Parker v. United States

• Decision Date: 16 August 1968
• Docket Number: No. 21873.,21873.
• Parties: Robert PARKER, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

400 F.2d 248 (1968)

Robert PARKER, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.

No. 21873.

United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.

August 16, 1968.

Ralph R. LePera (argued), Los Angeles, Cal., for appellant.

Dennis Kinnaird (argued), Asst. U. S., Atty., Wm. M. Byrne, Jr., U. S. Atty., Los Angeles, Cal., for appellee.

Before BARNES and ELY, Circuit Judges, and THOMPSON,^* District Judge.

BARNES, Circuit Judge:

Appellant was indicted on six counts of armed robbery of national banks, including charges that he forced six different hostages to "accompany him" into the banks in question to "hold the bag" and assist in the robberies (thus "kidnapping" his aide). 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d), (e). Prior to trial, the government dismissed Counts V and VI. Appellant was convicted by a jury on all four remaining counts, the jury finding that the conviction should be "without capital punishment."

Appellant was represented by counsel from arraignment through trial, and on this appeal. He was sentenced to twenty-five years on each count, the sentences to run concurrently. Jurisdiction below rested on 18 U.S.C. § 2113, and here on 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Three alleged errors are raised. First, appellant claims that his pre-trial line-up confrontation was so unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to mistaken identification that he was denied due process of law. Second, he challenges the trial court's refusal to exclude the testimony of Wilbur Robinson, Jr., relating to an offense not charged in the indictment. Third, 18 U.S.C. § 2113 is claimed to be unconstitutional. We find no merit in any of these contentions, and we affirm the convictions.

I. THE LINE-UP

Appellant relies upon the Supreme Court's holdings in United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149, and Gilbert v. State of California, 388 U.S. 263, 87 S.Ct. 1951, 18 L.Ed.2d 1178, each decided June 12, 1967. As appellant's counsel states in his brief, "appellant would fall within the meaning of and scope of the Wade and Gilbert, supra, cases but for the regrettable limiting retroactive effect of Stovall v. Denno," 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (also decided June 12, 1967). Regrettable as it may seem to all persons tried before June 12, 1967, non-retroactivity is the rule laid down by the Supreme Court of the United States in Stovall, in view of its desire not to "seriously disrupt the administration of our criminal laws." 388 U.S. at 300, 87 S.Ct. at 1971.

We turn then, as did the Supreme Court in Stovall, to the question of whether appellant's line-up confrontation was "so unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable mistaken identification that he was denied due process of law." 388 U.S. at 302, 87 S.Ct. at 1972.

We think the line-up in which appellant participated suffered from no such constitutional deficiency, and believe the matter is adequately covered by the recital in the government's brief (the essential truth and accuracy of which is undenied by appellant's counsel):

"During the course of the trial the Government called some fifteen witnesses to the stand all of whom made an in-court identification of the appellant as the man who robbed one or more of the respective banks alleged in the indictment. The record discloses that of these fifteen identification witnesses only five actually attended a lineup in which the appellant appeared R.T. 123, 154, 312, 332, 361. Nine of the identifying witnesses had only seen photographs of appellant prior to their in-court identification R.T. 113(35), 186, 225, 257, 280, 293, 298, 374, 403. It was not determined how the remaining one witness had previously identified the appellant R.T. 365.

"Of particular note is the fact that four of the Government\'s identification witnesses were not the usual type of identification witness who is exposed to a criminal for but a short period of time during the actual commission of a crime. The Government produced four hostages whom appellant had kidnapped at gun point and had been in appellant\'s company listening to his directions and observing his actions for at least thirty minutes in most instances R.T. 113(20), 184, 390. Of these four hostages, only one attended a pretrial lineup R.T. 361. The remaining three merely saw photographs of appellant, among others, prior to their in-court identification R.T. 113 (35), 186, 403.

"In light of the overwhelming number of identifying witnesses who never participated in any lineup (nine) it is the Government\'s position that appellant was not denied due process of law in any way by the pretrial lineup where but five Government witnesses identified him. * * *

"Finally, the identification made by Mr. Earl Poke, one of the hostages, is illustrative that the identifications of appellant met the standard set by the Supreme Court in Wade and Gilbert, supra, in that the identifications were not the fruit of any earlier identifications made in the absence of appellant\'s counsel R.T. 413.

"`Q. BY MR. GLASSMAN: In Court on your direct testimony you have identified the defendant Robert Parker as the man who abducted you at the point of a gun on the day in question?

"`A. Yes, Sir.

"`Q. Is that identification based upon your observing him in this Court room this afternoon?

"`A. Yes, Sir.\'" Brief for Appellee at 8-10.

We have checked each transcript reference and find each statement fairly, adequately, and accurately represents the evidence presented to the jury. We find no denial of due process.

II. PROOF OF SIMILAR CRIMES

After a stumbling start in the trial court, the prosecution finally developed the theory that the testimony of Wilbur Robinson, Jr., was admissible to show appellant's modus operandi, and to aid in establishing his identity. Appellant objects because the government first stated it proposed to introduce the evidence to prove intent, which appellant alleges was unnecessary to the crime charged. But the court specifically ruled the evidence was admissible to show a modus operandi precisely similar to that charged to appellant, R.T. 429, and which was unusual in character and detail.

Mr. Robinson's testimony related to the appellant's alleged conduct on October 17, 1966. Count I charged similar acts on March 15, 1966; Count II charged similar acts on October 28, 1965; Count III charged similar acts on July 1, 1965; and Count IV charged similar acts on November 19, 1964. Thus the alleged objectionable evidence related to acts subsequent to the crimes charged.

The alleged remoteness of the acts sought to be proved is not decisive as to admissibility, although it may affect the weight of the evidence. Other factors are more important, such as the unique or bizarre nature of the conduct involved, the geographical area in which the conduct took place, and the like.

Appellant cites United States v. Stirone, 262 F.2d 571 (3d Cir. 1959), rev'd on other grounds, 361 U.S. 212, 80 S.Ct. 270, 4 L.Ed.2d 252 (1960). We agree with Judge Goodrich's statement in that case:

"The question of admissibility of evidence of offenses other than the one for which the defendant is on trial is a very difficult one. * * * The difficulty is one which is inherent in the nature of the problem. Anyone obligated to determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant charged with a particular crime invariably would be influenced by a showing that the defendant commits crimes in general. * * *

"* * * Evidence of other offenses may be received if relevant for any purpose other than to show a mere propensity or disposition on the part of the defendant to commit the crime." 262 F.2d at 576 (footnotes omitted).

This court has not hesitated to find error and to reverse conviction when proof of prior crimes has been introduced merely to show their commission, irrespective of identity, intent, design of plan, or when irrelevant to the crime charged. Cf. Thomas v. United States, 363 F.2d 159 (9th Cir. 1966); Cook v. United States, 354 F.2d 529 (9th Cir. 1965). We have held to the general rule that evidence of a defendant's previous misconduct or of other criminal acts is not admissible merely to show his criminal disposition or character, or to raise an inference that he was likely to commit a crime. Bush v. United States, 267 F.2d 483 (9th Cir. 1959); Wolcher v. United States, 200 F.2d 493 (9th Cir. 1952); Tedesco v. United States, 118 F.2d 737 (9th Cir. 1941).

But this general rule does not render evidence of prior offenses inadmissible in all instances. Anthony v. United States, 256 F.2d 50 (9th Cir. 1958); Harper v. United States, 99 U.S. App.D.C. 324, 239 F.2d 945 (1956); Bracey v. United States, 79 U.S.App.D.C. 23, 142 F.2d 85, cert. denied, 322 U.S. 762, 64 S.Ct. 1274, 88 L.Ed. 1589 (1944). Proof of conduct similar to that charged, which is peculiar, unique, or bizarre, is admissible to tend to prove identity. Drew v. United States, 118 U.S.App.D.C. 11, 331 F.2d 85 (1964); United States v. Pugliese, 153 F.2d 497 (2d Cir. 1945); 2 J. Wigmore, Evidence §§ 410, 416 (1940). Proof of other crimes has likewise been held admissible to show a common scheme, plan, design, system, course of conduct, or to establish motive or intent, or absence of mistake or accident, Tandberg-Hanssen v. United States, 284 F.2d 331 (10th Cir. 1960); Simons v. United States, 119 F.2d 539 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 314 U.S. 616, 62 S.Ct. 78, 86 L.Ed. 496 (1941), Reed v. United States, 364 F.2d 630, 633 (9th Cir. 1966), or when the acts proved are so inextricably mixed or connected with the crime charged as to tend to prove it, United States v. Spatuzza, 331 F.2d 214 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 829, 85 S.Ct. 58, 13 L.Ed.2d 38 (1964); Harper v. United States, 99 U.S.App.D.C. 324, 239 F.2d 945 (1956); Kobey v. United States, 208 F.2d 583 (9th Cir. 1953); United States v. Crowe, 188 F.2d 209 (7th Cir. 1951). In the case at bar, appellant's actions in relation to Mr. Robinson were identical to those alleged in the indictment. Cf. Flood...