United States v. Grindstaff

479 F. Supp. 599, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16310
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedJuly 28, 1978
DocketNo. CR-2-78-20
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 479 F. Supp. 599 (United States v. Grindstaff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Grindstaff, 479 F. Supp. 599, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16310 (E.D. Tenn. 1978).

Opinion

MEMORANDA OPINIONS AND ORDERS

NEESE, District Judge.

The defendant Mr. Grindstaff moved the Court to dismiss the indictment herein on the ground that same was not returned until 13 to 14 months after the offenses charged therein are alleged to have occurred. The defendant, not having established that any such preindictment delay was in fact significantly prejudicial to him and that the government acted in bad faith in connection with the delay so as to gain an unfair tactical advantage, the motion hereby is

DENIED. United States v. Lovasco (1977), 431 U.S. 783, 97 S.Ct. 2044, 52 L.Ed.2d 752; United States v. Roberts, C.A. 6th (1977), 548 F.2d 665, 668[4], certiorari denied (1977), 431 U.S. 931, 97 S.Ct. 2636, 53 L.Ed.2d 246; United States v. Swainson, C.A. 6th (1977), 548 F.2d 657, 663[14], certiorari denied (1977), 431 U.S. 937, 97 S.Ct. 2649, 53 L.Ed.2d 255; see also United States v. Ferguson, C.A. 6th (1978), 582 F.2d 1280.

Mr. Grindstaff moved the Court also for a severance of the trial of the three defendants named herein. Rule 14, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The test as to a severance of trial under Rule 14, supra, is the likelihood of substantial prejudice to one defendant or the defendants if they are tried together. Schaffer v. United States (1960), 362 U.S. 511, 514, 80 S.Ct. 945, 947, 4 L.Ed.2d 921, 924 (headnote 2), cited in United States v. Sims, C.A. 6th (1970), 430 F.2d 1089, 1092—1093[7].

The defendant contends, first, that. such a severance should be granted because the positions at trial of the three defendants herein “ * * * will be antagonistic. * * * ” That ground is insufficient. United States v. Ehrlichman, C.A.D.C. (1976), 178 U.S.App.D.C. 144, 163, 546 F.2d 910, 929[15], certiorari denied (1977), 429 U.S. 1120, 97 S.Ct. 1155, 51 L.Ed.2d 570; United States v. Barber, C.A. 3d (1971), 442 F.2d 517, 530[14], certiorari denied (1971), 404 U.S. 958, 92 S.Ct. 327, 30 L.Ed.2d 275.

Secondly, it is urged that a severance is necessary because «* * * should the other [defendants named in the indictment herein testify, their testimony would exculpate * * * ” the moving defendant. Presumably, Mr. Grindstaff is contending that, in a joint trial, he would not be able to avail himself of such exculpatory testimony, because his codefendants would invoke their right not to take the witness stand. Constitution, Fifth Amendment. The grant of a severance on this ground is not favored, and a defendant seeking the same is required “ * * * to make an adequate showing of prejudice to justify disregarding the general rule favoring a joint trial for persons jointly indicted. * * * ” United States v. Vaughn, C.A. 6th (1970), 422 F.2d 812, 814[3]. “ * * * [The] [m]ovant must establish to the satisfaction of the trial judge that the testimony in question is exculpatory in effect and that [602]*602the designated codefendant will in fact testify at a separate trial. * * * ” United States v. Morrow, C.A. 5th (1976), 537 F.2d 120, 135[11]; see also United States v. Grooms, D.C.Tenn. (1969), 320 F.Supp. 498, 500[3], affirmed C.A. 6th (1970), 438 F.2d 967, certiorari denied (1970), 400 U.S. 929, 91 S.Ct. 189, 27 L.Ed.2d 190.

On the present state of the record herein, it is pure speculation whether either of Mr. Grindstaff’s codefendants would be able to, and would, give testimony exculpatory of him, and whether either of them would not testify in a joint trial but would testify in a separate trial. Mr. Grindstaff, having failed to demonstrate the likelihood of substantial prejudice to him resulting from a joint trial, his motion for a severance hereby is DENIED; however, the Court will grant a severance and separate trial to Mr. Grindstaff should it appear to the Court at any stage of the joint trial that substantial prejudice will result to him from a joint trial. United States v. Dugger, D.C.Tenn. (1976), 422 F.Supp. 1342, 1344[6].

The same defendant moved the Court also “ * * * pursuant to the requirements of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 [83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215] (1963) * * * ” to order the government to produce all evidence which it possesses which is favorable to him and which would tend to exculpate him of the charges herein. The defendant’s reliance on Brady v. Maryland (1963), 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215, is misplaced. “ * * * There is no general constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case, and Brady did not create one. * * * ” Weatherford v. Bursey (1977), 429 U.S. 545, 559, 97 S.Ct. 837, 846, 51 L.Ed.2d 30, 42[6]. Brady did not deal with pretrial discovery, and it was never intended to create any pretrial remedies. United States v. Moore, C.A. 6th (1971), 439 F.2d 1107, 1108; United States v. Conder, C.A. 6th (1970), 423 F.2d 904, 911[12, 13], certiorari denied sub nom. Pegram v. United States (1970), 400 U.S. 958, 91 S.Ct. 357, 27 L.Ed.2d 267.

Motion DENIED.

Mr. Grindstaff seeks also a particularization of the indictment herein. Rule 7(f), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. “ * * * The purposes of a bill of particulars are to inform the defendant of the nature of the charge against him with sufficient precision to enable him with sufficient precision to prepare for trial, to avoid or minimize the danger of surprise at the time of trial, and to enable him to plead his acquittal or conviction in bar of another prosecution for the same offense when the indictment itself is too vague, and indefinite for such purposes. * * * ” United States v. Birmley, C.A. 6th (1976), 529 F.2d 103, 108[12],

The United States attorney of this district hereby is ORDERED to file herein, within 10 days herefrom, a bill particularizing the identification of the respective 1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille automobiles mentioned in counts II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and XI of the indictment herein. Such should include the vehicle identification numbers of such vehicles, to the extent that the same is known by any personnel of the government. In all other respects, the motion hereby is

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Bluebook (online)
479 F. Supp. 599, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16310, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-grindstaff-tned-1978.