not sound as if they were getting closer to the door and he could not discern whether they were moving from left to right or right to left.

After listening to the footsteps for three to five seconds, Anderson ordered a forcible entry into the apartment. Anderson later testified that he did not believe three to five seconds was sufficient time for the footsteps to reach the entry door. In his report and recommendation denying Gill-aum’s motion to suppress the discovery of [985]*985the handgun, the magistrate judge found that approximately eight to ten seconds elapsed between Anderson’s knock on the entry door and the task force’s forcible entry into the apartment. ,

The footsteps Anderson heard appear to have been made by 13-year-old Tryphenia Sykes. Tryphenia is the daughter of Gill-aum’s wife, Mary Sykes.1 Tryphenia testified that she was eating breakfast and watching television when she heard a knock on the door and someone say something. She started towards the door but did not reach the door before the task force rushed in.

Inside the apartment, the task force spread throughout the apartment. Members of the task force found Gillaum and Mary in their bed. Gillaum was handcuffed, taken to the living room and informed of the search warrant. In the living room, members of the task force learned that Gillaum was diabetic. Gill-aum was asked if he was experiencing any medical problems and was told if he was having problems to let someone know. Gillaum was also asked if he needed any food. Gillaum indicated that he was all right and did not need any food. Detective Greiber then led Gillaum into the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom, Greiber removed Gillaum’s handcuffs and read Gill-aum the Miranda warnings. Greiber asked Gillaum if he was familiar with the warnings. Gillaum told Greiber that he was familiar with the warnings and that he was willing to talk to Greiber.

Greiber then questioned Gillaum for approximately half an hour concerning drug activities. Part of this questioning focused on a drug dealer named Kevin Harper. Gillaum refused to provide Greiber with any information concerning Harper. Greiber testified that Gillaum was coherent and did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Greiber also testified that Gillaum did not express a desire to cease the interview, nor did Gill-aum at any time assert his right to remain silent. Gillaum testified that he told Greiber that he (Gillaum) ended the interview by telling Greiber he no longer wanted to talk. After the interview Gillaum was again handcuffed and led back to the living room.

Meanwhile, members of the task force discovered in Gillaum’s bedroom closet a Bryco .38 handgun and two magazines of ammunition. Approximately 15 minutes after the first interview in the bathroom, Greiber took Gillaum- to, the bedroom where he allowed Gillaum to dress and questioned him concerning the handgun. .Greiber did not provide Gillaum with a second round of Miranda warnings. Greiber testified that Gillaum told him that the gun was not his but that he knew the gun was in his bedroom and that his fingerprints would likely be found on it, because he had handled the gun and worked the ammunition through it to make sure it worked and that it was safe.

On February 21, 2002, a federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin returned a one-count indictment charging Gillaum with possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). On April 15, 2002, Gillaum filed a motion to suppress the handgun asserting, inter alia, that the failure of the task force to obey the knock and announce requirements made the search unconstitutional. Gillaum also filed a motion to suppress his statement to Greiber in the second interview, asserting that the statement, was obtained in violation of Gillaum’s right against self-incrimination. Finally, Gillaum filed a mo[986]*986tion to dismiss the indictment, contending that 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional because it exceeds Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

On May 17, 2002, after an evidentiary healing on Gillaum’s suppression motions, a magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation concluding that Gillaum’s motions should be denied. On May 30, 2002, the district court adopted the report and recommendation and denied all of Gill-aum’s motions. Gillaum’s case then proceeded to trial.

At trial, Gillaum and two of his wife’s children testified to the effect that the gun had been brought into his apartment by a man named Jori Stinson. According to Gillaum, Stinson had sold the gun to Rash-an Ross, a Mend of Gillaum’s who, at the time, was staying with Gillaum and who had access to all areas of the apartment. Gillaum testified that he told Ross that he could not keep the gun in the apartment. Gillaum also denied that he told Greiber that he had seen the gun or worked ammunition through it. Sharon Sykes, one of Gillaum’s daughters, testified that she had seen Stinson in the apartment and had overheard Gillaum tell Ross, “[y]ou can’t keep that2 here.” Shawn Sykes, Gillaum’s son, testified that he was present in Gill-aum’s apartment when Stinson sold Ross the gun and was later present when Gill-aum told Ross that Ross could not keep the gun in the apartment.

After the jury entered deliberations, problems arose. The jury requested a transcript of certain portions of the testimony of Gillaum and Greiber. After receiving a rough transcript of the testimony, the jury sent a note to the court indicating that it could not resolve discrepancies between their memories of Gillaum’s testimony and the transcript of his testimony. The court found that there were errors in the transcript. An important error was in the transcribed version of Gillaum’s testimony.

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Related

United States v. Donald G. Moore
375 F.3d 580 (Seventh Circuit, 2004)
United States v. David L. Henton
374 F.3d 467 (Seventh Circuit, 2004)
United States v. Durriel E. Gillaum
355 F.3d 982 (Seventh Circuit, 2004)

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Bluebook (online)
355 F.3d 982, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 761, 2004 WL 77923, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-durriel-e-gillaum-ca7-2004.