United States v. Peveto

881 F.2d 844, 1989 WL 81824
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedJuly 26, 1989
DocketNos. 88-1061, 88-1113 and 88-1116
StatusPublished
Cited by108 cases

This text of 881 F.2d 844 (United States v. Peveto) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth 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. Peveto, 881 F.2d 844, 1989 WL 81824 (10th Cir. 1989).

Opinions

HOLLOWAY, Chief Judge.

These three appeals were companioned for argument. Defendant Carl Eugene [847]*847Hines (Hines) appeals his five count conviction for violating and conspiring to violate narcotics laws and for traveling in interstate commerce to promote narcotics manufacturing. Defendant Burl Allen Peveto, Jr., (Peveto) appeals his one count conspiracy conviction. We affirm their convictions and sentences. Defendant Melvin Ray Rodgers (Rodgers) appeals his four count conviction for violating and conspiring to violate narcotics laws, arguing in part that co-defendant Hines presented an antagonistic and mutually exclusive defense and that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to sever. We agree and because Rogers was denied a fair trial, we reverse his conviction and remand for a new trial.

I

Factual Background

On June 24, 1987 special Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.) agents stopped a man named Gilbert Glasgow (Glasgow). While under surveillance Glasgow had purchased some laboratory equipment for Hines. Glasgow R. 5-7. The equipment included a boiling flask, separa-tory funnels, glass stoppers, plastic tubing, elbow fittings and stopcock grease. Glasgow R. 8-9. The United States Attorney’s Office agreed not to prosecute Glasgow in return for his help in the investigation of Hines and Peveto, a disbarred lawyer. Glasgow R. 6.

Glasgow had known Peveto and Hines for several years. Glasgow R. 5. Hines introduced Rodgers to Glasgow on approximately June 21 or 22, 1987. Glasgow R. 5. On June 23 and 24, 1987, Rodgers rented a room at the Winchester Inn in Moore, Oklahoma. Ill R. 167-168. Glasgow delivered the laboratory equipment he had purchased to Hines and Rodgers at the Winchester and talked with them about the equipment and whether it met their expectations. Glasgow R. 11, 27-30.

A.

Search of the Bryan County House

The investigation continued and on August 1, 1987 a home located in Bryan county, which belonged to Rodgers’ brother, was searched. Ill R. 23-24. There was no furniture in the home, but numerous laboratory supplies were found, including beakers, flasks, a large crockpot containing amber colored liquid, an eggwhip attached to a rubber hose, a bottle of hydrogenchloride gas, rubber tubbing, and acetone. Ill R. 37-39. There was a dense fog in the house and a “very strong odor of ether.” Ill R. 23-24. A three foot by four foot mirror was found in the bathroom with a large amount of white powdery substance on it, later determined to be amphetamine. Ill R. 39, 80-82. Round paper filters were found near the mirror, along with a triple beam scale, and some packaged amphetamine. Ill R. 39. Fourteen pounds of amphetamine were found and enough amphetamine oil to manufacture another 30 pounds.1 Ill R. 84-85. Glasgow said that some of the laboratory equipment at the house was equipment he had purchased for Hines. Glasgow R. 8-10.

Two loaded handguns were also found in the Bryan county home. Ill R. 48-49. Rodgers, Hines’ wife, and co-defendant John Williams were arrested and taken into custody. Ill R. 24-25. Hines was found hiding in the attic and was also arrested and taken into custody. Ill R. 25-26, 54-55.

B.

Search of Hines’ and Peveto’s Apartments

According to Hines’ trial testimony, he and Peveto moved from Sherman, Texas to some apartments in Irving, Texas in July of 1987. V R. 478. Hines told Glasgow on July 7, 1987 that he wanted to purchase some apartments for dope houses. Glasgow R. 35-36. When talking with Glasgow about who would assist in the purchase of [848]*848the houses Hines “wrote the word ‘lawyer’ on a piece of paper and pointed behind him.” Glasgow R. 39. Glasgow knew that Peveto was a lawyer and thought Hines was referring to Peveto. Glasgow R. 39. Glasgow had talked with Hines before moving to Irving. Glasgow R. 40. And when Hines moved to Irving he gave Glasgow both his and Peveto’s new telephone numbers. Glasgow R. 37-38.

On August 5, 1987, Peveto’s apartment was searched and Peveto was arrested.2 A van registered to Hines’ son, and seen earlier the same day at Hines’ apartment, was found in Peveto’s locked garage. IV R. 281-282. Precursor chemicals3 were found inside the van. Ill R. 177-180. D.E.A. chemist Goldstein testified that 120 pounds of amphetamines could have been manufactured with the chemicals found in the van. IV R. 332. There was evidence that the ether found in the van was similar to that found in the Bryan county home. II R. 58. A traffic citation issued to Peveto was found. IV R. 315. A set of triple beam scales, a set of electric scales, a minuscule amount of amphetamine, a number of bottles, and some stickers were also found in Peveto’s apartment. Ill R. 130, 180; IV R. 315-316.

On the same day Hines’ apartment was searched.4 A receipt for the chemicals matching those found in the van at Peve-to's apartment and costing $6,888.18 was found. IV R. 262-263. Approximately one thousand small bottles were found in the garage, along with some stickers. IV R. 237.

Rodgers, Hines, Peveto, and Williams were charged in a seven count indictment. Williams alone was charged in count five with possession of cocaine; the jury acquitted him of that charge and all other charges. Rodgers was charged with knowingly and intentionally manufacturing amphetamine/methamphetamine in count one; possession with intent to distribute amphetamine/methamphetamine in count two; possession of amphetamine oil with intent to manufacture amphetamines in count three; and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute amphetamine/methamphetamine from May 29, 1987 to August 5, 1987 in count four, violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (1982), 18 U.S.C. § 2 (1982) and 21 U.S.C. § 846 (1982). Hines was charged in those same four counts, and in addition, was charged in count six with traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to promote narcotics manufacturing, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (1982) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (1982). He was also charged in count seven with the knowing and intentional possession of a firearm as a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (1982) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (1982). Peveto was charged only with conspiracy.

C.

Hines’ Defense

Hines presented his defense first. To Rodgers’ surprise, he put on evidence to show that he was working as a government agent. Revere Christophe, an employee of the Harrison County Sheriff’s office, was introduced to Hines in 1984 or 1985 by Clifford Lee, a detective with the Oklahoma City Police Department. IV R. 375. Christophe talked to Hines about his desire to work as an agent and Hines in fact assisted in narcotics investigations. IV R. 375.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
881 F.2d 844, 1989 WL 81824, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-peveto-ca10-1989.