Willis K. Baker, Jr., and Mervin "Bud" Cornelsen v. United States

393 F.2d 604
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMay 21, 1968
Docket21318-_1
StatusPublished
Cited by82 cases

This text of 393 F.2d 604 (Willis K. Baker, Jr., and Mervin "Bud" Cornelsen v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Willis K. Baker, Jr., and Mervin "Bud" Cornelsen v. United States, 393 F.2d 604 (9th Cir. 1968).

Opinion

HAMLEY, Circuit Judge:

Count one of a three-count indictment, filed on April 7, 1966, charged Charles Raymond Rush, Roger Lee Stephenson, Willis Kingsley Baker, Jr., and Mervin “Bud” Cornelsen, under 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 641 (1964), with conspiracy to receive, conceal and convert stolen government property to their own use. Count two of the indictment charged Rush with stealing a quantity of government property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. Count three charged Baker with receiving, concealing and converting a quantity of government property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.

Stephenson pleaded guilty to count one, the only count involving him. Rush, Baker and Cornelsen pleaded not guilty to the counts in which they were individually named. These three were jointly tried before a jury. Rush was convicted on counts one and two. Baker was convicted on counts one and three. Cornel-sen was convicted on count one. Baker and Cornelsen jointly appeal.

Baker was the owner of an aircraft parts and supply company, known as Aero Enterprises, located at the Fresno Airport, Fresno, California. Cornelsen was one of his employees. Stephenson was a cement mason apprentice in Fresno. In 1963 Stephenson met Rush, who was an employee at the Lemoore Naval Air Station. Rush worked as a stockman in the stowage branch in the aviation warehouse. In that position he had complete access to a wide range of military equipment, including radio and navigational components for aircraft. Stephenson was also acquainted with Baker and Cornelsen.

In the summer of 1965, Stephenson purchased from Rush some altimeters for use in sport parachuting. He found that they were too sensitive to use for jumping and therefore sold them to Baker on August 30, 1965. Stephenson sold various aviation items to Baker from time to time, after having acquired them from Rush. Cornelsen was present while several of these transactions between Stephenson and Baker were consummated. Rush had stolen some of these items from Lemoore Naval Air Station’s supply department.

The circumstances under which Baker purchased these items and under which he and Cornelsen dealt with the items after purchase led the jury to find Baker guilty on the receiving, concealing and converting count, and both Baker and Cornelsen guilty on the conspiracy count.

On appeal Baker argues that the district court erred in denying his motion *607 for a separate trial on count three of the indictment charging him alone with receiving and concealing stolen government property. Baker alleges that the joinder of count three with count two, charging Rush with stealing the same property, was an impermissible joinder of defendants under Rule 8(b), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Rule 8(b) permits the joinder of multiple defendants only where it is alleged that they have “participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions constituting an offense or offenses.” The rule provides, however, that “all of the defendants need not be charged in each count.”

Here counts two and three, the substantive counts, and count one, the conspiracy count, considered together, all arise out of the same series of transactions in which all of the defendants allegedly participated. Where this is the case, the joinder, in one indictment, of the conspiracy count and substantive counts is permissible under Rule 8(b). See Schaffer v. United States, 362 U.S. 511, 513, 80 S.Ct. 945, 4 L.Ed.2d 921; Williamson v. United States, 9 Cir., 310 F.2d 192, 197 n. 16; Hill v. United States, 9 Cir., 306 F.2d 245, 247.

Baker also asserts that the trial court should have granted his motion for severance and separate trial of count three under Rule 14, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, because of prejudice to himself stemming from the joinder of defendants and offenses.

Baker first argues that he was prejudiced because a confession of one of the defendants was introduced in evidence against him. But the only defendants who were tried with Baker were Cornel-sen and Rush, and neither of them made a confession. Although Stephenson’s confession was introduced into evidence, it was introduced by Baker in an attempt to impeach Stephenson’s testimony. Thus, the introduction of the confession was not hearsay and the joinder of defendants created no prejudice in this regard.

Baker also asserts, in effect, that prejudice is probable in a case where two offenses are joined because a defendant may wish, as a practical matter, to testify on one count and remain silent on the other. However, Baker makes no contention that this was his wish in this case, and that the joinder thwarted such tactics.

Baker suggests several other reasons why, in his view, actual or potential prejudice resulted from failure to grant him a separate trial on count three of the indictment. We have examined each of these and conclude that no substantial actual or probable prejudice has been demonstrated. While Rule 14 permits the trial court to order severance of either offenses or defendants if it appears that a defendant may be prejudiced by joinder, the failure of the court to order severance is not a basis for reversal absent a clear abuse of discretion. Mendez v. United States, 9 Cir., 349 F.2d 650, 652. We find no abuse of discretion in this regard.

Baker contends that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his repeated motions for a speedy trial.

The first three-count indictment was filed on January 19, 1966. On February 18, 1966, Baker and Comelsen moved to dismiss count one of that indictment (conspiracy). At the same time Baker moved for a separate and speedy trial as to him on count three (receiving and concealing) in the event count one was dismissed. On February 28, 1966, both motions were granted and, whereas a joint trial had been set for May 11, 1966, a separate trial for Baker on count three was then set for April 5, 1966.

On March 10, 1966, the Government filed a superseding indictment containing the same three counts, but with some revision of coun,t one. The Government then moved to vacate the April 5, 1966 trial setting on count three of the first indictment, stating that, in view of the superseding indictment, the Government would not prosecute under the first indictment. The district court thereupon *608 vacated the April 5, 1966 trial setting, and ordered a joint trial of all three defendants on all counts of the superseding indictment for May 11„ 1966.

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

Related

United States v. Sullivan
131 F.4th 776 (Ninth Circuit, 2025)
State v. Theisen
306 Neb. 591 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2020)
Wilfrido Mata v. Harris County, Texas
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2012
United States v. Aranjo
603 F.3d 112 (First Circuit, 2010)
Nolte v. Gibbs International, Inc.
515 S.E.2d 101 (Court of Appeals of South Carolina, 1999)
State v. Clason
526 N.W.2d 673 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1994)
State v. Marcano
645 A.2d 661 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1994)
State v. Utterback
485 N.W.2d 760 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1992)
United States v. Joseph D. Solomon
795 F.2d 747 (Ninth Circuit, 1986)
United States v. Fahmi A. Khatib
706 F.2d 213 (Seventh Circuit, 1983)
United States v. Osborne
532 F. Supp. 857 (W.D. Virginia, 1982)
United States v. Gary Halbert
640 F.2d 1000 (Ninth Circuit, 1981)
State v. Langworthy
594 P.2d 908 (Washington Supreme Court, 1979)
State v. Stefanelli
396 A.2d 1105 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1979)
United States v. DePalma
461 F. Supp. 778 (S.D. New York, 1978)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
393 F.2d 604, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/willis-k-baker-jr-and-mervin-bud-cornelsen-v-united-states-ca9-1968.