U.S. v. Wilkerson, 76-1036

Decision Date23 June 1976
Docket NumberNo. 76-1036,76-1036
Citation534 F.2d 43
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Sidney Ray WILKERSON, Defendant-Appellant. Summary Calendar. *
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Steven G. Condos, Dallas, Tex. (Court appointed), for defendant-appellant.

Frank D. McCown, U. S. Atty., Fort Worth, Tex., Judith A. Shepherd, Asst. U. S. Atty., Dallas, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Before COLEMAN, GOLDBERG and GEE, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

The appellant, represented by court-appointed counsel, was convicted on trial by a jury of delivering $13,140 in counterfeit bills and of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C., § 473 and § 371. He was sentenced on December 18, 1975, to five years on the conspiracy count, to run consecutive to a sentence imposed in 1971, and to ten years on the substantive count, to run consecutive both to the conspiracy sentence and his 1971 sentence.

The evidence against the appellant, accepted by the jury, emanating from eyewitnesses co-conspirators and government agents thoroughly demonstrated guilt. A verdict of not guilty would have been a stunning surprise.

The complaint about the validity of the search of a car belonging to another is frivolous.

The contentions concerning closing argument of government counsel, however, cannot be thus characterized.

In his closing argument counsel for the government made the following remarks.

"Mr. Harris showed you and told you what happened from the outset.

"Only he and this defendant were present at those initial meetings.

"Only he and this defendant were present at Mister Hamburger's on I believe it was September 22nd, when he received a quantity of $1200 in counterfeit $20.00 Federal Reserve Notes.

"The only two people that can bring out that testimony are the people that were there, and we have brought you the testimony of Mr. Harris."

No objection was made, but this was a comment on the failure of the defendant to take the witness stand and it was plain error, United States v. Bates, 5 Cir., 1975, 512 F.2d 56. Such an error, however, can be harmless, United States v. Bates, supra.

Within the four corners of this case we appraise the comment to have been harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

AFFIRMED.

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4 cases
  • U.S. v. Staller
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • 14 Mayo 1980
    ...that, had the improper comment never been made, "(a) verdict of not guilty would have been a stunning surprise." United States v. Wilkerson, 534 F.2d 43, 44 (5th Cir. 1976). We hold that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable A. Sufficiency of the Evidence. In a separate argument, appel......
  • Fox v. State
    • United States
    • Indiana Supreme Court
    • 11 Octubre 1990
    ...charged with murder, and the other has been dead almost two years." In support of appellant's position, he relies on United States v. Wilkerson (5th Cir.1976), 534 F.2d 43. In Wilkerson, the prosecutor referred to the two defendants in the case, who did not testify, as being the only person......
  • Wilkerson v. U.S., 78-2862
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • 21 Marzo 1979
    ...count, to run consecutive to another sentence imposed in 1971. His conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. United States v. Wilkerson, 5 Cir. 1976, 534 F.2d 43. Wilkerson now seeks relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 on the grounds of ineffectiveness of his court-appointed counsel; the failure ......
  • U.S. v. Montemayor
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • 24 Agosto 1982
    ...government's evidence, however, was accepted by the jury, and it thoroughly demonstrated Montemayor's guilt. See United States v. Wilkerson, 534 F.2d 43, 44 (5th Cir. 1976). II. Montemayor contends that his right to a fair trial was unduly prejudiced because of the introduction into evidenc......

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