United States v. Anderson
United States v. Anderson
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
_____________________
No. 00-40392 Summary Calendar _____________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CHERI ANDERSON,
Defendant-Appellant. _________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 4:99-CR-76-1 _________________________________________________________________ October 2, 2000
Before JOLLY, SMITH, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
A jury convicted Cheri Anderson, a former investment broker,
of fraudulently using the debit card of one of her clients,
88-year-old Gordon Wood, to make over $70,000 in unauthorized
withdrawals from Wood’s account through automated teller machines
(ATMs), in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2). Anderson appeals,
making four arguments related to three issues.
Anderson first contends that the district court violated her
Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury by refusing to excuse
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. prospective juror Marilyn Gentry for cause. This court’s review of
this claim is limited to considering the partiality of those who
actually served on the jury. Ross v. Oklahoma,
487 U.S. 81, 88(1988). Because Gentry did not serve on the jury, Anderson’s claim
has no factual basis and provides no grounds for relief.
Anderson next contends that the court abused its discretion in
applying the “residual exception” of Fed. R. Evid. 807 to admit
testimony that Wood told two witnesses that Anderson “made” him get
the debit card even though he did not want it. This court reviews
evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion and will “not disturb
the trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence under the
residual exception to the hearsay rule ‘absent a definite and firm
conviction that the court made a clear error of judgment[.]’”
United States v. Perez,
217 F.3d 323, 329(5th Cir. 2000) (citation
omitted). Wood’s declaration had sufficient indicia of reliability
so that the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting it
under Rule 807.
Anderson also argues that the admission of the hearsay
evidence violated her Sixth Amendment right to confront her
accusers. See United States v. Ismoila,
100 F.3d 380, 393(5th
Cir. 1996) (evidence admissible under Rule 807 may still violate
Confrontation Clause). Anderson did not raise this issue in the
district court; therefore, it is reviewed for plain error. United
2 States v. Maldonado,
42 F.3d 906, 909-12(5th Cir. 1995) (objection
must be specific to preserve issue for review). To satisfy the
Confrontation Clause, hearsay evidence must be supported by a
showing of “particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.” Ohio v.
Roberts,
448 U.S. 56, 66(1980). The circumstances surrounding
Wood’s declaration rendered it sufficiently trustworthy to be
admitted.
Even if there were a Confrontation Clause error, it was not
“plain.” In order to be plain error, an error must be “clear” or
“obvious.” Olano 507 U.S. at 733-34. The error must also have
been prejudicial, meaning that it affected the outcome of the
proceeding. Id. at 734; Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b). If these factors
exist, the court may correct the error if it “‘seriously affects
the fairness, integrity or public reputation,” of the judicial
proceedings. Olano, 507 U.S. at 736 (citation omitted). Because
Wood’s declaration was admissible under Rule 807, it was not
obvious error to admit it under the Confrontation Clause. Further,
in the light of the abundant evidence of Anderson’s guilt, the
admission did not affect the outcome, fairness, integrity, or
public reputation of the judicial proceeding.
Finally, Anderson contends that the court erred in allowing
her former coworkers to give opinion testimony that she was the
disguised person shown using Wood’s debit card in an ATM
3 surveillance videotape. This ruling is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. Perez,
217 F.3d at 329. A lay witness may testify as
to opinions that are rationally based on the witness’s perception
and that are helpful to the jury. Fed. R. Evid. 701; United States
v. Riddle,
103 F.3d 423, 428(5th Cir. 1997). Based on their daily
observations of Anderson, her coworkers were qualified to help the
jury identify her as the person in the videotape. The district
court did not abuse its discretion in admitting their testimony.
Anderson’s conviction is
A F F I R M E D.
4
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished