United States v. Richard Ernest Fritts, 505 F.2d 168 (9th Cir. 1974). · Go Syfert
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United States v. Richard Ernest Fritts, 505 F.2d 168 (9th Cir. 1974). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
6 citation events (1 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Kenneth Wayne Walls (ca9, 1978-06-28)
Top citers, strongest first. 5 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Kenneth Wayne Walls
9th Cir. · 1978 · confidence medium
See United States v. Sambrano, 505 F.2d 284, 287 (9th Cir. 1974) (instructions, though not in precise language requested by counsel, sufficiently focused jury's attention on issue of identity); United States v. Fritts, 505 F.2d 168, 169 (9th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 992 , 95 S.Ct. 1428 , 43 L.Ed.2d 673 (1975) (failure to give cautionary accomplice instruction not reversible error); United States v. Campbell, 507 F.2d 955, 958 (9th Cir. 1974) (failure to give desired instruction was not plain error in light of fair and neutral statements made by trial judge and otherwise detailed and …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Springfield Street Railway Co. v. United States
Ct. Cl. · 1978 · confidence medium
See United States v. Sambrano, 505 F.2d 284, 287 (9th Cir. 1974) (instructions, though not in precise language requested by counsel, sufficiently focused jury’s attention on issue of identity); United States v. Fritts, 505 F.2d 168, 169 (9th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 992 , 95 S.Ct. 1428 , 43 L.Ed.2d 673 (1975) (failure to give cautionary accomplice instruction not reversible error); United States v. Campbell, 507 F.2d 955, 958 (9th Cir. 1974) (failure to give desired instruction was not plain error in light of fair and neutral statements made by trial judge and otherwise detailed an…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Jack Sigal
9th Cir. · 1978 · confidence medium
It is well established in our court that the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice is sufficient evidence upon which to base a conviction if the testimony “is not incredible or unsubstantial on its face.” United States v. Daniel, 459 F.2d 1029, 1030 (9th Cir. 1972); United States v. Fritts, 505 F.2d 168, 169 (9th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 992 , 95 S.Ct. 1428 , 43 L.Ed.2d 673 (1975); United States v. McSweaney, 507 F.2d 298, 301 (9th Cir. 1974).
cited Cited "see" United States v. Ricardo Beraun-Panez
9th Cir. · 1987 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Fritts, 505 F.2d 168, 169 (9th Cir.1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 992 , 95 S.Ct. 1428 , 43 L.Ed.2d 673 (1975).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." (HC) Williams v. Neuschmid
E.D. Cal. · 2020 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Takacs v. Engle, 768 F.2d 122, 127 (6th Cir. 1985) (“If uncorroborated accomplice testimony is sufficient to support a conviction under the Constitution, there can be no constitutional right to instruct the jury that it must find corroboration for an accomplice’s testimony.”); see also United States v. Fritts, 505 F.2d 168, 169 (9th Cir. 1974) (holding on direct review that trial court’s 22 failure sua sponte give cautionary instruction on accomplice testimony did not warrant reversal).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Richard Ernest FRITTS, Defendant-Appellant
74-1331.
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Nov 15, 1974.
505 F.2d 168
William R. McVay (argued), Los An-geles, Cal., for defendant-appellant., James Mueller, Asst. U. S. Atty., Tucson, Ariz., for plaintiff-appellee.
Wallace, Ely.
Cited by 6 opinions  |  Published
Reporter's Syllabus editorial summary, not part of the Court's opinion

William R. McVay (argued), Los Angeles, Cal., for defendant-appellant.

James Mueller, Asst. U.S. Atty., Tucson, Ariz., for plaintiff-appellee.

OPINION

Before ELY and WALLACE, Circuit Judges, and POWELL,1 District Judge.

WALLACE, Circuit Judge:

Lead Opinion

OPINION

Before ELY and WALLACE, Circuit Judges, and POWELL,* District Judge.

WALLACE, Circuit Judge:

Fritts was convicted of conspiracy to import marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 963, importation of marijuana, 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 (a), 960(a)(1), and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). We affirm.

As regards the first claimed error, we do not believe the question of whether Fritts’ attorney would be allowed to testify was properly before the trial court. If it were, there was no offer of proof made as to what he would testify. See United States v. Crowder, 464 F.2d 1284 (9th Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 411 U.S. 908, 93 S.Ct. 1537, 36 L.Ed.2d 198 (1973); McCormick, Law of Evidence § 51, at 110 (2d ed. 1972). We decline to guess, as suggested by Fritts.

The trial judge stated before the jury that the prosecutor had intimidated the witness Palmer. While we decry such conduct, it does not require reversal of this conviction since the record does not disclose that Palmer’s testimony was affected by the intimidation. See Fuller v. Cox, 315 F.Supp. 867, 870 (W.D.Va. 1970).

Finally, Fritts claims reversal is in order because the trial court failed to give, on its own motion, a cautionary instruction on accomplice testimony. We have already rejected the contention. United States v. Randall, 491 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir. 1974). The parallel argument that uncorroborated accomplice testimony cannot lead to a conviction has been similarly rejected. United States v. Castro, 476 F.2d 750 (9th Cir. 1973). Fritts' argument that the government’s use of an accomplice witness after granting him immunity, early parole or other favors violates Fritts’ due process rights is rejected.

Affirmed.

Honorable Charles L. Powell, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Washington, sitting by designation.

Dissent

ELY, Circuit Judge

(dissenting):

I respectfully dissent. I can recall no stronger case for a holding that the court’s failure, acting sua sponte, to present a cautionary instruction in respect to the prosecuting testimony of the accomplices constituted reversible error. Concerning this, I have hitherto expressed my general views in United States v. Randall, 491 F.2d 1317, 1321-1323 (9th Cir. 1974) (dissenting opinion).

In the present case, one of the accomplices who testified for the prosecution had been granted immunity in exchange for his incriminating testimony against the appellant, given by the accomplice[*170] before the grand jury. For a prior offense, this accomplice had been in the custody of federal penal authorities, but he was freed in advance of the time of the appellant’s trial.

The second accomplice who testified against the appellant was originally charged with the commission of three felonies in connection with the transaction involving the appellant. The prosecution dismissed two of these felony charges before this accomplice presented his testimony incriminating the appellant. Moreover, this prosecution witness had also been in federal custody because of a prior conviction and his application for parole had been rejected because of a pending criminal charge in a state court. But the state prosecution was apparently abandoned quite suddenly, whereupon this accomplice was released from federal custody on the same day that the first accomplice was released, only fourteen days before the occurrence of the appellant’s trial. The Government’s simultaneous releasing of these two felons on the same date would seem to be, of itself, remarkably coincidental.

The third accomplice offered by the prosecution was charged with three felonies arising from the transaction in which the appellant was alleged to have been involved. The Government dismissed all of the charges against this accomplice before he testified for the prosecution.

If the bare recitation of the above undeniable facts does not support my view that the trial judge should have instructed the jury that the testimony of the accomplices should be viewed with extreme caution, if not suspicion, then I doubt that elaborative argumentation could strengthen my foundation.[1]

I would reverse.

1

To me, the failure of Fritts’ defense attorney to request the cautionary instruction is thoroughly inexplicable. Surely, this neglect cannot be attributed to any valid strategic decision. If I am correct, Fritts may possibly bo able to establish, in post-conviction proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, that he did not receive the effective representation of competent counsel.

In justice to Fritts’ appellate counsel, it should be noted that he did not represent Fritts at the trial level.