United States v. Ralph H. Carty

993 F.2d 1005, 38 Fed. R. Serv. 871, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 12645, 1993 WL 173940

• Court: Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
• Decided: May 28, 1993
• Docket: 92-1613
• Status: Published

Opinions

CYR, Circuit Judge.

On July 30, 1990, the Providence Police executed a state-court search warrant at the residence of appellant Ralph Carty and seized several firearms and a small quantity of cocaine. Carty was tried and convicted on two firearms charges but acquitted on a cocaine charge. Carty contends on appeal that (1) the evidence seized at the residence should have been suppressed because the warrant affidavit contained false statements; (2) at the suppression hearing the district court improperly restricted cross-examination of the affiant; and (3) the court improperly admitted “other act” evidence at trial. We affirm.

I

DISCUSSION

A. Suppression Hearing

1. Franks v. Delaware

The warrant affidavit, provided by Detective Nicholas Cardarelli of the Providence Police Department, formed the primary focus of the Franks hearing¹ conducted before the district court.²

Although the Cardarelli affidavit, dated July 30, 1990, indicated that the controlled buy had taken place within the preceding “few days,” Cardarelli subsequently learned that Carty and his family were on vacation during that time and had not returned to their residence until thé evening of July 29. At the suppression hearing, Cardarelli testified that the controlled buy took place between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on July 30. He explained that it was normal police procedure not to reveal the exact date of the controlled buy so as to protect the identity of the confidential informant. Cardarelli testified that he drove the informant to the tenement in which Carty occupied a first-floor apartment, observed the informant enter and emerge shortly thereafter with a small baggie containing a substance that appeared to be cocaine, returned to the Special Investigation Bureau (“SIB”) office, and performed a field test on the substance. As ■ the test indicated the presence of cocaine, Cardarelli drafted the affidavit and obtained a search warrant from a state court judge. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on July 30, Cardarelli and other officers executed the search warrant at the Carty residence.

Detective Stephen Berarducci corroborated Cardarelli’s testimony. He testified that he saw Cardarelli at the SIB office on July 30 at about 2:00 p.m. and was aware that Cardarelli was going to attempt a controlled buy at the Carty residence. According to Berarducci, Cardarelli returned to the office around 4:00 p.m. and performed a field test on a small plastic bag of cocaine, which Car-darelli said had been purchased at the Carty residence. Berarducci also testified that he received a check the following day from Sergeant Dennis Lambert, the SIB evidence control officer, which was used to pay for the informant’s services. A photocopy of the check was admitted into evidence.

Sergeant Lambert testified that he could locate neither a log book entry, nor a “controlled buy form,” reflecting a drug transaction on July 30 conducted by Detective Car-darelli or any other officer.³ Lambert testified that his records documented a controlled buy of heroin on July 25 or 26 at the apartment building in which Carty lived, but that it occurred on the second floor of the building and was unrelated to any controlled buy at the Carty apartment on the first floor.

Two of Carty’s co-workers testified that he was at work on July 30 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Carty provided similar testimony "and submitted receipts reflecting Carty’s wages for the day. She further testified that no one came to their residence between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on July 30. Two other individuals testified that they were at the Carty residence throughout the day on July 30 and that no one came to the house between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the district court declined to suppress the evidence seized pursuant to the warrant as Carty had failed to produce sufficient evidence to undermine the Cardarelli affidavit.⁴ Carty contends that he demonstrated that the controlled buy could not have occurred as described in the Cardarelli affidavit. Without the false statements, he argues, the affidavit was insufficient to establish probable cause. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. at 2676 (If the defendant proves perjury or “reckless disregard,” by a preponderance of the evidence, and the untainted content of the affidavit is insufficient to establish probable cause, the fruits of the search must be excluded “to the same extent as if probable cause was lacking on the face of the affidavit”).

We review the district court’s findings of fact for clear error; its conclusion of law de novo. United States v. Garcia, 983 F.2d 1160, 1167 (1st Cir.1993) (citing United States v. Sanchez, 943 F.2d 110, 112 (1st Cir.1991)). Its denial of the suppression motion will be upheld if supported by any reasonable view of the evidence. Id.

Although we find it troubling, as did the district court, that there is no record of a controlled cocaine buy during the entire relevant period, our review of the suppression hearing transcript reveals nothing inherently contradictory or incredible in Cardarelli’s testimony, as corroborated by Detective Berarducci. First and foremost, Cardarelli’s suppression hearing testimony as to the exact date of the controlled buy (July 30) is not inconsistent with the time period (“within the past few days”) he gave in the warrant affidavit; July 30 at 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. was “within the past few days” of Cardarelli’s preparation of the warrant affidavit, which occurred late in the afternoon or early in the evening of July 30. Thus, the affidavit was not necessarily inconsistent with Cardarelli’s testimony. Second, the district court, before whom Cardarelli and Berarducei testified, credited Cardarelli’s explanation that it was customary to avoid precise specification of the dates of controlled buys in order to protect the identity of informants. Finding nothing inherently inconsistent in Cardarelli’s testimony, and mindful of the trial court’s superior vantage point, we are satisfied that there is no sound basis for second-guessing its demeanor-based credibility determinations at the suppression hearing.⁵ See Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 428, 105 S.Ct. 844, 854, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985) (determinations of demeanor and credibility are peculiarly within a trial judge’s province); United States v. Portalla, 985 F.2d 621, 622 (1st Cir.1993) (recognizing district court’s broad power to determine witness credibility); see also Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 575, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 1512, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985) (“only the trial judge can be aware of the variations in demeanor and tone of voice that bear so heavily on the listener’s understanding of and belief in what is said”).⁶

2. Right to Confrontation

Carty next asserts that his Sixth Amendment right to confront adverse witnesses was infringed by the district court’s restrictions on cross-examination of Detective Cardarelli at the suppression hearing. In the course of cross-examining Cardarelli about the perceived discrepancy between his testimony and his affidavit relating to the date of the controlled buy, defense counsel inquired: “Tell me, Detective Cardarelli, why are you represented by Mr. Bevilacqua?” When the court refused, on relevancy grounds, to direct Cardarelli to answer over the government’s objection, defense counsel responded by way of an offer of proof: “[I]t is my belief that this witness is being investigated for corruption in the police department.” Defense counsel hypothesized that Cardarelli may have adjusted the asserted date of the controlled buy to negate Carty’s alibi evidence. Counsel argued that the proposed line of questioning was intended to determine whether Cardarelli was telling the truth. Rebuffed by the district court,⁷ defense counsel urged that he be permitted to show Cardarelli’s bias, suggesting that “if, in fact, the investigation is being conducted ... by the [fjederal [government, then [Cardar-elli] has an interest in making the [fjederal [government happy by being a witness who testifies consistently with the [government’s theory of this case[, a]nd bias to that extent is a legitimate area of inquiry.” Concluding that it was not “material to the issue here,” the court remained steadfast in its refusal to permit inquiry concerning the supposed investigation.

Carty contends that the proffer demonstrated that the putative federal investigation into possible corruption involving Cardarelli was directly related to the events in the case and probative of Cardarelli’s credibility and bias, and, therefore, that the district court’s ruling deprived him of his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. “[A] primary interest secured by [the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment] is the right of cross-examination.” Douglas v. Alabama, 380 U.S. 415, 418, 85 S.Ct. 1074, 1076, 13 L.Ed.2d 934 (1965). Cross-examination is the “principal means by which the believability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested.” Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 316, 94 S.Ct. 1105, 1110, 39 L.Ed.2d 347 (1974). Nevertheless, the right of cross-examination is not without limits. “On the contrary, trial judges retain wide latitude insofar as the Confrontation Clause is concerned to impose reasonable limits on ... cross-examination based on concerns about, among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.” Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679, 106 S.Ct. 1431, 1435, 89 L.Ed.2d 674 (1986). See Brown v. Powell, 975 F.2d 1, 3-4 (1st Cir.1992); United States v. Malik, 928 F.2d 17, 19-20 (1st Cir.1991); United States v. Rivera-Santiago, 872 F.2d 1073, 1084 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 910, 109 S.Ct. 3227, 106 L.Ed.2d 576 (1989) and cert. denied, 493 U.S. 832, 110 S.Ct. 105, 107 L.Ed.2d 68 (1989). We review district court limitations on cross-examination for “abuse of discretion.” United States v. Boylan, 898 F.2d 230, 254 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 849, 111 S.Ct. 139, 112 L.Ed.2d 106 (1990); Rivera-Santiago, 872 F.2d at 1084.

A criminal defendant’s right to cross-examine for bias is an important component of the constitutional right to confrontation. Thus, the trial court may not limit cross-examination in this area without according the defendant the latitude to conduct a “minimum threshold of inquiry” sufficient to permit the factfinder to make the requisite discriminating appraisal of the biases of the witness. Brown, 975 F.2d at 5 (quoting United States v. Jarabek, 726 F.2d 889, 902 (1st Cir.1984)); United States v. Kepreos, 759 F.2d 961, 965 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 901, 106 S.Ct. 227, 88 L.Ed.2d 227 (1985); United States v. Tracey, 675 F.2d 433, 437 (1st Cir.1982). Otherwise, the defendant’s right to confrontation will have been infringed unless the factfinder nonetheless possessed “sufficient other information ... to make a discriminating appraisal of the possible biases and motivations of the witness[ ].’ ” Brown, 975 F.2d at 5 (quoting Tracey, 675 F.2d at 437).

On the record in this case, we conclude that the district court acted well within its discretion in declining to permit cross-examination to proceed after considering the offer of proof. The court recognized that the con-clusory offer of proof simply speculated that an investigation into possible police corruption might be underway and might involve Cardarelli. There was no indication as to the source or basis of the stated belief, no substantiation, and no representation that the federal government was involved in any such investigation. Nor was there any suggestion that the supposed investigation in any manner related to the events at issue in this ease. Thus, the contention, advanced below and on appeal, that Cardarelli may have testified with a view to impressing the federal government is not even based on a speculative belief. Absent any such logical' linkage, the proposed inquiry was irrelevant, just as the district court found. Moreover, as the district court was also the finder of fact at the suppression hearing, the defense was on notice that it needed to make the strongest offer of proof possible to overcome the government’s objection to this line of inquiry. Yet the offer of proof was left (and remains) patently deficient to enable the conclusion that the district court abused its discretion by ruling the proffer inadequate to warrant further inquiry over the government’s objection. Cf. United States v. Sutherland, 929 F.2d 765, 776-77 (1st Cir.) (limitation on cross-examination of witness did not contravene Sixth Amendment right to confrontation where defendant “demonstrated absolutely no basis for suspecting bias other than a conclusory allegation” that the witness hoped to receive favorable treatment from the government in exchange for his testimony), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 83, 116 L.Ed.2d 56 (1991); Fed.R.Evid. 103(a)(2). We find no Sixth Amendment violation.

B. Trial

1. “Other Act” Evidence

Finally, Carty contends that the trial court committed reversible error by admitting “other act” evidence which should have been excluded under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) or 403. The challenged evidence consisted of post-arrest admissions by appellant Carty relating to a drug source. At trial, Detective Cardarelli testified as follows:

Mr. Carty stated to me that he also had a location on Route 95 in Attleboro where he would drive his white Camaro to meet a so-called person, he didn’t mention any name or didn’t give any description, at a road side rest stop where this person would meet him and leave drugs underneath a trash container at that roadside stop and he would retrieve the drugs and bring them back to the City of Providence. And I then asked him why did you go through all that trouble? And he says, because this person does not want to come into the City of Providence because there’s a lot of heat on drug activity in the City of Providence.

Another police officer testified that he overheard the conversation, and corroborated Cardarelli’s testimony. When asked whether Carty described what he was buying, the officer replied, “coke.”

Admissible “other act” evidence must survive scrutiny under Rules 408 and 404(b). First, under the “absolute bar” of Rule 404(b), the evidence is inadmissible if relevant solely to show the defendant’s character or propensity for criminal conduct; it must have some “special relevance” to a material issue such as motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, or knowledge. See United States v. Agudelo, 988 F.2d 285, 287 (1st Cir.1993); United States v. Williams, 985 F.2d 634, 637 (1st Cir.1993); United States v. Donovan, 984 F.2d 507, 512 (1st Cir.1993). Second, under Rule 403, the trial court must satisfy itself that the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion, or undue delay. See Agudelo, 988 F.2d at 287; Donovan, 984 F.2d at 512; United States v. Devin, 918 F.2d 280, 286 (1st Cir.1990). The admissibility of “other act” evidence is committed to the sound discretion of the district court, and we review its ruling only for abuse of discretion, United States v. Garcia, 983 F.2d 1160, 1172 (1st Cir.1993), bearing in mind that Rule 404(b) is a rule of inclusion, not exclusion, see Donovan, 984 F.2d at 512; United States v. Fields, 871 F.2d 188, 196 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 955, 110 S.Ct. 369, 107 L.Ed.2d 355 (1989).

a. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b)

Notwithstanding defense counsel’s plaint that the testimony indicated that Carty was buying rather than distributing drugs, the district court admitted the challenged evidence on the ground that it “goes to the possible intent and shows that [Carty] was one who did distribute or planned to distribute.” Carty contends that the district court improperly ascribed “special relevance” to the evidence.

The court correctly ruled that the evidence was probative of intent to commit the charged offense of possession with intent to distribute, noting that “you have to buy [cocaine] to sell it.” See, e.g., Garcia, 983 F.2d at 1173 (prior arrest for dealing in cocaine admissible to show intent to possess and distribute cocaine) (quoting United States v. Hadfield, 918 F.2d 987, 994 (1st Cir.1990) (citing cases)). The evidence was probative of opportunity as well. Thus, since the “other act” evidence permitted at least one relevant non-propensity and non-character based inference, see United States v. Nickens, 955 F.2d 112, 124 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 108, 121 L.Ed.2d 66 (1992), it satisfied the requirements of Rule 404(b).

b. Fed.R.Evid. 403

Appellant contends that the probative value of the evidence was greatly outweighed by its prejudicial effect, as the government did not link the “other act” evidence to the cocaine seized from Carty’s garage, nor did it establish the quantity previously purchased or show that it was part of a continuing scheme or conspiracy.

Only in exceptional circumstances will we reverse a trial court’s evidentiary ruling in the face of a Rule 403 challenge. Garcia, 983 F.2d at 1173; United States v. Garcia-Rosa, 876 F.2d 209, 221 (1st Cir.1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1030, 110 S.Ct. 742, 107 L.Ed.2d 760 (1990). Appellant has not shown that the probative value of the “other act” evidence was substantially outweighed by its unfair prejudice. See Onujiogu v. United States, 817 F.2d 3, 6 (1st Cir.1987) (“The fact that a piece of evidence hurts a party’s chances does not mean it-should automatically be excluded, [or] there would be precious little left in the way of probative evidence in any case”). As Carty’s post-arrest statements relating to a cocaine source were probative of his intent and opportunity to possess and distribute-cocaine, see supra Part LB.l.a., and there was no “unfair prejudice,”⁸ Rule 403 posed no barrier to then-admission in evidence.⁹

Affirmed.

Dissent follows.

1 . At the Franks hearing, see Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978), the court also received evidence concerning Carty's post-arrest statements to the police.

2 . The Cardarelli affidavit stated in pertinent part:

Within the past few days ... my reliable and confidential informant ... stated ... that Ralph and Pamela [Carty] are storing and selling illegal [cjocaine from [their] house located at 34 Adelaide Ave. 1st floor apartment, garage area and basement area, Providence, RI....

Within the past few days this confidential informant ... agreed to make a purchase of cocaine from Ralph H. Cariy from 34 Adelaide Ave. first floor apartment.... [A]ffiant met this informant at [a] pre-arranged location [where] the informant was searched by your affiant and after finding no contraband the informant was given a sum of U.S. currency for the purpose of purchasing suspected cocaine from the Ralph H. Cariy subject at 34 Adelaide Ave. [T]he informant was driven into the area of 34 Adelaide Avenue and ... was then observed by your affiant walking over to 34 Adelaide Avenue.... [T]he informant was observed knocking on the front door ... and then ... entered this location. A short time later the informant was ... observed ... walking back to our pre-arranged location. Never losing sight of this informant!,] the informant met your affiant back at the pre-arranged location .... [A]t this time the informant handed over to your affiant a bag of suspected cocaine .... [A] field test ,.. proved positive ....

... [T]he informant who has purchased cocaine several times from either Ralph or Pamela Carty stated to your affiant that cocaine was being stored in the garage area and in the basement area. This informant purchased cocaine from Ralph on one occasion when the informant observed Ralph go into the basement area and came up with a bag of cocaine. On another occasion the informant observed Ralph go into the garage area and return with a bag of cocaine.... [T]he informant stated that Ralph hides the cocaine in different areas of his house and garage areas so that the police will not be able to find the large quantity of cocaine if they ... raid the house.

3 . Sergeant Lambert described the procedure used after an investigating officer has directed an informant to purchase drugs with police funds: The investigating officer performs a field test on the drugs, then fills out a controlled buy form reflecting the date and location of the controlled buy, the number of the check used to finance the purchase, a description of the items purchased, and the name of the investigating officer. The officer attaches the controlled buy form to the drugs, and drops the narcotics (controlled buy form attached) through a slot into a safe. The officer logs on the control sheet the amount of money spent on the drugs. Lambert transcribes the information from the control sheets into a log book each week. Every month or so, he opens the safe containing the narcotics, compares the controlled buy form attached to each bag of narcotics with the log book, removes and retains the form, and delivers the drugs to the state health department for destruction.

4 . The district court explained its findings as follows:

Now, turning to the contention that the allegations in the warrant are willful falsehoodfs], I must say this is a bold assertion but nevertheless tinged with a degree of suspicion as to the accuracy of Detective Cardarelli’s testimony. However, the suspicion is not evidence and certainly not strong enough to destroy credibility sufficiently to declare the search illegal.

... It is strange indeed [that] no [record of the controlled buy] could be located. This would have clearly established the date of the purchase....

The detective asserts the buy was definitely made on the 30th. The affidavit indicates it was made within the past few days ... of the 30th. I agree the semantics of the affidavit lead to an interpretation that the buy was made prior to the 30th.

However, the officer explained that preciseness of dates was purposefully avoided when controlled buys are made in order to safeguard the identity of the informant and I am constrained to accept this.

... [W]hether or not Ralph Carty made the alleged sale to the informant on September 30 [sic] really isn't a vital fact to be resolved in order to rule on this motion. The affidavit premising the issuance of the search warrant did not turn on a purchase being made strictly from Ralph Carty nor does it say it was purchased from him. The crucial fact in the affidavit [is] that a purchase was made from Adelaide Avenue on September 30 [sic].

I can understand [defense counsel's] argument here but it would be asking too much of the Court to conclude that Detective Cardarelli is a bold-face perjurer, not only in this courtroom but was at the time that he made the affidavit and at the time that he presented it to the State District Court Judge for the issuance of the warrant. And so I feel constrained and I do hereby deny the [suppression] motions ....

5 . Contrary to Carty's contention, we find no indication that the district court imposed a more stringent standard of proof than the applicable "preponderance of the evidence" standard. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. at 2676.

6 . Appellant claims that the Cardarelli affidavit includes statements made with reckless disregard for their truth, as it gave the erroneous impression that Carty personally sold cocaine to the informant. We need not address the merits of this claim. As the district court correctly noted, Carty's presence at the time the undercover buy occurred was immaterial to the establishment of probable cause to search the residence. Since the affidavit provided probable cause to believe that the informant purchased cocaine at the Carty residence, without regard to the identity of the seller, the district court properly denied the motion to suppress. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. at 2676; see also United States v. Veillette, 778 F.2d 899, 904 (1st Cir.1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1115, 106 S.Ct. 1970, 90 L.Ed.2d 654 (1986) (search warrant valid where supporting affidavit established probable cause independently of false statement).

7 . The district court responded:

I am trying to give you as much leeway as you want to attack the man’s credibility. I think you are entitled to it. You have cross-examined him vigorously as to the date of the purchase. He has maintained that a buy was made on the 30th. There is no question how the affidavit reads. It’s for me to decide whether that’s inconsistent with the affidavit. Now, the fact that he may be involved in some corrupt practices does not bear on this case at all nor can it bear on this case nor do I know of any rule of evidence which would allow that kind of impeachment of a witness ... where it is so far removed from the issue at hand. You just want to show he is a corrupt man but you can’t do that by trying the allegations that have been made against him. We don’t have a conviction here.

8 . Although Carty suggests that the "slightest prejudice” resulting from improper admission of the "other act” evidence might have caused the jury to disbelieve a defense witness who testified that he, rather than Carty, owned the weapons seized from the Carty residence, we are hard-pressed to discern any harm. Since the jury acquitted Carty on the cocaine charge to which the “other act” evidence related, we consider the suggestion far-fetched.

9 . Finally, Carty argues that the court erred by not giving limiting instructions to the jury either contemporaneously or in its charge. Carty waived the objection by requesting neither. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 30 & 52(b). Moreover, as we are confident that the lack of limiting instructions did not "seriously affect the fundamental fairness and basic integrity of the proceedings,” there was no plain error. See United States v. Barnett, 989 F.2d 546, 558-559 n. 14 (1st Cir.1993).