United States v. McClelland

571 F. Supp. 759, 14 Fed. R. Serv. 904, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14438
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedAugust 22, 1983
DocketNo. CR-R-83-16-ECR
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 571 F. Supp. 759 (United States v. McClelland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. McClelland, 571 F. Supp. 759, 14 Fed. R. Serv. 904, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14438 (D. Nev. 1983).

Opinion

ORDER

REED, District Judge.

Defendant has moved for a new trial, F.R.Cr.P. 33, and for acquittal, F.R.Cr.P. 29(c). The grounds for his motion shall be treated in the order in which he listed them, as follows:

1. The Court erred in charging the jury that the government was not required to prove inducement as an element of the offense charged — 18 U.S.C. § 1951(b)(2) defines “extortion” to mean “the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.” (Emphasis added.) The statute is in the disjunctive; where the defendant acted “under color of official right” it is not necessary for the Government to prove that the victim’s consent was induced by actual or threatened force, violence or fear. United States v. Jannotti, 673 F.2d 578, 594-595 (3rd Cir.1982); Unit[761]*761ed States v. Braasch, 505 F.2d 139, 151 (7th Cir.1974); United States v. Margiotta, 608 F.2d 108, 132 (2nd Cir.1982), app. pdg. These cases emphasize that the utilization of the power of public office to obtain consent by the victim is the gist of the offense of obtaining money (property) “under color of official right.” There is every indication that the Ninth Circuit will agree that coercive inducement is not an essential element of the offense when the defendant acted “under color of official right.” See United States v. Gates, 616 F.2d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir.1980); United States v. Phillips, 577 F.2d 495, 503 (9th Cir.1978).

2. The Court erred in allowing the government to change its theory and thereby deny the Accused sufficient notice and due process of law — As discussed above, the offense requires proof that the defendant obtained money with the consent of the victim by the defendant’s utilization of the power of his public office. Where the prosecution is for extortion under color of official right, it is unnecessary to prove that the defendant induced the extortionate payment. United States v. Jannotti, supra; United States v. Hedman, 630 F.2d 1184, 1195 (7th Cir.1980). Therefore, the jury instructions were correct in not listing inducement as an essential element of the offense (Instruction No. 15) and in stating (in Instruction No. 21) that: “It is not necessary for the government to show that the defendant induced the extortionate payment.”

The defendant emphasizes, however, that the Government’s trial memorandum stated that an essential element of the offense is: “That the defendant induced, or attempted to induce his victim to part with property.... ” It is argued by the defendant that he presented his case based on the belief that the prosecution had to prove that he induced the consent of FBI agent Rybar to payment of the money. In other words, the defendant apparently alleges that he was led to believe that he could not be convicted if the evidence showed that Mr. Rybar offered the payment as a bribe, in contrast to inducement initiated by the defendant. The defendant says that it wasn’t until the evidence had all been presented, and jury instructions were being settled by the Court, that he realized that the Government had changed its theory so as to make his bribery defense ineffectual.

The Government answers that its trial memorandum was submitted solely to assist the Court in an orderly presentation of the case. As pointed out in the Court’s Order Regarding Pretrial Procedure, filed March 30, 1983, it is optional with counsel for each party whether he wishes to submit a trial memorandum. It is designed to expedite the trial of the case by notifying the judge and the opposing party in advance of trial, what matters, both legal and evidentiary, will have to be resolved during the trial. Neither the Court nor the opposing party is bound by any mistaken notions contained in such a memorandum. The defendant herein could not justifiably rely on any misstatements contained in the Government’s trial memorandum, including the listing of purported essential elements of the offense. The Government is not obliged to disclose the theory under which it will proceed. United States v. Buckner, 610 F.2d 570, 574 (9th Cir.1979).

The defendant may rely on the Indictment, however. It reads, in pertinent part:

“On or about March 28, 1981, in the District of Nevada, the defendant, JOSEPH B. McClelland, did knowingly, wilfully and unlawfully attempt to obstruct, delay and affect commerce, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(b)(3), and the movement of supplies, materials and articles in commerce, by extortion, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(b)(2), in that the defendant, Joseph b. McClelland, m his position as a member of the City Council, did obtain the sum of three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750.00), in the form of a check payable to Associated Consultants, to which he was not entitled and which was not lawfully due him or his office, from and with the consent of Stephen J. Rybar on behalf [762]*762of the Trust, said consent having been induced under color of official right; that is, in return for Stephen J. Rybar’s payment of three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750.00), the defendant, JOSEPH B. McClelland, gave his assurance that he would use the power, authority and influence of his public office to vote for and approve the construction of a bank, the operation of which bank would be dependent upon, affect, facilitate and increase the movement of supplies, materials, articles and services in commerce; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951.” (Emphasis added.)

The italicized portion clearly advised the defendant of the nature of his activities that had caused his indictment. Any belief that the Government proving bribery, rather than extortion, would constitute a defense could not be premised on established law. The opinion in United States v. Phillips, 577 F.2d 495, 503 (9th Cir.1978) states:

“Both Phillips and Beasley argue that the district court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that if they were guilty of bribery, they could not be also guilty of extortion. However, appellants were indicted for extortion both by fear of economic loss and under color of official right. The circuits are unanimous in concluding that where official right is alleged, bribery and extortion are not mutually exclusive under the Hobbs Act.”

Further, in United States v. Gates,

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

Related

United States v. Katherine Bordallo Aguon
813 F.2d 1413 (Ninth Circuit, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
571 F. Supp. 759, 14 Fed. R. Serv. 904, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14438, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-mcclelland-nvd-1983.