United States v. Lewis

838 F. Supp. 2d 689, 2012 WL 174786, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6759
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 20, 2012
DocketCase No. 3:11-cr-79
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 838 F. Supp. 2d 689 (United States v. Lewis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Lewis, 838 F. Supp. 2d 689, 2012 WL 174786, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6759 (S.D. Ohio 2012).

Opinion

DECISION AND ENTRY: (1) DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANT LEWIS’ MOTION TO SUPPRESS (DOC. 27); AND (2) DENYING DEFENDANT WATSON’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS (DOC. 28)

TIMOTHY S. BLACK, District Judge.

This criminal case is before the Court on Defendants’ Motions to Suppress. (Docs. 27, 28). Defendants seek an order suppressing identification testimony of certain eyewitness victims arguing that photo lineups used were unduly suggestive and that the identifications made by the victim witnesses using the lineups have no independent basis of reliability. (Docs. 27, 28). The Government filed a memorandum opposing Defendants’ Motions. (Doc. 36). The Court held hearings on Defendants’ Motions on September 22, 2011 and October 20, 2011. (Docs. 51, 52). Following the hearings, the parties filed briefs and subsequent responses. (Does. 53-58). The Motions to Suppress are now ripe for decision.

I. FACTS

Defendants Theron Lewis and Keith Watson were indicted on May 25, 2011 for allegedly committing a robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) (“the Hobbs Act”), for allegedly using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) & (o), and for allegedly causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and (j)(l). (Doc. 4). Defendant Thomas was also indicted for being a previously convicted felon in possession of ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). (Id.)

The facts giving rise to the indictment occurred on April 3, 2007, when three armed men invaded a residence at 1637 Harold Street, Dayton, Ohio and committed a robbery. (Id.) According to the victim witnesses inside the residence at the time of the robbery, the first intruder entered the residence and proceeded to a back bedroom where brothers Dwayne Burg, Jr. and Torrence Burg were located along with their father, Dwayne Burg, Sr. (Doc. 51). The second intruder entered the residence and stood near the doorway of the bedroom, entering and exiting it throughout the robbery.1 (Doc. 51). The third intruder stood near the front door throughout the robbery. (Doc. 51). During the robbery, the first intruder shot and killed Dwayne Burg, Sr. (Docs. 51, 52).

According to Dwayne Burg, Jr., the first and second intruders were in his bedroom for more than a minute, but less than two. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 200). Aside from glancing at the second intruder,2 Dwayne [693]*693Burg, Jr. focused his attention on the first intruder, who, according to Dwayne Burg Jr.’s testimony at the suppression hearing, wore nothing covering his face. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 200-201, 204). Dwayne Burg, Jr. denied ever describing the first intruder as having any facial covering. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 204).

Torrence Burg, who was also in the bedroom during the robbery, testified that he directed his attention to first intruder during the robbery. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 272). Torrence Burg estimated that the first intruder was in the room for 5 to 10 minutes and stood approximately an arm’s length and a half from him. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 272). At the suppression hearing, Torrence Burg stated that the first intruder had dark skin, a low haircut, scraggly beard growth, black clothing, and nothing covering his face. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 281-282). He denied telling police that the first intruder possibly wore a black bandanna in an attempt to cover his face, and instead, testified that his description of the bandanna applied to another intruder. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 283).

Brandy Hurston, the sister of Dwayne, Jr. and Torrence Burg, was lying on her stomach on the floor of the front living room during the robbery, only five to six steps from the third intruder. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 300-301). During the robbery, Ms. Hurston directed her attention straight-ahead, looking into the bedroom where her brothers and father were located with the first intruder. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 312, 315). At certain points, however, Ms. Hurston’s attention was drawn to the front door area where her one-year old son was sleeping “right next” to the third intruder. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 312-314). She testified that she had a “very long, steady look” at the unmasked third intruder, who continuously pointed a gun at her, yelling “shut up, Bitch, quit looking at me.” (Doc. 51, PAGEID 299, 312-314). Ms. Hurston testified that she caught a glimpse of the side of the first intruder’s uncovered face as he exited the residence. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 331).

Cassandra Powers, a Burg family friend, was lying “face down” in the kitchen during the robbery with a view of the third intruder. (Doc. 51, PAGE ID 242). Ms. Powers was approximately 25 to 30 feet from the third intruder, who was in her direct line of vision. (Doc. 51, PAGE ID 232). According to Ms. Powers, she viewed the third intruder throughout the entire five to eight minutes she estimated the robbery took place. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 232). Ms. Powers also had a good opportunity to see the third intruder’s unmasked face. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 233, 246). At the suppression hearing, Ms. Powers described the third intruder as wearing dark clothing, a short haircut, somewhat light complected, and approximately five feet, eight inches tall. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 246).

In the days and weeks following the robbery, all of the aforementioned witnesses were shown numerous photos (approximately 20 lineups), and all of the witnesses were unable to identify a suspect in those photo lineups.3 (Doc. 52, PAGEID 363-369).

On May 29, 2009, over two years after the robbery, Dwayne Burg, Jr. watched a noon news broadcast on WHIO TV reporting the arrest of Defendants Theron Lewis and Keith Watson in connection with a [694]*694separate shooting incident in Dayton. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 185-186, 209-210). The news broadcast displayed “mugshot” photos of both Theron Lewis and Keith Watson. (Doc. 51). Upon viewing the WHIO news broadcast, Dwayne Burg, Jr. identified Theron Lewis as the first intruder who shot his father. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 185).

Torrence Burg viewed a rebroadcast of the WHIO news story that evening. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 268). Upon viewing the news broadcast, Torrence Burg identified Theron Lewis as “[t]he man that shot my father” without question and for certain. (Doc. 51, PAGE ID 268-269).

Brandy Hurston received a call from her brothers and was told to watch the news broadcast. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 322). Ms. Hurston viewed a recorded version of the news broadcast and identified Keith Watson as the third intruder who stood by the front door during the robbery. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 322-326). Ms. Hurston was not able, however, to identify Theron Lewis as an intruder upon viewing the news broadcast. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 324-327). After viewing the news broadcast, Ms. Hurston spoke to her brothers about what she saw, and her brothers informed her that they identified Theron Lewis as the first intruder who shot their father. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 325). Cassandra Powers did not see the news broadcast. (Doc. 51, PAGEID 239).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Theron Lewis
540 F. App'x 512 (Sixth Circuit, 2013)
State v. Reed
2013 Ohio 3970 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
838 F. Supp. 2d 689, 2012 WL 174786, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-lewis-ohsd-2012.