United States v. Montanaro

Decision Date22 June 1966
Docket NumberDocket 30359.,No. 423,423
Citation362 F.2d 527
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Joseph MONTANARO, Defendant-Appellant.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

Raymond Bernhard Grunewald, Asst. U. S. Atty., Eastern District of New York (Joseph P. Hoey, U. S. Atty., Eastern District of New York, on the brief), for appellee.

Jerome Lewis, Brooklyn, N. Y., for defendant-appellant.

Before MOORE, SMITH and KAUFMAN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

Joseph Montanaro appeals from a conviction on two counts of assault upon federal officers in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111, after trial by jury before Judge Mishler. He was sentenced to a year and a day, concurrent, on each count, and to a fine of $1250 on each count. We find no error and affirm the judgment.

Montanaro was stopped by Internal Revenue Agents while proceeding in his car in Brooklyn. The agents had a warrant for Montanaro's arrest for violation of federal gambling tax statutes. As Montanaro passed the agents, they used their cars to surround him, and apparently left a small aperture through which a car might have continued. The agents testified they were waving their badges as they approached. Montanaro said he saw no such thing and heard no claim of federal authority. His car hit Agent Foy and then Agent Bellon; neither agent was seriously injured. Montanaro claimed he had already been dragged from his car when the car's momentum carried it into the agents. On appeal we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, prevailing below. United States v. Robbins, 340 F.2d 684 (2 Cir. 1965); United States v. Kahaner, 317 F.2d 459 (2 Cir.), cert. denied Keogh v. United States, 375 U.S. 836, 84 S.Ct. 73, 11 L.Ed.2d 65 (1963).

The District Court charged the jury that the government did not need to show that defendant knew the agents were federal agents. This was in accord with United States v. Lombardozzi, 335 F.2d 414 (2 Cir.), cert. denied 379 U.S. 914, 85 S.Ct. 261, 13 L.Ed.2d 185 (1964). Appellant now asks that this doctrine be re-examined. We adhere to this recent, considered opinion. Compare Kasle v. United States, 233 F. 878, 882 (6 Cir. 1916); United States v. Sherman, 171 F.2d 619 (2 Cir. 1948), cert. denied, Grimaldi v. United States, 337 U.S. 931, 69 S.Ct. 1484, 93 L.Ed.2d 1738.

We find no merit in appellant's contention that because the gambling tax statutes may in the future be held unconstitutional, the officers assaulted were not in the performance of their official duties. There is no claim that the warrants were not on their face valid, and correct in...

To continue reading

Request your trial
19 cases
  • 43 541 United States v. Feola 8212 1123
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • March 19, 1975
    ...e.g., United States v. Lombardozzi, 335 F.2d 414, 416, cert. denied, 379 U.S. 914, 85 S.Ct. 261, 13 L.Ed.2d 185 (1964); United States v. Montanaro, 362 F.2d 527, 528, cert. denied, 385 U.S. 920, 87 S.Ct. 233, 17 L.Ed.2d 144 (1966); United States v. Ulan, 421 F.2d 787, 788 9. We are content ......
  • United States v. Alsondo
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • July 13, 1973
    ...the substantive offense under section 111. See, e. g., United States v. Ulan, 421 F.2d 787, 788 (2d Cir. 1970) ; United States v. Montanaro, 362 F.2d 527 (2d Cir.) (per curiam), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 920, 87 S.Ct. 233, 17 L.Ed.2d 144 The question remains, however, whether proof of such sci......
  • Pipes v. United States
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • November 1, 1968
    ...does not contain this requirement." (335 F.2d at 416.) To the same effect, see the Second Circuit's later decision in United States v. Montanaro, 2 Cir.1966, 362 F.2d 527. See also United States v. Burgos, 2 Cir. 1964, 328 F.2d 109. We believe that the logic of Bennett, Wallace and Lombardo......
  • United States v. Hasiwar
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • February 28, 1969
    ...v. Bell, 219 F.Supp. 260 (E.D.N.Y.1963). Such legal interpretation of Section 111 has been rejected in this Circuit. United States v. Montanaro, 362 F.2d 527 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 920, 87 S.Ct. 223, 17 L.Ed.2d 144 (1966); United States v. Lombardozzi, 335 F.2d 414, 10 A.L.R.3d 8......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT