U.S. v. Hernandez, 88-3749

• Decision Date: 28 April 1989
• Docket Number: No. 88-3749,88-3749
• Citation: 873 F.2d 925
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alberto Gonzales HERNANDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Sixth Circuit

Page 925

873 F.2d 925

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alberto Gonzales HERNANDEZ, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 88-3749.

United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.

Argued March 30, 1989.

Decided April 28, 1989.

Gregory Lockhart, Office of the U.S. Atty., Gary Spartis (argued), Columbus, Ohio, for plaintiff-appellee.

Stephen E. Maher (argued), Columbus, Ohio, for defendant-appellant.

Before MARTIN, KRUPANSKY and MILBURN, Circuit Judges.

MILBURN, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellant Alberto Gonzales Hernandez ("Hernandez") appeals his conviction after a jury trial of one count of selling cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I.

Hernandez was indicted on January 14, 1988, on two counts of distributing cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1). The United States voluntarily dismissed the second count of the indictment. On June 7, 1988, Hernandez was convicted on the remaining count and sentenced to ten years imprisonment and five years of probation upon release. He then filed a timely notice of appeal.

At trial, the government called three witnesses: Joseph T. Rector, a Columbus, Ohio, Police Department chemist; George R. Hahnert, a Columbus Police narcotics detective, and Julio Betancourt, a paid undercover informant. Hahnert testified that Hernandez was brought to his attention by Betancourt, who alleged he was selling cocaine. Hahnert then arranged to have Betancourt purchase cocaine from Hernandez.

On June 8, 1987, Hahnert observed Betancourt meet Hernandez in an alley and enter Hernandez's residence. Minutes later, Hahnert met Betancourt several blocks away from Hernandez's residence. Betancourt turned over a bag containing what chemist Rector determined to be approximately one ounce of cocaine. Betancourt told Hahnert that he purchased the cocaine from Hernandez for $1,400.00, with currency provided by the police.

Hernandez's defense counsel cross-examined Hahnert thoroughly about the details of his relationship with Betancourt, the compensation paid the informant and other, similar matters implicating Betancourt's credibility. On redirect examination, Hernandez's defense counsel objected when Hahnert was asked about Betancourt's reliability. After a brief hearing, the district court ruled that Hernandez's counsel had "opened the door" to the topic of Betancourt's reliability and it would allow the government a limited opportunity to counter. Hahnert then testified that he had worked with Betancourt in approximately twenty-seven other cases and the informant had always provided reliable information. Hahnert testified that Betancourt's information had led to the seizure of a total of approximately fifteen pounds of cocaine in various cases, and the defendants had been convicted in every case in which Betancourt had testified.

Betancourt testified that he purchased the cocaine from Hernandez. In an unsolicited explanation of one of his responses, Betancourt testified he had not seen Hernandez since the night of the cocaine purchase because Hernandez was arrested in Florida soon thereafter. After a brief hearing, the district court admonished the jury that it was not to consider Betancourt's testimony of Hernandez's arrest.

On cross-examination, Betancourt acknowledged he knew Joaquin Carlos and Jesus Pastor. He acknowledged he knew Carlos was a convicted cocaine dealer. Later, Betancourt testified that his first work with the Columbus police was in helping secure Carlos' conviction, and he also testified in the trial in which Pastor was convicted of distributing cocaine.

This appeal presents the question of whether the district court abused its discretion in its admission of Betancourt's and Hahnert's testimony.

II.

Hernandez's arguments rest on his trial counsel's objections raised below. Where objections are raised in a timely manner, our review is to determine whether the trial court clearly abused its discretion in its contested evidentiary rulings. See United States v. Rios, 842 F.2d 868, 872 (6th Cir.1988) (per curiam), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 840, 102 L.Ed.2d 972 (1989). Trial courts have wide latitude in making evidentiary decisions and will not be reversed absent a clear showing of abuse. See United States v. Mahar, 801 F.2d 1477, 1495 (6th Cir.1986).

A.

Hernandez argues that error tainted his trial when the jury heard of his arrest in Florida. This argument focuses on the following exchange:

MR LOCKHART (ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY): Have you had any altercations or fights with the defendant in this case?

BETANCOURT: No, no.

LOCKHART: Have you seen the defendant in this case since last summer, 1987?

BETANCOURT: I didn't see him anymore because he was arrested in Florida.

LOCKHART: Have you been paid any money by the Columbus Police Department for your efforts in these investigations?

BETANCOURT: Yes.

LOCKHART: Were you paid that money prior to or after the investigation involving this defendant?

BETANCOURT: After the case.

LOCKHART: Do you have any reason, anything that has occurred between you and this defendant that would cause you to not be truthful regarding this defendant?

BETANCOURT: No, any reason.

J.A. 13-14.

Immediately following this exchange, the defense counsel asked that the jury be instructed to disregard Betancourt's statement about the arrest, or that the court declare a mistrial. The Assistant United States Attorney responded that he had not solicited the testimony and he did not know the circumstances of Hernandez's Florida arrest. The district court believed Betancourt's remark to be "just kind of a toss-in," but agreed to instruct the jury that it could not consider the testimony of Hernandez's arrest. After more discussion, the defense counsel stated: "I just renew the motion and the Court can handle it the way the Court wishes to handle it." Thereafter, the jury returned, and the court issued the following admonishment:

THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Mr. Betancourt in his testimony alluded to the defendant having been arrested in Florida. Let me strongly advise you that whatever that was about has nothing to do with this case. It may have related to the charge in this case. As you I am sure can understand, when an indictment is made there is an arrest pursuant to that and the plea of not guilty puts in issue all the issues in the case. The mere fact that there was an arrest, an indictment related to this or something else is not to be considered by you. Because Mr. Hernandez's plea of not guilty puts in issue each and every one of the elements of the case and the burden still remains on the government to prove those beyond a reasonable doubt.

J.A. at 20.

Hernandez now argues that Betancourt's testimony improperly influenced the jury with the idea that Hernandez was a multistate offender. Hernandez relies heavily upon United States v. Blanton, 520 F.2d 907 (6th Cir.1975), where the defendant was convicted of illegally possessing firearms. He was arrested as he was getting into his car, and police found the weapons when they searched the car. At trial, a police officer testified that Blanton was a bank robbery suspect, and the police had searched his car pursuant to an informant's tip that money from the robbery was hidden there. Blanton's attorney objected to this testimony, and his objection was sustained. The officer then restated his answer, mentioning again that Blanton was under investigation for bank robbery. An FBI agent also testified that Blanton was a suspect in a bank robbery. Blanton's attorney again objected; this time his objection was overruled. On appeal, this court held the government could not justify the line of questioning that...