U.S. v. Killian, s. 79-5277

• Decision Date: 09 March 1981
• Docket Number: 79-5278,Nos. 79-5277,s. 79-5277
• Citation: 639 F.2d 206
• Parties: 7 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 1203 UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. George Edward KILLIAN, Defendant-Appellant. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. George Edward KILLIAN and Robert Brunk, Defendants-Appellants. . Unit A
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Page 206

639 F.2d 206

7 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 1203

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. George Edward KILLIAN, Defendant-Appellant.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. George Edward KILLIAN and Robert Brunk, Defendants-Appellants.

Nos. 79-5277, 79-5278.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Unit A

March 9, 1981.

Rehearing Denied April 23, 1981.

Mario J. Martinez (Court-appointed), El Paso, Tex., for Killian in both cases.

Richard C. Robins, El Paso, Tex., for defendant-appellant in 79-5277.

Jamie C. Boyd, U. S. Atty., LeRoy Morgan Jahn, Asst. U. S. Atty., San Antonio, Tex., Mike McDonald, Jerry Tanzy, Trial Attys., El Paso, Tex., for U. S. in both cases.

Raymond C. Caballero (Court-appointed), El Paso, Tex., for Brunk.

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Before WISDOM, GARZA and REAVLEY, Circuit Judges.

GARZA, Circuit Judge:

The appellants were tried before a jury on a three-count indictment, one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and two substantive counts in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Robert Brunk was convicted on the conspiracy count and one substantive count while George Edward Killian was convicted on all three counts. The two appellants now raise a number of issues on appeal.

The evidence taken in the light most favorable to the government shows that Brunk obtained cocaine from an individual named Carl Lynn and that he in turn delivered it to Killian. Killian would then sell it to buyers on the street. In the instant case, Killian sold cocaine on two occasions to an undercover agent employed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Killian was arrested immediately after the second sale. The evidence indicates that Brunk observed this arrest through a window in a nearby office. Brunk then contacted Lynn and agreed to repay him for the cocaine which was seized by the DEA agents. Brunk made the payments in cash and methamphetamines. Subsequently, when Lynn was arrested, he implicated Brunk. DEA agents obtained an arrest warrant for Brunk who allowed the agents to search his office. In an attache case found in Brunk's office, the agents found a pistol. DEA agents also found a small amount of cocaine on Brunk's person and traces of cocaine and methamphetamine at his apartment. While in custody awaiting trial and after obtaining the services of an attorney, the U.S. Attorney's Office issued an order for agents of the FBI to interview Brunk. Two interviews were conducted in which agents of both the FBI and DEA participated. Brunk's counsel was never made aware of these interviews.

Killian raises five grounds of error on appeal, all of which we find to be totally without merit. First, Killian contends that the district court erred in holding that his participation in the conspiracy did not terminate upon his arrest. Apparently in the alternative, Killian argues that acts occurring after his arrest were the subject of a second conspiracy. Evidence was introduced at trial concerning Brunk's delivery of methamphetamines to Lynn in payment for the cocaine which was seized by DEA agents from Killian. Such evidence does not denote the existence of two conspiracies as Killian argues. The delivery of the methamphetamines was clearly a continuance of the single conspiracy charged in the indictment, since it was part and parcel of the agreement regarding the cocaine transaction.

Since the evidence introduced at trial related to one conspiracy, we must determine whether Killian's arrest terminated his involvement in the conspiracy. A member of a conspiracy continues to be responsible for acts committed by coconspirators even after the former's arrest unless he has withdrawn from the conspiracy. United States v. Bradsby, 628 F.2d 901, 905 (5th Cir. 1980); United States v. Pearson, 508 F.2d 595, 597 (5th Cir. 1975). In order to withdraw, a conspirator must show that he acted affirmatively to defeat or disavow the purpose of the conspiracy. United States v. Wentland, 582 F.2d 1022, 1025-26 (5th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1133, 99 S.Ct. 1056, 59 L.Ed.2d 96 (1979). See also United States v. Jimenez, 622 F.2d 753, 755 (5th Cir. 1980) (to show withdrawal, defendant must demonstrate that he took affirmative acts inconsistent with the object of the conspiracy and communicated this in a manner reasonably calculated to reach his or her coconspirators). The burden of proving withdrawal from a conspiracy rests upon the defendant. United States v. Bradsby, 628 F.2d at 905. Killian has not borne this burden.

Killian next contends that the admission of certain hearsay evidence regarding incidents occurring after his arrest and his alleged termination in the conspiracy was a denial of his right to confrontation. In light of our holding that Killian's arrest did not terminate his involvement in the conspiracy, we find no error in the introduction of the statements.

Third, Killian maintains that he was denied his right against self incrimination due to prosecutorial misconduct. Killian contends that the alleged error occurred during defense cross examination of a government witness. Counsel for Killian had been reading into evidence a statement made by a DEA agent regarding the incidents preceding the arrest of Killian. The prosecutor then objected, stating: "Your Honor, I object to the defendant testifying in this manner. This agent " Record, Volume 6, at 513. At this point, Killian's counsel requested a bench conference to ask for a mistrial. At the bench conference, the prosecutor stated to the trial judge: "Your Honor, the objection is to allowing the defendant to I'm sorry. This was not the defendant, was it?" Record, Volume 6, at 514.

Clearly the prosecutor made a mistake, and it is apparent that his objection was aimed at an attempt by the defense to impeach a government agent's testimony with that of another government agent. The trial judge denied the motion for mistrial and cautioned the jury that the defendant has no duty to produce any evidence at all in his defense. After a thorough reading of the above exchange, it is clear that the prosecution was not attempting to violate the defendant's right against self-incrimination. The court discerns no prejudice to the defendant in this case, especially in light of the court's speedy curative instruction on the matter.

Killian next argues that the court's granting of a continuance out of his presence was reversible error. Rule 43(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that a defendant be present "at the arraignment, at the time of the plea, at every stage of the trial including the impaneling of the jury and the return of the verdict, and at the imposition of sentence, except as otherwise provided by this rule." Rule 43(c)(3), however, provides that a defendant need not be present at a conference or argument upon a question of law. In the instant case, the Judge's decision to continue the case occurred on the day the present trial was to begin, an earlier one having resulted in a mistrial. On that day, the court appointed new counsel to Killian upon his request and clearly desired to give that counsel sufficient time to prepare his case. We find that the district court's action fell within Rule 43(c)(3), and even if it had not, the action in no way prejudiced Killian.

Killian's final challenge attacks his trial counsel as being incompetent due to the latter's failure to present an entrapment defense. When dealing with a question regarding the competence of counsel, the court must determine whether a defendant's attorney was reasonably likely to render, and rendered, reasonably effective assistance. United States v. Johnson, 615 F.2d 1125, 1127 (5th Cir. 1980). The burden of proof is upon the defendant. Marino v. United States, 600 F.2d 462, 464 (5th Cir. 1979). Killian has not proven to this court that his trial counsel was in any way incompetent. In fact, reviewing the evidence in this case, it appears that an entrapment defense would have been doomed to failure from the beginning.

Brunk raises six issues on appeal. Brunk challenges the actions taken by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and the DEA in removing him from jail to question him in the FBI offices. Brunk contends that this violates the ethical principles of the legal profession. Brunk specifically cites to the Code of Professional Responsibility of the American Bar Association, specifically DR 7-104(A), which prohibits the communication by a lawyer with a party he knows is represented by a lawyer in the matter.

We agree that the conduct which occurred in this case was highly improper and unethical. Nonetheless, the statements that were transcribed and any evidence that might have been obtained from the statements were not introduced at trial. We, therefore, conclude that no prejudice attached to Brunk because of the improper action. Suppression of the statements would probably have been the appropriate sanction in this case, were it not for the refusal of the government to use those...