United States v. Flett

379 F. Supp. 3d 1152
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Washington
DecidedMay 21, 2019
DocketNo. 2:18-cr-00157-SMJ
StatusPublished

This text of 379 F. Supp. 3d 1152 (United States v. Flett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Flett, 379 F. Supp. 3d 1152 (E.D. Wash. 2019).

Opinion

SALVADOR MENDOZA, JR., United States District Judge

On September 5, 2018, the Government filed an Indictment charging Defendant *1154Tommie Joe Flett with two counts: assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault by an habitual offender resulting in substantial bodily injury. ECF No. 1. On March 19, 2019, the Court rejected the parties' Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, granted Flett's oral motion to withdraw his guilty plea, and scheduled a pretrial conference and trial. ECF No. 40.

The Court held a pretrial conference on May 21, 2019. Before the Court was Flett's motion to dismiss count two and response to the Government's notice of prior convictions, ECF No. 54 ; Flett's motion to bifurcate or sever counts and response to the Government's notice of prior convictions, ECF No. 50 ; Flett's objections to anticipated expert testimony, ECF No. 49 ; and Flett's motions in limine , ECF No. 48. The Court ruled orally on each of Flett's motions and objections. This Order memorializes and supplements the Court's oral rulings, which are incorporated herein. The Court addresses each of Flett's motions and objections in turn.

A. Flett's motion to dismiss count two

Count two of the Indictment charges Flett with domestic assault by an habitual offender resulting in substantial bodily injury. ECF No. 1 at 2. Flett moves to dismiss count two, arguing insufficient evidence supports it because his criminal history does not contain the two predicate convictions required. ECF No. 54 at 4-8. For the jury to find Flett guilty of count two, the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that, on or about July 12, 2018, he "ha[d] a final conviction on at least 2 separate prior occasions in Federal, State, or Indian tribal court proceedings for offenses that would be, if subject to Federal jurisdiction ... any assault, sexual abuse, or serious violent felony against a[n] ... intimate partner." 18 U.S.C. § 117(a)(1) ; see also ECF No. 1 at 2.

Flett argues he has only one predicate conviction because his prior state and tribal convictions do not qualify as the second predicate.1 Applying the categorical approach, Flett argues his prior state and tribal convictions are overbroad because they require a lesser mens rea than the federal generic offenses, which require intent. ECF No. 54 at 4-7. Assuming, without deciding, that the categorical approach applies in this context, Flett's argument fails.

Both Flett and the Government point to simple assault and assault by striking, beating, or wounding (i.e., simple battery2 )- 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(4) and (5) -as possible comparators. Id. at 5; ECF No. 61 at 8, 11, 12. Because § 113 "does not specify a mens rea requirement, nor does it define 'assault,' " the Ninth Circuit has "applied the common law definition of assault to § 113 crimes." United States v. Lamott , 831 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.), cert. denied , --- U.S. ----, 137 S. Ct. 258, 196 L.Ed.2d 195 (2016). "Common law assault is defined as '(1) a willful attempt to inflict injury upon the person of another, also known as an attempt to commit battery, or (2) a threat to inflict injury upon the person of another which, when coupled with an apparent present ability, causes a reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm.' " Id. (quoting United States v. Lewellyn , 481 F.3d 695, 697 (9th Cir. 2007) ).

*1155"Under the common law, 'an assault is an attempted battery and proof of a battery will support conviction of an assault.' " Lewellyn , 481 F.3d at 697 (quoting United States v. Dupree , 544 F.2d 1050, 1052 (9th Cir. 1976) ). "[B]attery is a general intent crime." Lamott , 831 F.3d at 1157. "[A] general intent crime requires only that the act was volitional (as opposed to accidental), and the defendant's state of mind is not otherwise relevant." Id. at 1156. Thus, "[a]t common law, battery did not require intent to injure, only that the offensive touching was willful." Lewellyn , 481 F.3d at 697. Similarly, "[t]he mens rea requirement [for assault] is that the volitional act be willful or intentional; an intent to cause injury is not required." Id.

Incorporating these rules, the model jury instructions for simple assault and simple battery require that the defendant commit the act "intentionally." See Ninth Circuit Jury Instructions Comm., Manual of Model Criminal Jury Instructions 8.7A, 8.8 (2010 ed.). " 'Intentionally' applies to the act itself, and serves merely to distinguish nonvolitional or accidental conduct. The requirement that an act be done 'intentionally' is 'a perfectly adequate formulation of the idea of general intent.' " Lamott , 831 F.3d at

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Bluebook (online)
379 F. Supp. 3d 1152, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-flett-waed-2019.