F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
PUBLISH
MAR 26 1997
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
TENTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 96-5040
v.
MICHAEL PAUL DALE SINCLAIR,
Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
(D.C. No. CR-95-60-2)
Neal B. Kirkpatrick, Assistant United States Attorney (Steven C. Lewis, United States
Attorney with him on the brief), Office of U.S. Attorney, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Plaintiff-
Appellee.
Keith A. Ward, Tilly & Ward, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before EBEL, HENRY, and BRISCOE, Circuit Judges.
HENRY, Circuit Judge.
Michael Paul Dale Sinclair was convicted after a jury trial of knowingly making a
false declaration before the court in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623 and of conspiracy to
commit an offense against the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. He argues
that the district court: (1) erred in denying his motion for a new trial on the basis of newly
discovered evidence; (2) made inadequate findings before admitting out-of-court
statements of his alleged coconspirators; (3) erred in admitting the testimony of witnesses
who lacked personal knowledge; (4) improperly limited cross-examination as to possible
inducements for a witness’s testimony; (5) erred in failing to require the government to
disclose the identity of a confidential informant; and, finally, (6) erred in imposing a
three-level upward adjustment in his offense level for interference with the administration
of justice pursuant to United States Sentencing Guidelines § 2J1.3(b)(2). We affirm Mr.
Sinclair’s conviction and sentence.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Sinclair’s convictions arise out of his testimony at the March 1995 criminal
trial of his acquaintances, Peter McMahon and Kandy Thomas, in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. After police officers seized a
shotgun from Mr. McMahon’s and Ms. Thomas’s Tulsa, Oklahoma apartment during the
execution of a search warrant on September 9, 1994, Mr. McMahon and Ms. Thomas
were charged with possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony and
possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.
2
At the McMahon/Thomas trial, Mr. Sinclair testified that on the morning of
September 9, 1994, he observed Ms. Thomas’s son, Dallas Woods, return to the
apartment with his father, Ron Woods. Mr. Sinclair stated that he saw Ron Woods carry
a box containing a shotgun into the apartment.
Following Mr. Sinclair, Dallas Woods testified that his father had indeed delivered
the shotgun to the McMahon/Thomas apartment on September 9, 1994. However, after
prosecutors spoke with the Woods family during a recess, Dallas recanted his testimony,
stating that the shotgun belonged to Mr. McMahon and that it had been in Mr.
McMahon’s and Ms. Thomas’s possession for several months. He then testified that Mr.
McMahon and Ms. Thomas had induced him to offer false testimony.
Following Dallas Woods’s testimony, Ms. Thomas entered into a plea agreement
with the government. Mr. McMahon then testified that he had asked Mr. Sinclair to
testify falsely regarding the delivery of the shotgun and that Mr. Sinclair agreed to do so.
The jury subsequently convicted Mr. McMahon.
Following the McMahon/Thomas trial, a grand jury in the Northern District of
Oklahoma charged Mr. Sinclair with conspiracy and false declaration before a court. At
Mr. Sinclair’s trial, the government presented several witnesses who testified about Ms.
Thomas’s and Mr. McMahon’s possession of the shotgun. Terry Young testified that he
had delivered the shotgun to Ms. Thomas and Mr. McMahon at their previous residence.
3
The government also called Ms. Thomas, who agreed that Mr. Young had delivered the
shotgun in the summer of 1994.
The government’s witnesses, particularly Mr. McMahon and Ms. Thomas, also
explained how Mr. Sinclair came to testify at the McMahon/Thomas trial. Although Mr.
McMahon claimed a loss of memory and was unable to answer many of the prosecutor’s
questions, he did acknowledge that he had previously testified at the McMahon/Thomas
trial that he had asked Mr. Sinclair to testify falsely regarding the delivery of the shotgun
to the apartment and that Mr. Sinclair complied. Ms. Thomas testified that she and Mr.
McMahon discussed a plan to use false testimony at their trial so that they would not be
convicted of illegal possession of the firearm and that, through conversations with Mr.
McMahon, she became aware that Mr. McMahon had enlisted Mr. Sinclair’s participation
in the plan. She testified that she contacted Mr. Sinclair before the McMahon/Thomas
trial and that he stated that he was “okay” with what he and Mr. McMahon had discussed.
Aplt’s App. at 329.
The government also presented testimony concerning the events of September 9,
1994, the date on which, according to his testimony at the McMahon/Thomas trial, Mr.
Sinclair had observed Ron Woods delivering the shotgun to Ms. Thomas’s and Mr.
McMahon’s apartment. Mr. McMahon testified that Ms. Thomas was alone in the
apartment on that morning. Ms. Thomas stated that Dallas had gone to school on that
4
day, but acknowledged that she had abused the narcotic Dilaudid and the sedative Xanax
during that period and that her memory was somewhat vague.
Finally, the government presented testimony from Dallas Woods. Dallas testified
that the shotgun did not belong to him or his brother, that he had seen the gun before
September 9, 1994, at Ms. Thomas’s and Mr. McMahon’s current and former apartments,
that his father did not visit the McMahon/Thomas apartment on September 9th, that he
had gone to school on September 9th, and that Ms. Thomas and Mr. McMahon had
procured his false testimony.
In closing arguments, the government referred to Dallas Woods’s school
attendance, stating:
[T]he testimony is undisputed that Dallas Woods was at
school on the morning of September 9th. That testimony is
unrefuted. In this very document, in this transcript [Mr.
Sinclair] said under oath, in addition to the other things we
say he said which were a lie, he said he had a conversation
with Dallas and his father, somebody he took to be his father.
He couldn’t have done that. It’s impossible because Dallas
was at school. He trapped himself with his own mouth.
Aplt’s App. at 412. During deliberations, the jury sent a note to the court asking if it
could “find out for sure if Dallas Woods was in school.” Aplt’s App. at 39. The court
instructed the jury to decide the case based on the evidence that had already been
provided, and the jury then convicted Mr. Sinclair on both of the charges.
After the trial, Mr. Sinclair’s counsel requested that the government inquire
whether any person involved in the prosecution of the case had information regarding
5
Dallas’s absence from school on September 9, 1994. The government responded that it
had not attempted to acquire the school records. However, after receiving Mr. Sinclair’s
request, the Assistant United States Attorney contacted the Office of the Registrar of the
Tulsa Public Schools. The Registrar’s Office stated that Dallas Woods may not have been
in school on September 9, 1994, and the government communicated this new information
to Mr. Sinclair. Thereafter, at Mr. Sinclair’s request, the court issued a subpoena
compelling the production of Dallas’s attendance records. The records indicated that
Dallas had an unexplained absence on September 9, 1994. Mr. Sinclair moved for a new
trial on the basis of this newly discovered evidence, but the district court denied the
motion.
DISCUSSION
1. Newly Discovered Evidence
Mr. Sinclair first argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for a
new trial on the grounds of newly discovered evidence--the records of the Tulsa Public
Schools indicating that Dallas Woods had an unexplained absence on September 9, 1994.
He challenges the district court’s finding that Dallas’ whereabouts were immaterial to the
principal issues in the case, maintaining that the jury’s note demonstrates the materiality
of Dallas Woods’s absence from school on September 9, 1994.
6
Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure authorizes trial courts to grant
new trials “if required in the interest of justice.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 33. We review the
denial of a motion for a new trial for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Chatman,
994 F.2d 1510, 1518 (10th Cir. 1993). A motion for a new trial is not regarded with favor
and should only be granted with great caution. Id. at 1518.
A. The Probability Standard
When a motion for a new trial is based on newly discovered evidence, the
defendant is usually required to show that:
(1) the evidence was discovered after trial; (2) the failure to
learn of the evidence was not caused by his own lack of
diligence; (3) the new evidence is not merely impeaching; (4)
the new evidence is material to the principal issues involved;
and (5) the new evidence is of such a nature that in a new trial
it would probably produce an acquittal.
United States v. Stevens, 978 F.2d 565, 570 (10th Cir. 1992) (quoting United States v.
Harpster, 759 F. Supp. 735, 738 (D. Kan.), aff’d, 931 F.2d 542 (10th Cir. 1991)).
Applying this well-established probability standard, the district court determined that
Dallas’s whereabouts on September 9, 1994, were not material to the principal issues in
Mr. Sinclair’s perjury trial -- whether there existed a conspiracy to commit perjury
between Mr. Sinclair and others, whether Mr. Sinclair lied when he testified that he
observed someone carrying the firearm in question into the McMahon/Thomas apartment,
whether the lie was material to the McMahon/Thomas trial, and whether he lied
7
knowingly and willfully. Additionally, the district court concluded that Mr. Sinclair
could have discovered the school attendance records during the trial and that the evidence
was merely cumulative.
For several reasons we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s ruling.
First, although the evidence was discovered after trial, Mr. Sinclair could have reasonably
anticipated the relevance of Dallas’s whereabouts to his defense and sought to obtain the
school attendance records before trial. The importance and relevance of the Dallas’s
whereabouts to Mr. Sinclair’s defense remained a constant that did not increase simply
because the jury expressed an interest in his school attendance by sending the court a note
during its deliberations. Additionally, at best, the school records are merely impeaching
and thus cumulative, calling into question the already doubtful credibility of the testimony
of Kandy Thomas, a convicted felon, and her son, Dallas Woods, an admitted perjurer.
Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in its application of the probability test
to deny Mr. Sinclair’s motion for a new trial
B. The Possibility Standard
In the alternative, Mr. Sinclair argues that we should decline to apply the
probability standard and should adopt the possibility standard first articulated by the
Seventh Circuit in Larrison v. United States, 24 F.2d 82 (7th Cir. 1928). Under the
Larrison possibility standard, a defendant is entitled to a new trial if:
(a) The court is reasonably well satisfied that the testimony
given by a material witness is false. (b) That without it the
8
jury might have reached a different conclusion. (c) That the
party seeking the new trial was taken by surprise when the
false testimony was given and was unable to meet it or did not
know of its falsity until after the trial.
Larrison, 24 F.2d at 87-88 (emphasis in original). Although the Larrison court stated that
the witness’s false testimony must take the defendant by surprise, subsequent Seventh
Circuit decisions have held that a showing of surprise is not required in every case. See
United States v. Leibowitz, 919 F.2d 482, 484-485 (7th Cir. 1990). Under the more
recent decisions, surprise is merely a factor evincing the falsity of the challenged
testimony. Id. The possibility test focuses on the credibility of the testimony given at the
previous trial rather than on the newly discovered evidence. United States v. Higgins,
412 F.2d 789, 790 (7th Cir. 1969).
Several other circuits have limited the application of the possibility test to cases in
which the government knowingly, recklessly, or negligently used the perjured testimony.
See, e.g., United States v. Tierney, 947 F.2d 854, 860-61 (8th Cir. 1991) (“[W]hen the
court finds that the government knowingly, recklessly or negligently used the false
testimony, the less stringent new trial standard applies.”); United States v. Widgery, 674
F.2d 710, 712-13 (8th Cir. 1982) (concluding that the knowing use of perjured testimony
requires a new trial if there is any reasonable likelihood that the testimony affected the
jury’s verdict). The Second and Ninth Circuits have criticized the Larrison possibility
standard as requiring reversal in cases of perjury in even minor matters. See United States
v. Krasny, 607 F.2d 840, 843-45 (9th Cir. 1979); United States v. Stofsky, 527 F.2d 237,
9
245-46 (2d Cir. 1975). Additionally, the Ninth Circuit has questioned the distinction that
the possibility test draws between false or recanted trial testimony and any other new
evidence. See Krasny, 607 F.2d at 844 (“The focus of the inquiry is on what difference
the evidence would have made to the trial, regardless of its source.”).
Although this circuit has concluded on one occasion that the moving party did not
satisfy the Larrison probability standard, see United States v. Briola, 465 F.2d 1018, 1022
(10th Cir. 1972), we have never expressly adopted that test for the granting of new trials,
see United States v. Jackson, 579 F.2d 553, 557 (10th Cir. 1978) (noting that the Briola
court did not expressly adopt the Larrison rule). Moreover, since Jackson, this court has
applied the stricter probability standard in cases involving the post-trial discovery of
perjury and the recantation of testimony. See, e.g., Chatman, 994 F.2d at 1518 (10th Cir.
1993); United States v. Miller, 987 F.2d 1462, 1466 (10th Cir. 1993).
We decline to apply the Larrison possibility test to this case. Most importantly,
application of the more stringent probability standard is consistent with our more recent
decisions. See Stevens, 978 F.2d at 570; Chatman, 994 F.2d at 1518; Miller, 987 F.2d at
1466. Moreover, we are unwilling to apply the Larrison possibility standard when, as
here, the allegedly false testimony is merely impeaching. We recognize that the
possibility standard applied in Larrison and subsequent cases might be appropriate when
the government has knowingly, recklessly, or negligently offered false testimony.
However, Mr. Sinclair has not alleged, nor does the record show, that the government
10
knowingly, recklessly, or negligently used Dallas Woods’s testimony about his school
attendance. We therefore conclude that the Larrison possibility standard should not be
applied under the circumstances in this case.1
2. Coconspirator Statements
Mr. Sinclair contends that the district court erred in admitting Mr. McMahon’s out-
of-court statements pertaining to his plan to present false testimony at the
McMahon/Thomas trial. The statements in question were offered through Kandy
Thomas, who testified that she and Mr. McMahon “talked about . . . whose hands we
could place the shotgun in because [Mr. McMahon] knew he was going to look at a lot of
time and I would be getting a lot of time because we were both convicted felons and we
couldn’t have a shotgun.” Aplt’s App. at 325. She added that “[Mr. McMahon] told me
that he was going to talk to [Mr. Sinclair] and see if [Mr. Sinclair] would do it for him,
for us.” Id. at 327.
1
Furthermore, even if we were to apply the Larrison possibility test, the
newly discovered evidence in question--the school record indicating that Dallas Woods
was absent on September 9, 1994--does not necessarily establish that Dallas was present
at the McMahon/Thomas apartment on that morning. It is possible that Dallas told Ms.
Thomas that he was going to school but went somewhere else. Alternatively, he may
have told Ms. Thomas that he was going somewhere other than school, and she may have
misunderstood him. In either case, the newly discovered school record would not be
inconsistent with the government’s theory that Mr. Sinclair lied about the delivery of the
shotgun.
11
Under Fed. R. Evid. 802, hearsay is not admissible in a trial. Rule 801(d)(2)(E) of
the Federal Rules of Evidence establishes one of several exceptions to this general
principle: a statement is not hearsay if it is made by “a coconspirator of a party during the
course and in furtherance of the conspiracy.” Thus, under Rule 801(d)(2)(E), statements
of a defendant’s alleged conspirators may not be admitted over objection unless the trial
court finds the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) that a
conspiracy existed; (2) that the declarant and the defendant were both members of the
conspiracy; and (3) that the statements were made in the course of and in furtherance of
the conspiracy. United States v. Urena, 27 F.3d 1487, 1490 (10th Cir. 1994).
Additionally, the “strongly preferred order of proof” in determining the admissibility of
an alleged coconspirator’s statement is to first hold a hearing outside the presence of the
jury to determine whether the party offering the statements has established the existence
of a conspiracy by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 1491; see also United States v.
James, 590 F.2d 575 (5th Cir. 1979).
Invoking Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(E), Mr. Sinclair argues that the district court
erred in two respects: (1) in failing to make the necessary threshold findings regarding
Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court statements; and (2) in admitting the statements without
sufficient evidence to support each of the required elements. We discuss each argument
separately.
A. Lack of formal findings
12
Rule 801(d)(2)(E) requires the trial court to make findings regarding the required
elements before admitting coconspirator’s out-of-court statements. See generally Perez,
989 F.2d 1574, 1581 (10th Cir. 1993) (en banc). “‘The existence of a conspiracy and
[defendant’s] involvement in it are preliminary questions of fact that . . . must be resolved
by the [trial] court.’” Id. at 1582 (quoting Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 175
(1987)). “‘[A]n appellate court is not the proper forum to conduct the needed factual
hearing.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Mahar, 801 F.2d 1477, 1503 (6th Cir. 1986)).
The court of appeals should not presume that the trial judge made implicit findings and
then search the record on appeal for evidence that the district court might have relied
upon to support the findings. Id. Nevertheless, we have acknowledged that a lack of
formal findings may not always require a remand to the trial court. In some cases, the
record may demonstrate “without any question that the trial court did make the requisite
inquiry even though no formal findings appear.” Id. at 1582 n.3. Additionally, “it is also
possible that the evidence establishing admissibility would be without doubt sufficient,
unimpeachable, and uncontroverted, so that no credibility or factual determination would
be required.” Id. In either instance, remand for express findings on the Rule
801(d)(2)(E) elements is not required.
In the instant case, even though it did not enter formal findings as to each of the
801(d)(2)(E) elements, the district court did consider the admissibility of the out-of-court
statements before the government sought to introduce them. During a bench conference
13
on the morning of the first day of trial, Mr. Sinclair’s attorney requested the court “not to
solicit any coconspiratorial hearsay until the Court approves of that.” Aplt’s App. at 107.2
He argued that Mr. McMahon’s and Ms. Thomas’s testimony would not be sufficiently
credible to support the government’s conspiracy charge. In response, the court said that
it anticipated that the government would introduce independent evidence establishing the
existence of the conspiracy before offering out-of-court statements through Ms. Thomas.
Id. at 108. During the trial, the government presented the evidence that the court had
anticipated: Mr. McMahon acknowledged that he had previously testified that he had
asked Mr. Sinclair to offer false testimony and that Mr. Sinclair had complied.
After Mr. McMahon, the government called Ms. Thomas. Before asking her about
Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court statements, the prosecutor asked the district court to “make
the Andrews Peterson3 finding that sufficient evidence of the conspiracy exists so that the
out-of-court statements of the coconspirators are admissible in evidence.” Aplt’s. App. at
324. Mr. Sinclair’s attorney responded, “[T]here’s no probable cause to believe anything
at this point,” but the court ruled that it would allow the testimony. Id.
2
Mr. Sinclair also filed a pretrial motion in limine. However, in his written
motion and supporting brief, he did not raise the Rule 801(d)(2)(E) issue. See Aplt’s
App., doc. 2, at 17-24.
3
The prosecutor was referring to United States v. Andrews, 585 F.2d 961
(10th Cir. 1978) and United States v. Petersen, 611 F.2d 1313 (10th Cir. 1979). Both
cases state that the district court must conduct the three-part inquiry required by Rule
801(d)(2)(E) before admitting out of court statements of alleged coconspirators. See
Andrews, 585 F.2d at 965-66; Peterson, 611 F.2d at 1327-28.
14
In this instance, several factors establish that, when the court ruled that it would
allow testimony about the out-of-court statements, it had undertaken the requisite inquiry
regarding the first two Rule 801(d)(2) elements--(1) whether a conspiracy existed and (2)
whether the defendant and the declarant were members of the conspiracy. First, the
court’s statements at the pretrial bench conference indicate that it understood that the
government was required to establish the existence of the conspiracy before the out-of-
court statements could be admitted. Moreover, Mr. McMahon’s testimony that he had
asked Mr. Sinclair to offer false testimony at the McMahon/Thomas trial and that Mr.
Sinclair had complied constituted evidence of the first two Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements
(i.e., that there was a conspiracy and that both Mr. Sinclair and Mr. McMahon, the
defendant and the declarant, were members of it). Thus, the issue before the court when
the government requested “the Andrews Peterson finding” was whether Mr. McMahon’s
testimony was sufficiently credible to support the government’s conspiracy allegations.
The court’s statement that it “was going to allow” the out-of-court statements indicates
that it found Mr. McMahon’s testimony sufficiently credible to establish the first two
Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements.
That leaves the third 801(d)(2)(E) element, whether the out-of-court statements
were made in the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy. At the time that the
prosecutor requested the court to make findings, there were no specific statements before
the court, and it was therefore not possible to determine whether the statements satisfied
15
this element. However, after the court indicated that it would allow testimony as to Mr.
McMahon’s out-of-court statements, Ms. Thomas testified that Mr. McMahon talked to
her about the primary aim of the conspiracy--using Dallas and Waylon Woods and Mr.
Sinclair to testify falsely about the ownership of the shotgun.
Significantly, Mr. Sinclair did not argue to the district court and does not now
contend that these statements of Mr. McMahon, assuming that they were made, were not
made in the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy. Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court
statements, as related by Ms. Thomas, directly concern the government’s central
contention--that Mr. Sinclair agreed with Mr. McMahon to offer false testimony. These
statements, assuming that they were made, clearly satisfied the third 801(d)(2)(E)
element. The statements were made before the conspiracy’s objectives had either failed
or been achieved, and were therefore made “in the course of ” the conspiracy. See Perez,
989 F.2d at 1579. Additionally, the statements were “‘intended to promote the
conspiratorial objectives,’” and were therefore made in furtherance of the conspiracy.
See United States v. Reyes, 798 F.2d 380, 384 (10th Cir. 1986) (quoting United States v.
Hamilton, 689 F.2d 1262, 1270 (6th Cir. 1982)). Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court statements
“explained events important to the conspiracy to one of its members in order to facilitate
the conspiracy.” Id. Although the court made no express findings on the “in the course
and in furtherance of ” element, and although such express findings are strongly
preferred, we believe that this is one of those rare cases in which there is no dispute in the
16
record and in which there is no need to remand the case to the district court for express
findings.
Accordingly, we conclude that the district court undertook the requisite inquiry as
to whether a conspiracy existed and whether Mr. Sinclair and Mr. McMahon were
members of it (the first two Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements). As to the third Rule
801(d)(2)(E) element, we conclude that once the district court found Mr. McMahon’s
testimony about the conspiracy to be credible, there was no dispute that the out-of-court
statements in question were made in the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy. The
district court’s failure to make express findings therefore does not require a remand as to
any of the Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements.
2. Sufficiency of the evidence
In addition to challenging the district court’s failure to make formal findings, Mr.
Sinclair also contends that there was insufficient evidence to establish the Rule
801(d)(2)(E) elements. This is a factual question that we review for clear error. See
Perez, 989 F.2d at 1580.
We conclude that there is sufficient evidence in the record to support each of the
Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements and that, as a result, the district court did not err in admitting
Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court statements. As noted above, Mr. McMahon acknowledged
that he had previously testified that he asked Mr. Sinclair to testify falsely at the
17
McMahon/Thomas trial and that Mr. Sinclair complied. Although Mr. McMahon was a
convicted felon who testified inconsistently on several matters, those inconsistencies do
not necessarily undermine his statements about his requesting Mr. Sinclair to commit
perjury. Moreover, several other witnesses called by the government supported this part
of Mr. McMahon’s testimony. It was therefore not clearly erroneous for the district court
to believe this part of Mr. McMahon’s testimony and to conclude that the government had
established the first two Rule 801(d)(2)(E) elements--that a conspiracy existed of which
Mr. Sinclair and Mr. McMahon were members.
The third element under Rule 801(d)(2)(E)--that the out-of-court statements were
made during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy--is supported by the
testimony of Kandy Thomas. Her testimony about Mr. McMahon’s out-of-court
statements indicates that the statements were made before the conspiracy objectives had
been achieved, that they were intended to promote the conspiracy’s objectives, and that
they were therefore made in the course of an in furtherance of the conspiracy. See Perez,
989 F.2d at 1578. Thus, the district court did not err in admitting Mr. McMahon’s out-of-
court statements under Rule 801(d)(2)(E).
3. Personal Knowledge
Mr. Sinclair next asserts that the district court erred in admitting certain portions of
the testimony of Kandy Thomas and Dallas Woods because they lacked the personal
18
knowledge required by Fed. R. Evid. 602. Mr. Sinclair first raised this issue in a pretrial
motion in limine, see Aplt’s App., doc. 2, but there is no indication in the record before us
as to how the court ruled on the pretrial motion. At trial, Mr. Sinclair renewed his lack of
personal knowledge argument as to Kandy Thomas. He again maintained that because of
her abuse of narcotics, she lacked personal knowledge of the events of September 9, 1994
and was therefore an incompetent witness. Aplt’s App. at 308-310. The district court
rejected that argument and allowed her to testify. However, as to Dallas Woods, Mr.
Sinclair did not raise the lack of personal knowledge objection at trial. See Aplt’s App. at
370-389.
A. Dallas Woods
With regard to Dallas Woods’s testimony, we must first consider whether the lack
of personal knowledge issue is properly before us. In this regard, we have established a
three-part test to determine whether it is necessary for the objecting party to renew an
objection at trial after a pretrial motion in limine has been denied. Under this three-part
test, a party who had filed a motion in limine prior to trial is not required to renew the
objection at trial if he or she establishes the following elements: (1) that the issue was
adequately presented to the district court when it considered the pretrial motion; (2) that
the issue is one that can be finally decided prior to trial; and (3) that the district court
issued a definitive ruling on the motion in limine. Pandit v. American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc., 82 F.3d 376, 379-380 (10th Cir. 1996); Green Construction Co. v. Kansas Power and
19
Light Co., 1 F.3d 1005, 1013 (10th Cir. 1993); United States v. Mejia-Alarcon, 995 F.2d
982, 986-88 (10th Cir.1993).
Here, Mr. Sinclair has failed to satisfy the third element. Because there is no
indication in the record as to how the district court ruled on Mr. Sinclair’s pretrial motion
in limine regarding Dallas Woods’s testimony and because Mr. Sinclair did not object to
Dallas Woods’s testimony at trial, we conclude that Mr. Sinclair has waived the issue in
this appeal. See Green Const. Co., 1 F.3d at 1013 (finding waiver when appellant failed
to renew objection at trial after trial court indicated that pretrial ruling would be subject to
reconsideration at trial); see also United States v. Hanif, 1 F.3d 998, 1002-03 (10th Cir.
1993) (failure to provide an adequate record warrants refusal to consider appellant’s
argument); McEwen v. City of Norman, 926 F.2d 1539, 1550 (10th Cir. 1991) (same).
B. Kandy Thomas
Because Mr. Sinclair argued during the trial that Kandy Thomas lacked personal
knowledge of the events of September 9, 1994, see Aplt’s App. at 308-310, the district
court’s decision to admit her testimony is properly before us. We review the district
court’s decision for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Cestnik, 36 F.3d 904,
906 (10th Cir. 1994).
Although Rule 602 provides that a witness’s testimony must be based on personal
knowledge, it “does not require that the witness’ knowledge be positive or rise to the level
of absolute certainty. Evidence is inadmissible . . . only if in the proper exercise of the
20
trial court’s discretion it finds that the witness could not have actually perceived or
observed that which he testifies to.” M.B.A.F.B. Federal Credit Union v. Cumis Ins.
Soc., Inc., 681 F.2d 930, 932 (4th Cir. 1982) (citing 2 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 658
(revised by J. Chadbourn 1979); 3 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence
¶ 602[02] (1981)).
In challenging the admission of Ms. Thomas’s testimony, Mr. Sinclair points to her
poor memory regarding the events of September 9, 1994, and notes that she admitted to
being “very strung out” on the narcotic Dilaudid on that morning. Aplt’s App. at 320. He
further notes that other evidence indicated that she abused the sedative Xanax.
Although these facts arguably raise some questions about Ms. Thomas’s
credibility, drug abuse alone does not render a witness incompetent. United States v.
Cook, 949 F.2d 289, 293 (10th Cir. 1991); United States v. Jackson, 576 F.2d 46, 48 (5th
Cir. 1978) . Moreover, it is undisputed that Ms. Thomas was present in her apartment on
the morning of September 9, 1994, and it is not impossible that she observed the events in
question. That Ms. Thomas’s testimony detailing such events might be unreliable
because of a clouded memory and drug abuse remains a question for the jury. During
cross examination of Ms. Thomas, Mr. Sinclair’s attorney pointedly explored Ms.
Thomas’s drug addiction and her clouded memory, specifically showing the jury a
photograph taken September 9th documenting Ms. Thomas’ drugged appearance.
21
Remaining confident in the jury’s ability to make credibility determinations, we find no
abuse of discretion in the trial court’s decision to admit Ms. Thomas’s testimony.
4. Inducements
Mr. Sinclair asserts that the district court violated his constitutional right to
confront the witnesses against him by refusing to allow cross-examination of Peter
McMahon about a confidential meeting between Mr. McMahon and the prosecutor. Mr.
Sinclair states, “In that meeting, according to Mr. McMahon, the prosecutor was prepared
to offer additional leniency to Mr. McMahon if he would testify that Mr. Sinclair was
somehow involved in the untimely death of Mr. Sinclair’s wife.” Aplt’s Br. at 31.
We review de novo whether a defendant’s confrontation rights were violated by
reason of improper cross-examination restrictions. United States v. Pedraza, 27 F.3d
1515, 1529 (10th Cir 1994). However, the district court “‘retain[s] wide latitude insofar
as the Confrontation Clause is concerned to impose reasonable limits on such cross-
examination based on concerns about, among other things, harassment, prejudice,
confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only
marginally relevant.’” Id. at 1529 (quoting Delaware v. Fensterer, 474 U.S. 15, 20 (1985)
(per curiam)); see also United States v. Swingler, 758 F.2d 477, 497 (10th Cir. 1985).
“‘The Sixth Amendment guarantees an opportunity for effective cross examination, not
cross examination that is effective in whatever way, and to whatever extent, the defense
22
might wish.’” Pedraza, 27 F.3d at 1529 (quoting Fensterer, 474 U.S. at 20) (emphasis in
original). Additionally, we recognize the district court’s discretion under Fed. R. Evid.
403 to exclude relevant evidence likely to cause unfair prejudice, confusion, or undue
delay substantially outweighing its probative value. Our duty in reviewing the adequacy
of the cross-examination is to determine “‘whether the jury had sufficient information to
make a discriminating appraisal of the witness’ motives and bias.’” Swingler, 758 F.2d at
498 (quoting United States v. De Gudino, 722 F.2d 1351, 1354 (7th Cir. 1983)).
In this instance, the existence of the alleged offer of leniency in exchange for Mr.
McMahon’s testimony implicating Mr. Sinclair in his wife’s death remains highly
doubtful. The prosecutor indicated that Mr. Sinclair’s statement about the offer was
“absolutely and completely false.” Aplt’s App. at 280. Mr. Sinclair’s attorney responded
that the only reason for his belief in this undocumented inducement was Mr. McMahon’s
statement. Id. The lack of factual support for the occurrence of the alleged inducement
thus supports the district court’s decision not to allow cross-examination about it.
Moreover, even without knowledge of this alleged inducement, the jury had
sufficient information to make a discriminating appraisal of Mr. McMahon’s motives and
bias. Mr. Sinclair’s attorney cross-examined Mr. McMahon about his agreement to plead
guilty to a charge of conspiring to commit perjury in return for a recommendation that his
sentence should run concurrently with his sentence for the firearm conviction. Prior to
the Sinclair trial, Mr. McMahon was in fact given a concurrent sentence and stood by his
23
guilty plea. Additionally, during direct examination, Mr. McMahon disclosed to the jury
that he was testifying under a grant of immunity and that his truthful testimony was
ordered by the court. The jury also heard evidence concerning Mr. McMahon’s past
crimes and drug use. Therefore, we are confident that the jury could evaluate Mr.
McMahon’s testimony with understanding of his motives and potential bias.
Accordingly, the district court did not violate Mr. Sinclair’s confrontation rights by
refusing to allow cross-examination about the alleged inducements to Mr. McMahon.
5. Disclosure of Identity of Confidential Informant
Mr. Sinclair asserts that the district court erred in failing to order the government
to disclose the identity of the confidential informants who made two controlled buys of
narcotics from Peter McMahon. Mr. Sinclair argues that these informants observed the
narcotics dealing by Mr. McMahon and Ms. Thomas, the effect of drug addiction on Ms.
Thomas, and the transporting of firearms to and from the McMahon/Thomas apartment.
Mr. Sinclair contends that this information relates directly to his defense and could have
been used to impeach the testimony of Mr. McMahon and Ms. Thomas. He maintains
that the need for the potentially impeaching testimony from the informant outweighs the
public need to protect confidential communications to law enforcement.
The disclosure of a confidential informant’s identity involves balancing the public
interest in protecting the flow of information in a manner necessary for effective law
24
enforcement against an individual’s right to prepare his defense. Roviaro v. United
States, 353 U.S. 53, 62 (1957). In making the determination as to whether disclosure is
necessary, the court must consider the particular circumstances of the case, including the
crime charged, the possible defenses, and the significance of the informer’s testimony.
Id. “Where it is clear that the informant cannot aid the defense, the government’s interest
in keeping secret his identity must prevail over the defendant’s asserted right of
disclosure.” United States v. Martinez, 979 F.2d 1424, 1429 (10th Cir. 1992). A
defendant seeking disclosure has the burden of proof, and we review the district court’s
decision for an abuse of discretion. Id. at 1426.
Applying these standards, we are not persuaded by Mr. Sinclair’s argument.
Significantly, Mr. Sinclair does not suggest that the confidential informants could provide
direct evidence regarding the central issue in his perjury trial--whether Mr. Sinclair lied
when he testified about the delivery of the shotgun on September 9, 1994. Rather, Mr.
Sinclair explains that the disclosure is necessary in order for him to adequately impeach
the government’s witnesses on the basis of their criminal activity and drug abuse.
However, both the prosecution and the defense presented other substantial evidence
regarding Mr. McMahon’s and Ms. Thomas’s crimes and drug use. There is no
indication that the confidential informant could amplify or explain the impeachment
evidence already before the jury. On the contrary, any testimony from the informant
would be cumulative at best. Therefore, the defendant failed to establish that the
25
confidential informant could aid in his defense or that his need for disclosure outweighed
the public’s need to protect the informant’s identity. The district court thus acted within
its discretion in denying Mr. Sinclair’s request for disclosure.
6. Sentencing Offense Level Adjustment
Mr. Sinclair asserts that the district court erred in assessing a three-point upward
adjustment of his offense level pursuant to United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG)
§ 2J1.3(b)(2) for substantial interference with the administration of justice. Section 2J1.3
establishes a base offense level of twelve for convictions for perjury, subornation of
perjury, and bribery of a witness. Section 2J1.3(b)(2) provides that “[i]f the perjury . . .
resulted in substantial interference with the administration of justice, increase [the offense
level] by 3 levels.” Application Note 1 to USSG § 2J1.3 explains that “‘[s]ubstantial
interference with the administration of justice’ includes a premature or improper
termination of a felony investigation; an indictment, verdict, or any judicial determination
based upon perjury, false testimony, or other false evidence; or the unnecessary
expenditure of substantial governmental or court resources.” (Emphasis added).
Focusing on the language of the Application Note, Mr. Sinclair contends that the
prosecution failed to establish that his perjured testimony caused an unnecessary
expenditure of substantial government or court resources. This argument addresses a
26
factual determination by the district court that we review for clear error. See United
States v. DeSalvo, 26 F.3d 1216, 1224 (2d Cir.1994).
The basis for the USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2) enhancement is set forth in the presentence
report, which concludes that if Mr. Sinclair had told the truth about the events of
September 9, 1994, “the government would have been prepared to perform a thorough
cross examination of the two witnesses that followed him, Dallas and Waylon Woods.”
Aplt’s App, doc. 15, at 8. “It is also likely,” the presentence report continues, “that
truthful testimony from [Mr.] Sinclair would have changed the course of the entire trial.”
Id. According to the report, the McMahon/Thomas trial would have been shorter in that
the prosecutor would not have been required to re-interview the boys during a break in the
trial, to recall them as witnesses, and to elicit testimony from Mr. McMahon about the
conspiracy to offer false testimony. In supporting the three-point upward adjustment in
the offense level, the presentence report also refers to the resources that the government
expended in trying him on the instant perjury charge. Id. 5
5
The presentence report’s complete discussion of the factors supporting the
three-level increase in the offense level reads as follows:
Had Sinclair testified truthfully at McMahon’s trial, he
could have saved the unnecessary expenditure of substantial
government and court resources. Sinclair was the first
witness to testify on behalf of McMahon at McMahon’s trial.
Had he told the truth concerning the events of September 9,
1994, the government would have been prepared to perform a
thorough cross examination of the two witnesses that
followed him, Dallas and Waylon Woods. It is also likely that
truthful testimony from Sinclair would have changed the
27
The district court accepted this reasoning, characterizing Mr. Sinclair’s perjured
testimony as the “cornerstone” of the defense at the McMahon/Thomas trial and stating
that “there is no reason . . . to believe that the additional witnesses, specifically Dallas and
Waylon Woods, would have ever testified, yet alone falsely, without the foundation
provided by Mr. Sinclair.” Aplt’s App. at 424.
As we have not yet construed the phrase “the unnecessary expenditure of
governmental or court resources” in applying USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2), we turn to the
course of the entire trial. It is likely that McMahon’s defense
and his trial would have been shorter. The defense may not
have called Dallas and Waylon Woods as defense witnesses
or it may have influenced two young witnesses to tell the truth
once called to testify. Had Sinclair told the truth, Sinclair
would have protected himself from possible criminal
prosecution. As events eventually unfolded, the government
was forced to re-interview Dallas and Waylon Woods on the
evening after their first day of testimony. Because they
followed Sinclair and lied on the first day, the government
was forced to have them and their father, Ron Woods, appear
in court a second day and recant their original testimony.
McMahon himself also had to testify concerning the scheme
In addition, Sinclair failed to appear in Court as directed and
was not available for further testimony regarding these [sic]
turn of events. Although he was indicted, he pleaded not
guilty and despite the evidence against him, exercised his
right to a jury trial. After the government’s expense and
preparation for trial, and the Court’s use of resources to try
him, Sinclair was convicted.
Aplt’s App. doc. 15, at 8.
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decisions of other circuits for guidance. Initially, we note that “expenses associated with
the underlying perjury offense should not form the basis of an upward adjustment.”
United States v. Duran, 41 F.3d 540, 546 (9th Cir. 1994); see also United States v. Jones,
900 F.2d 512, 522 (2d Cir. 1990). Additionally, the Eleventh Circuit has held that pre-
perjury investigative efforts should not be used as a basis of enhancement because the
waste of resources did not result from the offense. See United States v. Leeper, 886 F.2d
293, 294-95 (11th Cir. 1989). We are persuaded by these decisions. Thus, contrary to
the reasoning of the presentence report, the government’s preparation for Mr. Sinclair’s
perjury trial and the court’s expenditure of time and resources in trying him on that
offense cannot be used to support the USSG § 2J3.1(b)(2) upward adjustment in the
offense level.
Other circuits have also concluded that substantial interference with the
administration of justice may be inferred if the defendant concealed information of which
he is the only known source. See United State v. Bradach, 949 F.2d 1461, 1463 (7th Cir.
1991); Jones, 900 F.2d at 522. However, decisions affirming the three-level
enhancement of the offense level under USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2) have generally involved
government and court expenditures significantly more extensive than those listed in Mr.
Sinclair’s presentence report. See United States v. Atkin, 29 F.3d 267, 268 (7th Cir.
1994) (government required to summon five additional grand jury witnesses from many
miles away); United States v. Butt, 955 F.2d 77, 88 (1st Cir. 1992) (government required
29
to locate and examine several more witnesses and to immunize persons whom it might
have otherwise prosecuted); Bradach, 949 F.2d at 1463 (false testimony impaired the
grand jury proceedings and necessitated four perjury related trials in three years); United
States v. Lueddeke, 908 F.2d 230, 234 (7th Cir. 1990) (FBI spent two full weeks trying to
sort out the truth).
It is debatable whether the initial testimony of Dallas and Waylon Woods and the
prosecution’s re-interviewing and recalling of them at the McMahon/Thomas trial
involved a substantial expenditure of government or court resources. See J. A. Simpson
and E.S.C. Weiner eds. XVII Oxford English Dictionary at 67 (2d ed. 1989) (defining
“substantial” as “of ample or considerable amount, quantity, or dimensions”). Given this
limited evidence, a sentencing judge might reasonably conclude that the expenditure of
resources was not substantial and the USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2) increase in the offense level
was not justified. However, the opposite conclusion--that the expenditure was substantial
such that the enhancement was warranted--also finds support in the record. As the
government notes, it “need not particularize a specific number of hours expended by
government employees” in order to support the USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2) enhancement. Jones,
900 F. 2d at 522. Moreover, the district court made a specific finding that the perjured
testimony offered by Mr. Sinclair at the McMahon/Thomas trial constituted the
“cornerstone” of the defense and led to the false testimony of Dallas and Waylon Woods
and to the prosecution’s re-interviewing and recalling of them. Aplt’s App. at 424. In
30
light of the deference that we afford the district court regarding these factual
determinations, we cannot say that its conclusion that Mr. Sinclair’s perjury resulted in
the substantial expenditure of resources is clearly erroneous. Accordingly, we affirm the
three-level increase in Mr. Sinclair’s offense level pursuant to USSG § 2J1.3(b)(2).
III. Conclusion
We AFFIRM Mr. Sinclair’s conviction and sentence.
31
United States v. Sinclair
Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Date filed: 1997-03-26
Citations: 109 F.3d 1527
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion