United States v. Earnhart
United States v. Earnhart
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Thomas Earnhart was indicted on September 24, 1987, on eight counts of income tax evasion. Counts 1-3 charge that he filed “false and fraudulent” joint tax returns for 1980,1981, and 1982. Counts 4-8 charge that he aided the filing of “false
Mr. Earnhart has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Trial is set for November 30, 1987, in Fort Smith.
Mr. Earnhart has now moved for a bill of particulars as to certain items. The motion will be granted in part and denied in part.
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The courts have generally recognized that because tax cases are ordinarily so complex, motions for bills of particulars should be viewed more liberally in such cases. See generally Annotation, Accused’s Right to Bill of Particulars in Criminal Prosecution for Evasion of Federal Income Taxes, 25 A.L.R.Fed. 8 (1975), specifically § 4 at 32. Factors that the courts have considered in deciding whether to allow a bill of particulars include the necessity of the items for a defendant’s preparation of a defense; the advisability of preventing surprise, delay, or injustice at trial; the prevention of undue labor in the preparation of a defense; and the absence of prejudice to the government’s case. Id., §§ 6-8, § 14.
The government has disclosed that it intends to rely on the specific items method of proof and that it does not intend to rely on the net worth and expenditures method of proof or the bank deposits method of proof. In addition, the government has stated the amounts of Mr. Earnhart’s alleged true income and alleged correct tax due. The indictment already describes certain categories of items on the corporate returns for which fraudulent deductions are alleged to have been claimed, e.g., repair and maintenance of real estate, depreciation, personal expenses, professional services, sales promotions, administrative expenses, warranties, sale of corporate assets, investment tax credit, and “other income.”
Mr. Earnhart has asked for the following additional particulars as to Counts 1-3 (personal tax returns): the amounts alleged as total gross income and as adjusted gross income; the particular items alleged to have been unreported, the amounts alleged to have been unreported, and their source, including when, where, how, for what, and by whom payment was made; the deductions and exemptions allowed or disallowed by the government and their amounts; a description of all corporate expenditures alleged to have been “constructive dividends,” including when, where, how, and by whom each payment was made and the benefit alleged to have accrued to Mr. Earnhart as a result; a description of the particular acts of Mr. Earnhart on which the government will rely in its proof; and other information that would help the defendant to understand the government’s allegations.
Courts have both granted and denied similar requests for all of the items listed above except for the constructive dividend information,
Mr. Earnhart has asked for the following additional particulars as to Counts 4-8 (corporate tax returns): the particular acts of Mr. Earnhart that allegedly caused the corporation to file a fraudulent return
The motion will be granted as to the items alleged to have been disallowable as deductions and as to the items alleged to have been unreported from tire sales, for amount and date only. See generally Annotation, Accused’s Right to Bill of Particulars, 25 A.L.R.Fed. 8, §§ 26-29, § 31. The motion will be denied as to all of the other particulars requested.
The government protests that if a bill of particulars is granted, the proof at trial will be restricted to the particulars within the scope of the bill. See, e.g., United States v. Neff, 212 F.2d 297, 309 (3d Cir. 1954). It hardly seems fair to expect the defense to be able to prepare adequately to meet charges relating to specific items without knowing what those specific items are. At the very least, forcing the government to state now what items are at issue will minimize surprise and delay at trial. In addition, the court does not see how it can prejudice the government’s case: either the specific items can be proved to be fraudulent or they cannot be.
The constructive dividend request, however. seems similar to the other items listed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Thomas P. EARNHART
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published