Professional Documents
Culture Documents
3d 92
Before SELYA and LYNCH, Circuit Judges, and SMITH, * District Judge.
Paul James Hansen was convicted after a jury trial in the United States District
Court for the District of Massachusetts for his role in stealing a minivan and his
responsibility for the armed robbery and killing that followed. He now appeals
both his conviction and sentence, bringing no less than eleven claims of error.
After careful review, we affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
We begin with an overview of the facts of this case, in the light most favorable
to the Government as the prevailing party. The unfortunate friendship of
Hansen and Brendan Brennan ("Brennan") spawned from their childhood
association with the Boys' Club in Charlestown, Massachusetts, when the two
were about twelve years old. During their teen years, they became friendly with
an older man from the neighborhood, Scott Sheehan ("Sheehan"), who made
money by robbing banks. Sheehan instructed his two young apprentices about
various aspects of the criminal trade, including the finer points of stealing cars.
Under Sheehan's tutelage, the young men learned, for example, that to prevent
police detection when stealing vehicles that were to be used in robberies, they
should wear certain clothes such as nylon pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats, and
gloves.
7
The pair wasted no time putting their newly acquired skills to use between
June, 1994 and the summer of 1996, Brennan was involved in stealing
approximately 100 cars, with Hansen participating in roughly 65-70 of these
thefts. 1 Brennan's budding criminal career hit bumps in the road, however,
when he was arrested and convicted of four different auto thefts in 1995 and
1996.
While Brennan was incarcerated for one of these auto thefts, Hansen continued
to mingle with the wrong crowd, and eventually learned of an upcoming
criminal opportunity from a Charlestown acquaintance named John Fidler
("Fidler"). On July 25, 1996, Hansen met up with Brennan, who had just been
released from jail, and told him that Fidler and two other individuals from
Charlestown, Dennis Bird ("Bird") and Billy McKillop ("McKillop"), were
planning to rob an armored truck and wanted Hansen to help out by stealing a
minivan. (A minivan was the vehicle of choice for such a venture because the
sliding doors and removable seats conceal the robbers and allow for easy exit
during the heat of a robbery.) According to Brennan, Fidler and his crew were
apparently in the process of replacing another Charlestown group that robbed
armored trucks while that group was incarcerated for a robbery in Hudson, New
Hampshire, which had resulted in the death of two guards.
The next day, Hansen, Fidler, Bird, and McKillop unsuccessfully tried to pilfer
a minivan. Having had difficulty stealing these types of vehicles in the past,
Hansen asked the more adroit Brennan to lend a hand, with the understanding
that both Hansen and Brennan would be compensated for the theft. Brennan
understood that the minivan to be stolen was to be used in an armored truck
robbery, firearms would be used during the robbery, and he and Hansen would
earn more money if the robbery was successful.
10
On the evening of July 27, 1996, Hansen and Brennan donned nylon pants,
long-sleeved shirts, and gloves and trolled the streets of Charlestown for a
suitable vehicle. Before long, the pair noticed an attractive white minivan with
tinted windows. While Hansen kept watch, Brennan broke into the vehicle and
started the engine. After stashing the stolen minivan in Somerville,
Massachusetts, Hansen and Brennan showed Fidler and Bird their quarry.
11
Four days later, on July 31, 1996, a Dunbar armored truck driven by Michael
Day ("Day") and Edward Kubera ("Kubera") parked at the Twin City Plaza in
Somerville to deliver currency to a Star Market. Kubera unloaded boxes of
coins while Day remained in the truck and watched for suspicious activity.
While they were working, a white minivan approached the armored truck with
tires squealing. An individual dressed in a ski mask and gloves exited the
minivan, pointed a handgun at Day's head, and instructed him to lie on the floor
of the truck. At the same time, another masked man wearing gloves and dark
clothes approached the armored truck with an assault rifle and brutally shot
Kubera in the chest. The second robber climbed over Day to enter the armored
truck, collected approximately $3,725, and took Day's firearm. The armed
robbers escaped as quickly as they had arrived, with the entire robbery lasting
only a few minutes.2 An hour later, Kubera died.
12
13
Hansen appeals both his conviction and sentence, raising no less than eleven
points of error. We address each challenge in turn, taking the sentencing issue
first.
A. Booker Sentencing Issue
15
Hansen's first and main line of attack is the fact that the district court sentenced
him under the prior mandatory guideline regime. See United States v. Booker,
543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Despite his claim to the
contrary, however, Hansen did not argue to the district court that the guidelines
were unconstitutional or that his sentence violated Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530
U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000); therefore, his Booker claim
is not preserved and thus we review for plain error. See United States v.
Antonakopoulos, 399 F.3d 68, 77 (1st Cir.2005). Under plain error review,
Hansen must show "(1) that an error occurred (2) which was clear or obvious
and which not only (3) affected the defendant's substantial rights, but also (4)
seriously impaired the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings." United States v. Duarte, 246 F.3d 56, 60 (1st Cir.2001).
16
Hansen is able to meet the first two elements because he was sentenced under a
mandatory guideline regime. See Antonakopoulos, 399 F.3d at 77. The question
is whether he is able to show a reasonable probability "that the sentencing
court, freed of the shackles forged by mandatory guidelines, would have
fashioned a more favorable sentence." United States v. Guzman, 419 F.3d 27,
32 (1st Cir.2005). While we have said that we are not "overly demanding as to
proof of probability," United States v. Heldeman, 402 F.3d 220, 224 (1st
Cir.2005), the defendant "must point to specific indicia" that reasonable
probability exists. United States v. Sanchez-Berrios, 424 F.3d 65, 80 (1st
Cir.2005).
17
To support his claim that it is reasonably probable that sentencing under a nonmandatory system would have yielded a different result, Hansen points to the
following statement in the district judge's February 14, 2003 sentencing
memorandum:
18
The defendant was 19. The people who enlisted him in stealing the van were at
least ten years older, with a brutal reputation in Charlestown. While the law
holds Hansen responsible for the foreseeable consequence of his acts, it is clear
that his relationship to the armored car robbery that resulted in the tragic
murder of Edward Kubera was tenuous. He had, at most, only the most general
idea of the plans of Fidler and Bird. He did not know when the robbery would
take place, where, or of whom. While Brennan suggests that Hansen knew that
guns would be involved semi-automatic guns at that Hansen had no
control over how they would be brandished, or indeed, whether they would be
used at all.
19
20
21
Hansen, 256 F.Supp.2d at 72. Other comments by the court at the October 9,
2002 sentencing hearing indicate that to the extent the judge felt constrained, it
was as a result of the jury's guilty verdict on the conspiracy counts, not the
mandatory guidelines.6 Indeed, the judge's comments indicate that she felt the
mandatory guidelines allowed her room to craft an appropriate sentence based
upon Hansen's actual role and his state of mind. This is critical because here, in
contrast to the vast majority of cases, the applicable guidelines encourage the
sentencing judge to choose the most appropriate point along a spectrum, from
first degree murder (level 43) to second degree murder (level 33)7 based upon
an evaluation of state of mind. The judge exercised this authority by placing the
crime at the level she found appropriate (level 33).
22
But having exercised the authority to depart, the court also made it clear that it
would go no lower: "[t]here's no way I'm going to go below a Level 33." It is
also clear that the court believed Hansen played a greater role than Brennan in
the offenses, and deserved a longer sentence than Brennan's 320 months. As the
judge explained:
23
Based on the relationship, though, between Mr. Brennan and Mr. Hansen, I
agree with the government that I will not give a role adjustment to Mr. Hansen,
one that Mr. Brennan got. I do think that, whatever Mr. Brennan might have
been involved in in any other situation certainly, he was a lesser participant in
this offense than in others.
24
While there is certainly some evidence that the court felt sympathetic for
Hansen's situation in light of Pinkerton, based upon this record, there can be
little doubt but that Hansen falls short of meeting the burden of showing a
reasonable probability that the district court would have imposed a more lenient
sentence under an advisory guideline regime.
B. Crawford v. Washington
25
In Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177
(2004), the Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation
Clause prohibits the admission of out-of-court statements that are testimonial in
nature unless the declarant is unavailable and the defendant had a prior
opportunity to cross-examine the declarant concerning the statements. Id. at 68,
124 S.Ct. 1354. Relying on Crawford, Hansen argues that the district court
improperly admitted into evidence the following:
26
27
(2) Brennan's testimony that Robby Brady asked Hansen and Brennan if he
could come along with them to steal a car;
28
(3) Brennan's testimony that Fidler was satisfied with the stolen minivan;
29
(4) Brennan's testimony that Hansen told him that Bird said to "chill out [about
29
(4) Brennan's testimony that Hansen told him that Bird said to "chill out [about
the money], there's too much heat around";
30
31
(6) Stephen Brennan's statements made during the recorded conversation with
Hansen.
32
33
The statements of Stephen Brennan are not barred by Crawford because they
were not offered for their truth, but to provide context to the recorded
conversation.9 See Crawford, 541 U.S. at 60 n. 9, 124 S.Ct. 1354, ("The
[Confrontation] Clause . . . does not bar the use of testimonial statements for
purposes other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted."); see also
United States v. Jimenez, 419 F.3d 34, 44 (1st Cir.2005) (finding Crawford
inapplicable because "challenged statements were properly admissible, not for
their truth, but to provide context"); cf. United States v. Logan, 419 F.3d 172,
178 (2d Cir.2005) (stating that "the mere fact that the content of [the]
statements cast doubt on [a defendant's] innocence does not bring those
statements within the ambit of Sixth Amendment protection under Crawford").
34
35
Hansen next argues that the district court erred by failing to instruct the jury
about the possibility of multiple conspiracies that is, a conspiracy to steal the
37
Hansen, through counsel, not only failed to object to the court's omission of his
proposed multiple conspiracy instruction, but also affirmatively stated "I am
content" after the district court instructed the jury. We hold that this statement
constitutes an explicit withdrawal of the proffered charge on multiple
conspiracies, and as such, the issue is waived and may not be revived on
appeal. See id. at 437 (finding appellant bound by his express waiver when he
deliberately withdrew his objection).
38
39
40
"A prosecutor improperly vouches for a witness when she places the prestige of
her office behind the government's case by. . . imparting her personal belief in a
witness's veracity or implying that the jury should credit the prosecution's
evidence simply because the government can be trusted." United States v.
Perez-Ruiz, 353 F.3d 1, 9 (1st Cir.2003) (citing United States v. FigueroaEncarnacion, 343 F.3d 23, 28 (1st Cir.2003)). In the first challenged remark,
the prosecutor told the jury during his opening statement that Brennan's plea
agreement "required him to tell the truth." This statement is not improper,
because we have clearly held that "a prosecutor properly may admit a witness's
plea agreement into evidence, discuss the details of the plea during closing
arguments, and comment upon a witness's incentive to testify truthfully."
United States v. Bey, 188 F.3d 1, 7 (1st Cir.1999).
41
42
The other thing I want to point out, and this is Brendan Brennan's agreement
with the government and also what he said on the stand. What did he say on the
stand about what his agreement was? He didn't say, `My agreement is to
convict PJ.' He said, `My agreement is to tell the truth.' He said that over and
over again. `My deal with the government is to tell the truth.' And any benefit
[Brennan] gets is based on whether he tells the truth. It's in the agreement,
ladies and gentlemen. Go ahead and read it. His deal here is to tell the truth,
and I submit to you, that is precisely what he did during this trial.
43
44
45
As such, Hansen is unable to show plain error regarding the vouching claim.
Hansen believes that the district court erred in denying his motion for a new
trial because the Government withheld exculpatory evidence in violation of
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). This
claim is reviewed for a manifest abuse of discretion. See United States v.
Glenn, 389 F.3d 283, 287 (1st Cir.2004).
47
48
The alleged Brady violation in this case involves evidence "that Fidler
associated with three separate `crews' who frequently changed plans and stole
cars on the way to various robberies." The import of this evidence, according to
Hansen, is that Fidler always acted spontaneously and with different groups of
people; thus, it allegedly shows that Hansen could not have "reasonably
foreseen" that Fidler would use the stolen minivan to rob an armored truck.
49
It is not enough for Hansen to show "the mere possibility that an item of
undisclosed information might have helped [his] defense, or might have
affected the outcome of the trial." United States v. Garcia-Torres, 341 F.3d 61,
70 (1st Cir.2003) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Instead,
Hansen must show the evidence to be of such probative value that there is a
reasonable probability it would produce a different result. See id. Hansen's
attempt to meet this burden falls far short. First, the relevancy of Fidler's erratic
behavior in 1998 is, at best, unclear, because it involved armored truck
robberies that occurred nearly two years after the robbery at issue here. Second,
the evidence is hardly exculpatory if anything, it seems to reinforce the
notion that Fidler was a consummate gun-toting robber who was highly likely
to use stolen vehicles to accomplish his criminal goals. For these reasons, we
find no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of the new trial motion.
50
ineffective assistance [of counsel] cannot make their debut on direct review"
but should be presented to the district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2255.
United States v. Mala, 7 F.3d 1058, 1063 (1st Cir.1993).
F. Pinkerton v. United States
51
52
As to notice, the indictment told Hansen that he was being charged in Counts 13 for aiding and abetting robbery affecting commerce, conspiring to affect
commerce by robbery, and using a firearm during a crime of violence and
thereby causing murder. The unambiguous language of the indictment,
combined with our decisions which have made abundantly clear that a coconspirator is liable for acts committed by other members in furtherance of the
conspiracy, see, e.g., United States v. Sanchez, 917 F.2d 607, 612 (1st
Cir.1990), convince us that Hansen, represented by experienced defense
counsel, suffered no unfair surprise.
53
Because there was sufficient evidence to allow the jury to conclude, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that Hansen and others were members of the same underlying
conspiracy, the Pinkerton charge to the jury was proper. See United States v.
Torres, 162 F.3d 6, 10 (1st Cir.1998). We, thus, "are not confronted with the
sort of `marginal case' in which the Pinkerton instruction sometimes causes
concern." Sanchez, 917 F.2d at 612 n. 4 (citation omitted). Additionally, after
review of the district court's charge, we find it contains all elements of a
standard Pinkerton instruction, including emphasis that the jury was obligated
to find each element of Pinkerton beyond a reasonable doubt.
G. Double Jeopardy
55
Hansen contends that his indictment and conviction for violations of 18 U.S.C.
924(c) and (j), and the underlying violent crimes pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1951, violate the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment because
these counts involve the same criminal conduct. We review for plain error
because this argument was not raised below. See United States v. Winter, 70
F.3d 655, 666 (1st Cir.1995).
56
If this issue had been raised prior to 1995, Hansen's contention may have been
viewed as novel. But by now, this argument is old hat, and borders on
frivolous. We have repeatedly held "that Congress intended 924(c)'s firearm
violation `to serve as a cumulative punishment in addition to that provided for
the underlying violent crime' and that the Double Jeopardy Clause was
therefore not offended." United States v. Gonzalez-Arimont, 268 F.3d 8, 13 (1st
Cir.2001) (citing United States v. Centeno-Torres, 50 F.3d 84, 85 (1st
Cir.1995)); see also United States v. Battle, 289 F.3d 661, 669 (10th Cir.2002)
(finding no double jeopardy violation for convictions under 18 U.S.C. 1951
and 924(c) and (j)).
H. Suppression Arguments
57
Next, Hansen argues that based upon the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, the
district court should have suppressed inculpatory evidence, including Hansen's
grand jury testimony and the tape recorded conversation with Stephan Brennan.
The Government is quick to point out that these arguments are waived as
Hansen never moved to suppress this evidence on Fifth and Sixth Amendment
grounds, nor did he object to its admission on that basis.
58
59
This case does not fall at the outer bounds of our waiver decisions. Rather, it
presents squarely a situation where a defendant has failed altogether to file a
motion to suppress below, and as such, we will not consider Hansen's
suppression arguments on appeal. See Santos Batista, 239 F.3d at 19-20.
I. Leading Questions
60
Hansen contends that his due process rights were violated by the Government's
use of leading questions during its direct examination of Brennan. The Rules of
Evidence provide that "[l]eading questions should not be used on the direct
examination of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness'
testimony." Fed.R.Evid. 611(c). "The evil of leading a friendly witness is that
the information conveyed in the questions may supply a false memory." United
States v. McGovern, 499 F.2d 1140, 1142 (1st Cir.1974) (internal quotation
marks and citations omitted). There is, of course, a degree of tolerance for
leading questions under certain circumstances. Because it is so case-specific,
"the trial judge is best situated to strike a practical and fair balance" and is
afforded "extensive discretion over the phrasing of questions." Id.
61
As proof that the entire trial was unfair, Hansen references two transcript pages,
suggesting they contain "examples" of the Government's abuse. After reviewing
this portion of the transcript, we note that trial counsel did not object to
questions as leading and, therefore, review is for plain error. Clearly, there is no
plain error; the questions simply do not cross the "fine line between stimulating
an accurate memory and implanting a false one." Id.
62
64
Hansen claims that he was denied a fair trial because during trial the jury
expressed general concerns about privacy. Once again, the piers of Hansen's
argument are undermined by waiver.
65
On May 23, 2002, the court received the following note from juror number
two:
66
The jury in general was concerned about safety in regard to our names having
been used on Monday in front of the defendant and also, just in general we'd
just like affirmation that no witnesses, etc. will know our names.
67
Initially, defense counsel broached the idea of excusing this juror because
counsel was concerned that the expression of fear showed that she had
prejudged Hansen. Defense counsel elaborated: "If it's just a general feeling that
the jurors have, fine, that may well be cured by an instruction." The court
agreed and proposed a curative instruction to the attorneys, to which defense
counsel responded, "Something along those lines, Judge, fine."
68
The court, along with counsel, met with juror number two, and learned that, in
fact, the general concerns expressed in the note were those of the jury as a
whole, and had blossomed prior to the start of evidence (and, therefore, had no
specific reference to Hansen or his activities). This conversation apparently
appeased Hansen's attorney, who withdrew his objection to juror number two
by stating, "Given the young lady's remarks, your Honor, I think an instruction
from you will be curative at this point." The court then gave an instruction to
the jury which was substantially similar to the proposed instruction previously
agreed to. The defense interposed no objection to this instruction.
69
Based on this record, it is clear that trial counsel diligently raised potential juror
issues with the district court. We decline, however, to revisit them on appeal
because counsel affirmatively withdrew any objections to juror number two,
and specifically agreed to the court's curative instruction. See, e.g., Rodriguez,
311 F.3d at 437. Nonetheless, we believe that the district court, utilizing its
considerable discretion in fashioning curative instructions, took appropriate
measures to maintain the integrity of Hansen's right to a fair trial.
K. Inconsistent Theories
70
As his final claim of error, Hansen argues that the Government presented
factually inconsistent theories during its prosecutions of Hansen and Brennan.
Based upon the record before us, we disagree. Hansen seems to take issue with
the fact that during Brennan's case, the Government concentrated on Brennan's
role in the offenses, and vice versa in Hansen's case. There is nothing
inconsistent about this approach. In fact, in both instances the Government
theorized the existence of a conspiracy to steal a minivan for use in an armed
robbery. The Government eventually learned that the minivan theft resulted
from the concerted efforts of Hansen and Brennan on the night of July 27,
1996. Of course, the full extent of Hansen's involvement was unearthed after
Brennan's conviction, so it is not surprising that the Government's theory at
Hansen's trial had a slightly different gloss.
71
72
Affirmed.
Notes:
*
The stolen vehicles were primarily used for joy-riding, stripping and selling
parts, or to help individuals commit insurance fraud
Police found a white minivan near the Twin City Plaza with damage to the door
locks and steering column. It belonged to a Boston furniture store and its rear
Authorities had recorded Brennan talking about his role in the theft of the
minivan and the robbery of the armored truck and arrested him on August 9,
1996. A jury convicted Brennan of aiding and abetting an armored car robbery,
conspiring to rob an armored car, and using a firearm during a crime of
violence and thereby causing a death. After being sentenced to a 320-month
prison term, Brennan agreed to cooperate with authorities and implicated
Hansen
Guideline citations are to the 2001 Guidelines Manual, which was the version
that applied at Hansen's sentencing
Hansen filed a timely notice of appeal on March 3, 2003 which was docketed in
this court as No. 03-1331. Thereafter, Hansen filed a motion for new trial
pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 33, which the district court denied on January 25,
2005. Hansen then filed another notice of appeal on March 7, 2005, which was
docketed in this court as No. 05-1414 and consolidated with No. 03-1331
There, the district court stated, "I don't think that,given what the jury has found,
that I have much leeway in the sentence." (emphasis added).
While the guidelines do not explicitly foreclose going below level 33, "the
Commission does not envision that departure below that specified in 2A1.2
(Second Degree Murder) is likely to be appropriate." U.S.S.G. 2A1.1, cmt. n.
1
When an out-of-court statement is not offered to prove the truth of the matter
asserted, it is not hearsay under Fed.R.Evid. 801(c)
10
This could also explain why defense counsel chose not to object to some of the
leading questionsSee Matthews v. Rakiey, 54 F.3d 908, 929 (1st Cir.1995)
(failing to object to leading questions "is generally considered a tactical
decision").
11
We need not discuss, therefore, the applicability ofUnited States v. Weems, 322
F.3d 18, 24 (1st Cir.2003) (finding "no risk to defendants' rights when two
different juries are involved").