U.S. v. Johnson, 74-1375
| Decision Date | 31 March 1975 |
| Docket Number | No. 74-1375,74-1375 |
| Citation | 506 F.2d 305 |
| Parties | UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Freeman JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit |
Robert A. Zaban, Indianapolis, Ind., for defendant-appellant.
John R. Wilks, U.S. Atty., Fort Wayne, Ind., John S. Leonardo, Asst. U.S. Atty., South Bend, Ind., for plaintiff-appellee.
Before SWYGERT, Chief Judge, CASTLE, Senior Circuit Judge, and STEVENS, Circuit Judge.
Defendant-appellant Freeman Johnson was convicted by a jury of three counts of knowingly and intentionally distributing heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1). Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 851 a prior conviction information was also filed against Johnson charging him with two prior narcotic convictions in state courts. Appellant was sentenced under the double penalty provisions of 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A) 1 to five years on each count to run concurrently and a special parole term of six years.
The facts in this case are very simple. An undercover policeman testified that on three occasions he bought capsules containing heroin from defendant. A chemist verified that the capsules contained heroin. Defendant did not testify nor was any evidence introduced on his behalf. The defense did submit a proposed lesser included offense instruction relating to the crime of simple possession of a controlled substance which was rejected.
The only a alleged error raised in regard to the conviction itself is the refusal to give this lesser included offense instruction. Defendant recognizes that present case law indicates that such an instruction is proper only when the charged greater offense requires that the jury find a disputed factual element which is not a requisite for conviction of the lesser included offense. Sansone v. United States, 380 U.S. 343, 85 S.Ct. 1004, 13 L.Ed.2d 882 (1965); United States v. Hephner, 410 F.2d 930 (7th Cir. 1969). Here such a disputed factual element would have to concern the question of whether there was a distribution. At trial, however, there was no attempt made to dispute the fact of distribution as opposed to mere possession. Defendant, though, argues that to require that there be such a disputed factual issue infringes on his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent since he would have to testify in order to raise a factual challenge. This argument is without merit. As the Government states, the disputed issue could be introduced by means of defense witnesses, other than the defendant, or even by cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. Upholding the rejection of this tendered instruction does not impair a defendant's right to remain silent.
We turn to another issue. At oral argument we sua sponte questioned the use of state court convictions to invoke the double penalty provision of 841(b)(1) (A) since the statute refers to 'prior convictions . . . for an offense punishable under . . ....
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