Opposition Brief — Udey v. United States
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a | Supreme Court, U.S.
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Nos. 84-1300, 84-1368, and MAY 23 1985
ALEXANDER L. STEVAS
States zk
Iu the Supreme Comet of the Unite
OCTOBER TERM, 1984
EDWIN C. UDEY, PETITIONER
Vv.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ARTHUR H. RUSSELL, PETITIONER
Vv.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LEONARD G. GINTER AND NORMA GINTER,
PETITIONERS
Vv.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ON PETITIONS FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES IN OPPOSITION
REX E. LEE
Solicitor General
STEPHEN S. TROTT
Assistant Attorney General
FRANCIS J. MARTIN
Attorney
Department of Justice
Weshington, D.C. 20530
(202) 633-2217
EE ERE ESAS NE IGTEE GR ENN ARORA ATURE AS SRR ER ENE TI RN RE AR NNT RT TOSI A
?
apY®
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
1. Whether the evidence against petitioner Udey
was sufficient.
2. Whether petitioner Udey was prejudiced by
the district court’s rulings with respect to various in-
cidents that occurred at trial.
3. Whether the district court erred in excluding
proof as to whether evidence was destroyed in bad
faith by the government (petitioners Udey and
Russell).
4. Whether petitioner Russell’s concurrent sen-
tences for conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and the
substantive offense of harboring a fugitive violate
the Double Jeopardy Clause.
5. Whether petitioner Russell has standing to seek
the suppression of evidence based on an alleged vio-
lation of petitioner Leonard Ginter’s Miranda rights.
6. Whether evidence seized during a search of
the burned remains of the Ginters’ house, which had
been the scene of a shootout with authorities, should
have been suppressed (petitioners Leonard and
Norma Ginter).
7. Whether the Miranda rights of petitioners
Leonard and Norma Ginter were violated.
8. Whether the district court erred in its evi-
dentiary ruling that petitioners Leonard and Norma
Ginter were not entitled to introduce their post-
arrest statements.
9. Whether petitioners Leonard and Norma Ginter
were entitled to the appointment of counsel of their
choice.
10. Whether the district court abused its discre-
tion in refusing to grant a continuance (petitioners
Leonard and Norma Ginter).
(1)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
a dial ancminiidibedennidenabiniicnanes 2
I eit caishennbunasionnontns 2
ea meniidarenpeinsasananetingn 2
I aarti dleeitiahen annsatiinceindainbeanmnenneninentannnceniens 5
RGR ISERIES SEEN a eRe 23
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases:
Ake v. Oklahoma, No. 83-5424 (Feb. 26, 1985) _..... 21
Albernaz Vv. United States, 450 U.S. 333 ................. 12, 13
Ball v. United States, No. 84-5004 (Mar. 26,
a cenpsintenemeanee 13, 15
Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 ............... sreraaaaeunees 22
Barnes V. United States, 412 U.S. 887 -..................... 12
Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 ............ 18, 14
Burks v. United States, 487 U.S. 1 ........................... 6
California v. Trombetta, No. 83-305 (June 11,
ss snceanannstions 12
Callanan v. United States, 364 U.S. 587 —............... 13
Carter v. McClaughry, 183 U.S. 365 —....................... 13
Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 ........... SUNS 15, 19, 20
Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391 -................... 15
Grady v. United States, 715 F.2d 402 —......... 21
Ham Vv. South Carolina, 409 U.S. 524 -....00000000....... 9
Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87 ......... ecacnes 11
Iannelli v. United States, 420 U.S. 770 0000... 18, 14, 15
Illinois Vv. Gates, 462 U.S. 218 ...................... ee. 17, 18
Jackson v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 307 .............. enviia 6
Jackson v. Wyrick, 730 F.2d 1177, cert. denied,
Ee | EERE 19
Jeffers v. United States, 482 U.S. 187 ...................... 13
Liparota v. United States, No. 84-5108 (May 13,
yk tia anbis eller ih Si Eee a aA 6
Luce Vv. United States, No. 83-912 (Dec. 10, 1984) .. 22
(IT)
IV
Cases—Continued : Page
Michigan v. Mosley, 423 U.S. 96 .....................-..------ 19
Michigan Vv. Tyler, 436 U.S. 499 ........................-...--- 16
Mincey V. Arizona, 487 U.S. 385 ........................--..-- 16
Miranda V. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 -................. 15, 18, 19, 20
Missouri Vv. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359 ............................ 12,138
Morris Vv. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1 ...................-2...-0-00<++-.-- 21, 22
New York v. Quarles, No. 82-1213 (June 12,
I aaa caesarean 19
Ohio v. Johnson, No. 83-904 (June 11, 1984) _....... 12
Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1......................... 13
Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640 _.............. 13
Remmer Vv. United States, 347 U.S. 227 ....... ellaiiad 10
Rogers Vv. Lodge, 458 U.S. 618 ............................--.-- 5
Tennessee V. Street, No. 83-2143 (May 13, 1985) .... 10
Thompson Vv. Louisiana, No. 83-6775 (Nov. 26,
I a 16
Ungar Vv. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 576 ...........................-..-- 22
United States v. Apodaca, 666 F.2d 89, cert. de-
NR Ee ane 9
United States v. Archie, 656 F.2d 1253, cert. de-
I i cicemetnnien )
United States v. Armedo-Sarmiento, 545 F.2d 785,
FS) 14
United States v. Austin, 529 F.2d 559 .................... 14, 15
United States v. Bankston, 603 F.2d 528 _.............. 15
United States v. Bissonette, 586 F.2d 73 —.............. 6
United States v. Bosch, 584 F.2d 1113 .................... 14
United States v. Bright, 630 F.2d 804 _.......... 14
United States v. Brown, 591 F.2d 307, cert. denied,
i ali aa adiinlatahitia nina alanis 21
United States v. Cowart, 595 F.2d 1023 —................ 15
United States v. Crosby, 713 F.2d 1066, cert. de-
a eee 21
United States v. DeVincent, 632 F.2d 155, cert.
TE A ed 14
United States v. ve, No. 82-786 (Feb. 28, 1984) .... 5
United States v. Faul, 748 F.2d 1204, petitions for
cert. pending, Nos. 84-1373, 84-6332, and
SERRE CAO REED SPR, Se 3
Cases—Continued : Page
United States v. Fife, 573 F.2d 369, cert. denied,
Ie I I ecceticinteitinsincanecinieeacincennibctinintenibiienatuncaneiin 15
United States v. Giampa, 290 F.2d 83 -................... 6
United States v. Hunt, 749 F.2d 1078, petition
for cert. pending, No. 84-1481 .............................. 10
United States v. Inmon, 568 F.2d 326 ...................... 14
United States v. Johnson, 732 F.2d 379, cert. de-
nied, No. 83-6953 (Nov. 26, 1984) -...................... 22
United States v. Kearney, 560 F.2d 1358, cert. de-
ee NE SR Se 14
United States v. Lopez, 709 F.2d 742, cert. denied,
a eeminteans 16
United States v. Marin, 669 F.2d 73 ..................... 21
United States v. Nichols, 741 F.2d 767, cert. de-
nied, No. 84-985 (Feb. 19, 1985) —...............0........ 13
United States v. Peister, 631 F.2d 658, cert. de-
I a 21
United States v. Penn, 647 F.2d 876, cert. denied,
' Bt & geen 16
United States v. Ricco, 549 F.2d 264, cert. denied,
I IN TI seccciieeishncih cellent a at aia 14
United States v. Salinas-Calderon, 728 F.2d 1298.. 16
United States v. Scott, 678 F.2d 606, cert. denied,
Ra Le 10
United States v. Shelton, 573 F.2d 917, cert. denied,
2s see ES LY SReSneY EN Tee 14
United States v. Singer, 687 F.2d 1135, aff'd, 710
2 CEE ERR Ne 2 VT ENE, Sn ane 17
United States v. Soures, 736 F.2d 87 .................. 21
United States v. Wuagneux, 683 F.2d 1343, cert.
ns, I ese 22
Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S 684 ie are aad 12
Constitution, statutes and rules:
U.S. Const. :
le 17, 18
Amend. V (Double Jeopardy Clause) Aes 12, 15, 20
18 U.S.C. $71 .................... Sl alia 2
ee esidiadingianaiahitteanammedinind 2
VI
Constitution, statutes and rules-—Continued:
Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(b) .........................
Fed. R. Evid. :
I iin ininnsincehaennteanaiein’
EATS
Rule 801 (d) (2) (A) .......
Rule 808 (8) ..........
Rule 804 ...............
Rule 804 (8) (1) .cccccssovsssnssesnnseeennnen
Rule 804‘) (3) .
Iu the Supreme Court of the United States
OCTOBER TERM, 1984
No. 84-1300
EDWIN C. UDEY, PETITIONER
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
No. 84-1368
ARTHUR H. RUSSELL, PETITIONER
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
No. 84-6333
LEONARD G. GINTER AND NORMA GINTER,
PETITIONERS
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ON PETITIONS FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES IN OPPOSITION
2
OPINION BELOW
The opinion of the court of appeals (Pet. App. la-
28a)' is reported at 748 F.2d 1231.
JURISDICTION
The judgment of the court of anpeals was entered
on November 7, 1984, Petitions for rehearing were
denied on December 28, 1984 (Udey Pet. App. B1-
B3; Russell Pet. App. 29a; Ginters Pet. App. D1).
Udey’s petition for a writ of certiorari was filed
on February 13, 1985; Russell’s and the Ginters’
petitions were filed on February 26, 1985. The
jurisdiction of this Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C.
1254(1).
STATEMENT
Following a jury trial in the United States Dis-
trict Court for the Western District of Arkansas, each
petitioner was convicted on one count of conspiracy
to harbor and conceal a fugitive, in violation of 18
U.S.C. 371, and on one count of harboring and con-
cealing a fugitive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1071.
Petitioners Udey and Leonard Ginter were each
sentenced to concurrent five-year terms of imprison-
ment. Petitioner Russell was sentenced to a six-
month term of imprisonment and a four-year term
of probation. Petitioner Norma Ginter wes sentenced
to a term of imprisonment of time already served
and a five-year term of probation. The court of ap-
peals affirmed (Pet. App. la-28a).
* Unless otherwise indicated, “Pet. App.” refers to the
appendix to the Russell petition (No. 84-1368). The appendix
to the Udey petition (No. 84-1300) is incomplete in several
respects.
3
The charges in this case involve the harboring and
concealment of Gordon Kahl. Kahl was a tax pro-
tester and a member of an extremist organization
known as Posse Comitatus. In 1977, Kahl was con-
vieted of income tax violations. Following a period
of incarceration, he was released on probation in
1979. It was subsequentiy alleged that Kahl violated
the terms of his probation, and in March 1981 a
United States Marshal made an unsuccessful attempt
to persuade him to surrender voluntarily. Subse-
quent attempts to arrest Kahl also proved un-
successful.
On February 13, 1983, the local sheriff spotted
Kahl in Medina, North Dakota. The United States
Marshal was contacted and a roadblock was set up
to intercept Kahl and his companions. When Kahl’s
group encountered the roadblock, a shootout ensued
in which the United States Marshal and one of his
deputies were killed; in addition, a seccnd deputy
marshal, a county sheriff, and a city police officer
were injured. Kahl escaped, but his associates were
arrested and convicted on various charges arising
from the February 13 shootout See United States v.
Faul, 748 F.2d 1204 (8th Cir. 1984), petitions for
cert. pending, Nos. 84-1373, 84-6332, and 84-6350.
After Kahl escaped, warrants for his arrest on
charges of murder were issued on February 14 and
March 11, 198° * nationwide manhunt for Kahl
was begun, and th. shootout and search were the sub-
jects of extensive media coverage. Faul, 748 F.2d
at 1212; Pet. App. 2a-3a.
On March 13, Kahl moved into the residence of
petitioner Russell in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Kahl stayed with Russell until May 30, 1983. Dur-
* The foregoing facts were taken from the court’s opinion
in Faul, 748 F.2d at 1207-1210.
Fr Dg
4
ing this period, Kahl had frequent discussions with
Russell and Russell’s daughter, Karen Robertson,” re-
garding the shootout in North Dakota. They also
watched television news accounts of the search for
Kahl. Pet. App. 3a.
While Kahl was staying with Russell, petitioner
Udey visited the Russell residence. On his first
visit, Udey referred to Kahl as a hero. In addition,
on at least two occasions Kahl went to the Udey resi-
dence near Cotter, Arkansas. One of these visits was
initiated when Udey invited Kahl to dinner. Pet.
App. 3a.
In mid-May 19838, petitioners Leonard and Norma
Ginter went to the Russell residence. They had an
FBI wanted poster of Kahl, which they discussed
with him. On May 30, the Ginters and Udey were
again present at the Russell residence. At that time,
there was a discussion that the FBI was “closing
in” on Kahl. Later that day, Kahl moved to the Gin-
ters’ residence near Smithville, Arkansas. Pet. App.
3a.
On June 3, law enforcement authorities went to the
Ginter residence in search of Kahl. A shootout then
occurred, and the Ginters’ home was burned down
in the course of the gunfight. In the charred rubble,
authorities recovered the remains of a rifle similar to
one Kahl had at the Russell residence and a shotgun
from the United States Marshal’s office in North
Dakota that had been missing since the February
13 shootout. In addition, they found the burned re-
mains of a body, which was later identified by the
medical examiner as Gordon Kahl. Pet. App. 3a-4a.
3 Robertson was the government’s principal witness at trial.
5
ARGUMENT
1. Petitioner Udey contends (Pet. 5-22) that the
evidence was insufficient to establish that he knew
that a federal warrant had been issued for Kahl’s ar-
rest. This fact-bound claim was rejected by both
courts below and does not call for further review.
See, e.g., United States v. Doe, No. 82-786 (Feb.
28, 1984), slip op. 8; Rogers v. Lodge, 458 U.S. 6138,
623 (1982).*
In any event, the courts below correctly found that
the evidence was sufficient.’ The only element dis-
puted by Udey is whether he had knowledge that
* As Udey notes (Pet. 5), the district court stated that the
evidence against Udey was not as strong as it was against the
other defendants. The district court specifically concluded,
however, that the evidence was sufficient to support the
jury’s verdict (Sentencing Tr. 24) :
The [c]ourt believes that Mr. Udey was involved in
this * * °,
* * * * *
[T]he jury had no difficulty, apparently, in believing that
Mr. Udey, beyond a reasonable doubt, did the things with
which he is charged. Very frankly, Mr. Udey, the court
has no difficulty believing that either * * *.
In addition, Udey’s five-year sentence indicates the district
court’s assessment of his involvement and culpability in the
harboring scheme. Finally, we note that the district court
entered a judgment of acquittal with respect to Udey’s wife,
Irene, at the close of the government’s case; this determination
by the district court concerning Udey’s wife, and its contrary
determination concerning Udey himself, reinforces the court’s
conclusion that the evidence against Udey was sufficient.
5 Chief Judge Lay dissented from the panel’s decision on
this issue (Pet. App. 25a-28a). In addition, he and three other
judges dissented from the denial of rehearing en banc in
this respect (Udey Pet. App. B1-B3).
6
Kahl was a fugitive because a federal warrant had
been issued for his arrest. However,
‘
rarely would direct proof of knowledge [of the
existence of a warrant] be available. * * *
The knowledge element can be established by
evidence from which the trier of fact “could
properly infer knowledge and guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.”
United States v. Bissonette, 586 F.2d 73, 77 (8th
Cir. 1978), quoting United States v. Giampa, 290
F.2d 83, 84-85 (2d Cir. 1961) ; cf. Liparota v. United
States, No. 84-5108 (May 138, 1985), slip op. 14.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the govern-
ment,® the evidence adequately supports the jury’s
findings of Udey’s knowledge.
First, there was widespread media coverage of
both the shootout in North Dakota and the subse-
quent search for Kahl. This publicity extended to
the area in Arkansas in which Udey lived. See pages
8-4, swpra; Tr. 185, 199; Gov’t Exhs. 3, 3A. Indeed,
Udey acknowledges (Pet. 17) that he was aware
of rumors and media reports concerning Kahl.
Moreover, Udey’s actions afforded a sufficient basis
for the jury to infer his knowledge that Kahl was a
fugitive. When Udey first met Kahl at the Russell
residence, Udey said to Kahl “[y]ou’re a hero” and
called him by the same nickname that Russell used
(Tr. 295, 308). Following the shootout at the Ginter
residence on June 3, Udey told Karen Robeitson that
Kahl was a “good patriot” (Tr. 325) but had shot
the sheriff (Tr. 326, 406). And even after the June
3 shootout, Udey expressed no surprise about Kahl’s
8 See, e.g., Jackson Vv. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 317-319, 324,
826 (1979); Burks v. United States, 4837 U.S. 1, 17 (1978).
RPSL IISE TIES kia a SN OM
7
identity or status as a fugitive. In addition, Udey
wrote the name “Gordon Kahl” in his Bible and
made the notation “Gordon Kahl deiivered” next to
the passage describing St. Peter’s release from
Herod’s prison shortly before his scheduled execu-
tion (Tr. 988-989, 994; Gov’t Exh. 12).
Finally, Udey was closely involved both with Kahl
and with the co-defendants engaged in harboring and
concealing Kahl.’ For example, Udey visited the Rus-
sell residence on more than one occasion while Kahl
was living there and was present on the day that
Kahl leit to move in with the Ginters (Tr. 307, 322).
Likewise, Kahl went to Udey’s residence at least
twice, including once in response to a dinner invita-
tion that Udey made to Kahl and to Russell and the
Ginters (Tr. 308-309, 413; Gov’t Exh. 9). Contrary
to Udey’s contention, this evidence goes well beyond
“mere association” and provides additional support
for the jury’s finding.
In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, Udey
places great reliance (Pet. 16-20) on an asserted am-
biguity in Robertson’s testimony. As the court of
appeals recognized (Pet. App. 7a-9a), Robertson’s
direct testimony stated that Udey was involved in a
discussion with Kahl and Leonard Ginter about the
fact that the FBI was closing in on Kahl and that
Kahl would have to leave the Russell residence; ® this
testimony provides compelling evidence of Udey’s
7 Udey concedes (Pet. 11) that “there was extremely con-
vincing evidence that some of the conspirators knew of the
warrant [for Kahl’s arrest].”
8 This discussion occurred on the day that Kahl moved out
of the Russell residence and went to live with the Ginters.
8
knowledge that Kahl was a fugitive.’ Moreover,
even if Udey is correct that cross-examination raised
an ambiguity concerning his presence during that
conversation, the jury remained free to credit Rob-
ertson’s direct testimony that he was there. And
at all events, for the reasons discussed above, the evi-
dence was sufficient without regard to this testimony
to allow the jury to infer Udey’s knowledge of, the
existence of an arrest warrant for Kahl.
2. Udey argues (Pet. 28-38) that various inci-
dents at trial constituted prejudicial error. The court
of appeals summarily rejected these claims as being
“without merit” (Pet. App. 24a)."° The decision be-
low is correct, and review by this Court is not
warranted.
a. The first challenged incident involved a draw-
ing, made by Kahl on Russell’s stationery, that con-
tained religious and racial references. Over Udey’s
objection that these references were prc‘udicial, the
drawing was admitted into evidence (Govt Exh. 8).
However, as the government stated in its brief in the
court of appeals (at 24), the drawing was never de-
scribed or shown to the jury. See also Udey Pet. 29-
830. Because the exhibit was never published to the
jury, it could not have prejudiced Udey’s right to a
fair trial.
b. The second incident involved an allegation that
a woman on the jury panel winked at the deputy
marshal during voir dire. Udey complains that he
® Robertson also specifically testified (Tr. 414; see Udey Pet.
19) that Udey “knew who he [Kahl] was and knew he was
there [at the Russell residence].”
1 On this and all of the subsequent questions presented by
petitioners, the decision of the court of appeals was unani-
mous, and no judge voted in favor of rehearing en banc.
9
was required to use a peremptory challenge to remove
that juror and thus could not strike other jurors
whom he deemed unacceptable. The district court
found the winking incident to be insignificant (see
Udey Pet. 31). The trial court has broad discretion
in the selection of jurors, and Udey has not shown
either an abuse of that discretion or an impairment
of his right to a fair trial. See, e.g., United States
v. Apodaca, 666 F.2d 89, 94-95 (5th Cir.), cert. de-
nied, 459 U.S. 823 (1982); United States v. Archie,
656 F.2d 1253, 1259 (8th Cir. 1981), cert. denied,
455 U.S. 951 (1982).
ec. During voir dire, the district court referred to
public accounts alleging that the defendants were tax
protesters. See Tr. 95; see also Udey Pet. 32. Udey
contends that he was not a tax protester and there-
fore was prejudiced by the reference. However, the
district court’s statement was an appropriate means
for eliciting from the venire panel any prejudice that
might exist due to the political beliefs that underlay
Kahl’s crimes and the possible motives of the defend-
ants for harboring him from law enforcement au-
thorities. The court acted well within its broad dis-
cretion in the conduct of the voir dire (see, e.g., Ham
v. South Carolina, 409 U.S. 524, 527-528 (1973) )
and did not deny Udey a fair trial.
d. Udey next argues that the district court erred
in admitting hearsay evidence of statements by Kahl
indicating that he would forceably resist arrest. See
Tr. 222-223; see also Udey Pet. 33. The evidence
was introduced to explain why a marshal had met
with Kahl to discuss his surrender but had not en-
deavored to arrest him. Because this evidence was
not admitted to “prove the truth of the matter as-
serted” (Fed. R. Evid. 801(c)), but instead was used
10
to demonstrate the basis for the marshal’s decision
not to arrest Kahl, Udey’s hearsay objection is with-
out merit. See, e.g., United States v. Hunt, 749 F.2d
1078, 1084 (4th Cir. 1984), petition for cert. pend-
ing, No. 84-1481; United States v. Scott, 678 F.2d
606, 612 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 972
(1982); see also Tennessee v. Street, No. 83-2143
(May 138, 1985), slip op. 4-5.
e. Udey also complains that a relative of peti-
tioner Russell’s was observed photographing members
of the jury. Based on its questioning of the two
jurors involved, the district court replaced one with
an alternate and determined that nv other prejudice
had occurred. See Tr. 1252-1266; see also Udey Pet.
34-37. That determination fell well within the dis-
trict court’s discretion to deal with issues of possible
irregularities involving members of the jury. See,
e.g., Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 230
(1954).™
3. Petitioners Udey and Russell contend (Udey
Pet. 22-28; Russell Pet. 11-27) that the district court
erred in excluding defense testimony regarding the
government’s alleged bad faith destruction of evi-
dence. This contention was correctly rejected by the
court below.
The manhunt for Gordon Kahl ended when he was
killed by law enforcement officers in 2 shootout at the
Ginters’ residence. During the shootout, the Ginter
house was burned to the ground. The charred re-
mains of Kahl were identified by the medical ex-
aminer from teeth found in the rubble. At trial, pe-
titioners sought to present expert testimony indicat-
1 Relying on the arguments to be made in the petitions of
his co-defendants, Udey also asserts that media publicity and
courthouse security procedures deprived him of a fair trial.
However, the other petitions do not present or discuss this
issue, and therefore it need not be considered by the Court.
11
ing that government agents deliberately set the fire
at the Ginters’ in order to destroy fingerprint evi-
dence that could have been used to make a positive
identification of Kahl. The district court refused tb
admit the proffered testimony.
Initially, as the district court noted (see Pet. App.
21a n.6), the loss of the fingerprints could have aided
the defendants in this prosecution, since it made it
more difficult for the government to establish the
identity of the body found in the Ginters’ residence.
It is highly implausible to claim, as petitioners do,
that the government would weaken its case at trial.
Nor have petitioners demonstrated why the govern-
ment would deliberately destroy evidence showing
whether Kahl, the subject of aa intensive nationwide
search, was still alive and at large.
In any event, as the court of appeals explained
(Pet. App. 2la-22a), petitioners’ offer of proof failed
to establish that the proffered testimony was rele-
vant. At most, petitioner’s submission tended to show
that the authorities caused the fire in the course of
the shootout, not that they deliberately sought to de-
stroy Kahl’s fingerprints. However, the cause of the
fire was neither germane to the issues at trial nor
exculpatory of the defendants.” Accordingly, this
evidence was properly excluded.
As this Court has recognized, a district court “has
wide discretion in its determination to admit and
exclude evidence, and this is particularly true in the
case of expert testimony.” Hamling v. United States,
418 U.S. 87, 108 (1974). Here, petitioners’ proffered
testimony related to an issue entirely collateral to the
charged offenses, which were established at trial by
12 Petitioner Udey concedes (Pet. 22) that there was “sub-
stantial and convincing evidence” that the corpse found in
the Ginters’ residence was that of Gordon Kahl.
12
proof whose sufficiency is unchallenged. In these cir-
cumstances, the district court did not abuse its dis-
cretion in excluding this defense evidence.”
4. Petitioner Russell received concurrent sentences
of six months’ imprisonment, to be followed by four
years’ probation, for the substantive offense of har-
boring a fugitive and for conspiracy to harbor a
fugitive. He contends (Pet. 8-11) that this consti-
tuted multiple punishment in violation of the Double
Jeopardy Clause. The court of appeals properly re-
jected this contention (Pet. App. 9a-ila).”
The Court has made clear that the propriety of
cumulative punishments under the Double Jeopardy
Clause is strictly a matter of legislative intent. See
Ohio v. Johnson, No. 83-904 (June 11, 1984), slip
op. 6 & n.8; Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359 (1983) ;
Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 343-344
(1981) ; Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, 691-
693 (1980). “With respect to cumulative sentences
imposed in a single trial, the Double Jeopardy Clause
does no more than prevent the sentencing court from
prescribing greater punishment than the legislature
18 The cases cited by petitioner are not to the contrary. See
also California v. Trombetta, No. 83-305 (June 11, 1984). In
those cases, the government destroyed documentary or other
tangible evidence that was in its possession or control. In
this case, by contrast, the government did not have custody
of Kahl or the fingerprint evidence. Moreover, the govern-
ment did not act to destroy the evidence of Kahl’s fingerprints ;
rather, the fire occurred in the course of law enforcement ac-
tivity designed to apprehend him. While petitioners may view
that use of force as excessive, it plainly does not constitute
bad faith destruction of evidence in the control of the
government.
4 Because petitioner was given concurrent sentences on the
substantive and conspiracy counts, it is unnecessary for the
Court to consider his double jeopardy claim. See, e.g., Barnes
v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 848 n.16 (1973).
13
intended.” Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. at 366.
Thus,
the question of what punishments are constitu-
tionally permissible is not different from the
question of what punishments the Legislative
Branch intended to be imposed. Where Congress
intended * * * to impose multiple punishments,
imposition of such sentences does not violate the
Constitution.
Id, at 368, quoting Albernaz, 450 U.S. at 344 (foot-
note omitted).
In applying this standard, the Court “has consist-
ently relied on the test of statutory construction stated
in Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304
(1932), to determine whether Congress intended the
same conduct to be punishable under two criminal
provisions.” Ball v. United States, No. 84-5004
(Mar. 26, 1985), slip op. 5. Under Blockburger,
“(t]he appropriate inquiry * * * is ‘whether each
provision requires proof of a fact which the other
does not.’” Ball, slip op. 5. The Blockburger test
turns on the statutory elements of the offense and
not on the allegations of the indictment or the gov-
ernment’s proof at trial in a given case. See Alber-
naz, 450 U.S. at 337-338; Jannelli v. United States,
420 U.S. 770, 785 n.17 (1975).
This Court * and the court of appeals * have con-
sistently recognized that a substantive offense and a
© See, e.g., Jeffers Vv. United States, 482 U.S. 187, 156-157
(1977) (plurality opinion) ; Jannelli, 420 U.S. at 777-779, 785-
786 n.17; United States v. Feola, 420 U.S 671, 698-694
(1975) ; Callanan v. United States, 364 U.S. 587, 593-594
(1961) ; Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1, 11-12 (1954);
Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 648-644 (1946) ;
Carter v. McClaughry, 183 U.S. 365 (1902).
** See, e.g., United States y. Nichols, 741 F.2d 767, 772-773
(5th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, No. 84-985 (Feb. 19, 1985) ;
14
conspiracy to commit that offense are generally dif-
ferent offenses that satisfy the Blockburger test.
Here, conspiracy to-harbor a fugitive involves the
necessary element of an agreement to violate the law,
which is not part of the substantive offense; con-
versely, the substantive offense of harboring a fugi-
tive, unlike the conspiracy offense, requires the ac-
tual consummation of the crime. Thus, these sub-
stantive and conspiracy offenses meet the test of
Blockburger. Moreover, Russell has pointed to noth-
ing in the language, history, or purposes of the
statutes to suggest that Congress intended to de-
part from the settled rule that “separate sentences can
be imposed for the conspiracy to do an act and for
the subsequent accomplishment of that end.” Jan-
nelli, 420 U.S. at 777-778. On the contrary, “[t]he
historical difference between the conspiracy and its
end has led this Court consistently to attribute to
Congress ‘a tacit purpose—in the absence of any in-
consistent expression—to maintain a long-establish J
distinction between offenses essentially different’”’
(id. at 779 (citation omitted) ).'' Accordingly, Rus-
United States v. DeVincent, 682 F.2d 155, 159-160 (ist
Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 984 (1981); United
States v. Bright, 680 F.2d 804, 818 (5th Cir. 1980);
United States v. Bosch, 584 F.2d 1118, 1119 (1st Cir. 1978) ;
United States v. Shelton, 573 F.2d 917, 918-920 (6th Cir.),
cert. denied, 489 U.S. 827 (1978); United States v. Jnmon,
568 F.2d 326, 329-333 (3d Cir. 1977) ; United States v. Kear-
ney, 560 F.2d 1358, 1365-1367 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 484
U.S. 971 (1977) ; United States v. Ricco, 549 F.2d 264, 272-2738
(2d Cir.), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 905 (1977) ; United States v.
Armedo-Sarmiento, 545 F.2d 785, 791-792 (2d Cir. 1976),
cert. denied, 480 U.S. 917 (1977).
‘tT United States Vv. Austin, 529 F.2d 559 (6th Cir. 1976),
upon which Russell relies, does not conflict with this analysis.
Austin concerned convictions for bribery and for conspiracy
15
sell’s sentences for the substantive and conspiracy
offenses were not improper.“
5. Russell also argues (Pet. 5-8) that it was
prejudicial error for the district court to admit co-
defendant Leonard Ginter’s statement that he had
harbored Kahl. He argues that the statement was ob-
tained in violation of Ginter’s rights under Miranda
v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 486 (1966), and Edwards v.
Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981).
Russell’s objection to the introduction of Ginter’s
statement is insubstantial. The Fifth Amendment
right against compelled self-incrimination is a “‘per-
sonal privilege” (Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S.
391, 398 (1976)), and “[t]he Court has held repeat-
edly that the Fifth Amendment is limited to prohibit-
ing the use of ‘physical or moral compulsion’ exerted
on the person asserting the privilege” (id. at 397 (em-
phasis added and citation omitted) ). Just as the Fifth
to engage in bribery. In that limited circumstance, the court
concluded that the substantive and conspiracy offenses were
the same because each involved “the same concert of action
or agreement” (529 F.2d at 563). Cf. Jannelli, 420 U.S. at
778, 779, 782-786 (Wharton's Rule). The Sixth Circuit has
confined Austin to that narrow situation in which the sub-
stantive offense, like the conspiracy, entails an agreement as
a necessary element. See United States v. Fife, 573 F.2d 369,
872-3738 (6th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 9383 (1977);
see also United States v. Bankston, 603 F.2d 528, 534 n.7 (5th
Cir. 1979) ; United States v. Cowart, 595 F.2d 1023, 1033 n.14
(5th Cir. 1979). Because Russell's offense of harboring Kahl
did not require any agreement or concerted action with his
co-defendants, the decision in Austin is inapposite.
*S There is also no basis for Russell’s suggestion (Pet. 11)
that offenses cannot be brought together in a single prosecu-
tion if they would not be subject to cumulative penalties. See
Ball, slip op. 4-5 & nn.7, 8.
16
Amendment does not protect a person from being re-
quired to incriminate a third party (id. at 398), so
too a third party cannot invoke someone else’s privi-
lege against self-incrimination as a basis for seeking
to suppress evidence obtained in alleged violation of
that nerson’s rights. See, e.g., United States v.
Salin_s-Calderon, 728 F.2d 1298, 1302 (10th Cir.
1984) ; United States v. Lopez, 709 F.2d 742, 745 n.3
(1st Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 86? (1983); United
States v. Penn, 647 F.2d 876, 884 , oh Cir.), cert.
denied, 449 U.S. 903 (1980). Accordingly, Russell
was not entitled to challenge the validity of Ginter’s
statement under Miranda.
6. Petitioners Leonard and Norma Ginter contend
(Pet. 15-30) that the evidence seized during the
search of their burned-out house should have been
suppressed because the warrant authorizing the
search was issued without probable cause. This claim
does not call for further review.
First, the validity of the search does not depend
upon the challenged warrant. Although law enforce-
ment officials went to the Ginters’ residence to execute
the warrant, no search occurred at that time because
of the gunshots that were fired from inside the house.
Rather, a search was conducted only after the shoot-
out had ended and the building had burned down.
As the court of appeals correctly recognized (Pet.
App. 15a-16a), the entry into the charred remains of
the crime scene was fully justified by exigent cir-
cumstances wholly without regard to the warrant,
and the evidence of Kahl’s body and his rifle, which
were found in piain view, was properly seized. See
Thompson v. Louisiana, No. 83-6775 (Nov. 26, 1984),
slip op. 2, 4; Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 392
(i978); Michigan v. Tyler, 486 U.S. 499, 509-510
17
?
(1978) ; United States v. Singer, 687 F.2d 1135, 1144
(1982), aff'd in relevant part, 710 F.2d 431, 432
(Sth Cir. 1983) (en banc). Accordingly, even as-
suming that the Ginters retained a reasonable and
legitimate expectation of privacy in the incinorated
rubble of their house, the Fourth Amendment was not
violated.”
In any event, the court of appeals correctly upheld
the warrant ‘ssued by the magistrate for the search
of the Ginters’ residence (Pet. App. 1l2a-l5a).
Briefly stated, the affidavit in support of the warrant
application disclosed information from a reliable in-
formant that the informant had seen Kahl with the
Ginters in a particular color and type of car on May
$0, 1983, four days before the shootout and search
took place. It also stated that the informant’s tip had
been corroborated by aerial surveillance, which showed
that a car of the given description was at the Ginters’
house on the afternoon of June 2 and the morning of
June 3. These facts, viewed in a common-sense fash-
ion in the overall] context, provided a “ ‘substantial
basis for * * * [the issuing magistrate to] conclud[e]
that a search would uncover evidence of wrong-
doing’ ” (Jllinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 236 (1983)
(citation omitted) ) and demonstrated “a fair prob-
ability that * * * [the evidence sought would] be
found” (id. at 238).”
’ A shoteun was also found during a search on the follow-
ing day. The court of appeals held (Pet. App. 16a) that even
if this search was not supported by exigent circumstances at
the crime scene, any error in the admission of the evidence
was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The Ginters have
not challenged this harmless-error ruling.
*” The Ginters contend (Pet. 15-18) that Gates should not be
applied to searches, such as the one in this case, that occurred
18
7. Leonard and Norma Ginter argue (Pet. 31-34)
that certain statements were obtained in violation of
their rights under Miranda v. Arizona, supra, and
therefore should have been suppressed. These argu-
ments do not warrant this Court’s review.
a. When the police arrived at the Ginters’ home,
Norma Ginter was inside. Leonard Ginter was stopped
by the officers outside the house as he was driving
away. At the officers’ direction, Leonard called for
Norma to come outside. When she did so, the officers
asked the Ginters whether theré was anyone else in-
side the house. After they responded that there was
not, the sheriff entered the house. Kahl, who was
hiding inside, shot and killed the sheriff (Tr. 326,
406).
The Ginters claim that their response to the officers
should have been suppressed because they were not
first advised of their Miranda rights. As they con-
cede (et. 32), however, this issue was not presented
in thy motion to suppress, and thus the court of ap-
peals correctly held (Pet. App. 17a) that it was not
preserved under Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(b). In any
event, as the court of appeals noted in the alternative
(Pet. App. 17a n.4) and as petitioners appear to
acknowledge (Pet. 33), the officers’ questions were
proper—and hence the responses were admissible—in
order “to secure [the officers’] safety [and] the safety
before the date of that decision. They acknowledge (Pet. 18),
however, that their position has been rejected by the courts of
appeals and that no conflict exists on the issue. Furthermore,
there is no consideration of unfairness or systemic reliance to
suggest that the Court’s construction of the Fourth Amend-
ment in Gates should be inapplicable here and that the rele-
vant and reliable evidence in question should be excluded at
trial.
:
19
of the public.” New York v. Quarles, No. 82-1213
(June 12, 1984), slip op. 9.
b. Shortly after her arrest on June 3, Norma Gin-
ter was advised of her Miranda rights and invoked
her right to remain silent. The following morning,
she was again advised of her rights and gave a state-
ment, which she acknowledged at the suppression
hearing was not coerced; this statement was not in-
troduced at trial. Four days after her arrest, peti-
tioner was again given Miranda warnings and de-
clined to answer any questions. On June 9, six days
after her arrest, she was once more advised of her
rights and made a second statement. Petitioner con-
tends that this statement, which was admitted into
evidence at trial, violated Miranda and Edwards vy.
Arizona, supra.
The district court found that in each instance peti-
tioner was fully advised of her Miranda rights, that
her waiver of those rights was knowing and intel-
ligent, and that t. e statement she made that the gov-
ernment introduced in evidence was voluntary (Pet.
App. 18a-19a; see also Ginters Pet. 31). Moreover, the
court found that petitioner did not ask to be provided
with counsel but only indicated that she wished to
remain silent; indeed, even in that regard, petitioner
“ ‘never stated that she intended to make no state-
ment ever, but rather equivocally advised the authori-
. ties that she did not want to talk to them at the par-
ticular time’” (Pet. App. 19a). In these circum-
stances, it is clear that the officers scrupulously hon-
ored petitioner’s right to remain silent™ and that
their action in recontacting her, which occurred after
21 See Michigan V. Mosley, 423 U.S. 96, 103 (1975) ; Miranda,
384 U.S. at 479; Jackson Vv. Wyrick, 730 F.2d 1177, 1179
(8th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, No. 83-7000 (Oct. 1, 1984).
20
the passage of a substantial period of time and in-
volved a new set of Miranda warnings, did not vio-
late Edwards.
8. Following their arrests, the Ginters gave vari-
ous statements to the authorities. Some of these
statements were used against them at trial as ad-
missions under Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(A). The
Ginters contend (Pet. 35-38) that they were entitled
to introduce their other post-arrest statements as de-
fense evidence. :
This claim is without merit. Petitioners’ prior out-
of-court statements that they sought to introduce
were clearly hearsay. Moreover, contrary to peti-
tioners’ contention, the statements were not admis-
sible under the hearsay exception for declarations
against penal interest. See Fed. R. Evid. 804(b) (3).”
As the court of appeals noted (Pet. App. 24a), peti-
tioners’ offers of proof failed to establish that the
statements were inculpatory and hence against penal
interest; indeed, by seeking to introduce them, peti-
tioners presumably believed the statements to be ex-
culpatory rather than incriminating.“ Nor was
22 Petitioners no longer raise the argument, which the court
of appeals rejected (Pet. App. 23a), that certain statements
made several days after the shootout were relevant and ad-
missible as evidence of their existing state of mind or present
sense impression. See Fed. R. Evid. 803(3).
23 Rule 804 further provides that a statement against in-
terest is not admissible unless the declarant is unavailable as
a witness at trial. While a third-party witness’s invocation
of the Fifth Amendment renders him unavailable for pur-
poses of the Rule (see Fed. R. Evid. 804(a) (1)), it is not at
all clear that a defendant who voluntarily elects to exercise his
privilege not to testify should likewise be deemed to be un-
available; unlike the situation of the third-party witness, the
nn A ge
21
there any showing that the statements were necessary
to make fair and complete the post-arrest statements
that the government introduced. See Fed. R. Evid.
106; United States v. Soures, 736 F.2d 87, 91 (8d
Cir. 1984) ; United States v. Crosby, 713 F.2d 1066,
1074 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 1001 (1983) ;
United States v. Marin, 669 F.2d 78, 84-85 (2d Cir.
1982). Finally, as the court of appeals held as an
alternative ground for decision (Pet. App. 24a), any
alleged error in the exclusion of these statements was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
9. The Ginters assert (Pet. 39-40) that they were
entitled to select the lawyer to be appointed to repre-
sent them. It is well-settled, however, that a defend-
ant does not have a constitutional right to ap-
po:nted counsel of his choice. See Morris v. Slappy,
461 U.S. 1, 18-14 (1988); Grady v. United States,
715 F.2d 402, 404 (8th Cir. 1983); United States v.
Peister, 631 F.2d 658, 661 (10th Cir. 1980), cert.
denied, 449 U.S..1126 (1981); United States v.
Brown, 591 F.2d 307, 310 (5th Cir.), cert. denied,
442 U.S. 913 (1979); ef. Ake v. Oklahoma, No. 83-
5424 (Feb. 26, 1985), slip op. 13-14. Accordingly,
the court of appeals correctly rejected petitioners’
claim (Pet. App. 22a).
defendant seeking to introduce his prior statement on his own
behalf has control over whether he will testify at trial. Cf.
Fed. R. Evid. 804(a) (1) (last paragraph). The purpose and
overall structure of the Rule suggest that it was designed
to apply to statements of third-party witnesses, not to state-
ments of parties who, in an effort to use their own out-of-court
declarations, make themselves unavailable only in the sense
that they elect not to testify.
22
10. Lastly, the Ginters contend (Pet. 41) that the
district. court abused its discretion in denying them
a continuance of the federal trial so that they could
first be tried on state murder charges arising out of
the June 3 shootout at their house. This claim is un-
availing.
This Court has recognized that trial courts have
“broad discretion * * * on matters of continuances.”
Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. at 11; see also, e.g., Ungar
v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 589 (1964); United States
v. Johnson, 732 F.2d 379, 381 (4th Cir. 1984), cert.
denied, No. 83-6953 (Nov. 26, 1984); United States
v. Wuagneux, 683 F.2d 1343, 1855-1356 (11th Cir.
1982), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 814 (1983). The
exercise of that discretion will be reversed on appeal
only if it is “unreasoning and arbitrary” (Morris v.
Slappy, 461 U.S. at 11). Here, petitioners sought an
essentially unlimited continuance until such time as
the state proceeding had been completed.** Moreover,
they did not represent that they would testify at the
federal trial and were deterred from doing so only
by the pendency of the state charges. Cf. Luce v.
United States, No. 83-912 (Dec. 10, 1984). Espe-
cially in view of the significant public interest in a
prompt resolution of the federal indictment (see, e.g.,
Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 519-521 (1972) ), the
district court did not abuse its discretion in denying
the Ginters’ request for an indefinite continuance.
24 Indeed, at the time the government’s brief was filed in
the court of appeals in this case, the state trial had not yet
taken place (see Gov’t C.A. Br. 22).
se 8m i
23
CONCLUSION
The petitions for a writ of certiorari should be de-
nied.
Respectfully submitted.
REX E. LEE
Solicitor General
STEPHEN S. TROTT
Assistant Attorney General
FRANCIS J. MARTIN
Attorney
May 1985
ov. &. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFice, 1965 461531 10225
a ee
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