5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
-
Upload
lisa-bartley -
Category
Documents
-
view
231 -
download
0
Transcript of 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
1/41
Appeal No. 14-50583
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
United States of America,
Plaintiff and Respondent ,
v.
James Sexton,
Defendant and Appellant .
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Hon. Percy AndersonOrig. Case No. 2:13-CR-00819-PA-5
APPELLANT JAMES SEXTON’S REPLY BRIEF
THOMAS P. O’BRIEN (SB# 166369)
KATHRYN C. WANNER (SB# 269310)PAUL HASTINGS LLP
515 South Flower Street,Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071-2228
Telephone: 1(213) 683-6000Facsimile: 1(213) 627-0705
Attorneys for Appellant
James Sexton
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 1 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
2/41
Table of Contents
Page
- i -
I. INTRODUCTION AND FACTUAL SUMMARY ....................................... 1
II. THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN GIVING THE “MIXEDMOTIVE” INSTRUCTION. .......................................................................... 4
A. Obstruction of Justice Requires a Predominantly Corrupt
Purpose. ................................................................................................ 4
B. Under the Fair Warning Doctrine and the Rule of Lenity,
Ambiguity in Section 1503(a) Should Have Been Resolved inSexton’s Favor. ..................................................................................... 7
III. THE DISTRICT COURT ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT TO
PRESENT AN INCOMPLETE AND MISLEADING TRANSCRIPT. ..... 10
A. Portions of Sexton’s Grand Jury Testimony Should Have Been
Admitted under the Rule of Completeness. ....................................... 10
B. Selectively Editing Sexton’s Testimony was Not Harmless and
Objectively Misled the Jury. .............................................................. 16
IV. THE DISTRICT COURT SHOULD HAVE SUPPRESSEDSEXTON’S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY FOR FAILURE TO
PROVIDE A TARGET WARNING. ........................................................... 17
A. The Government Objectively Knew Sexton Was a “Target.” ........... 18
B. The USAM Explicitly Requires Prosecutors to Provide Target
Warnings. ........................................................................................... 21
C. Due Process Requires Federal Courts to Exercise Supervisory
Authority over Grand Jury Procedural Rules GoverningDefendants. ......................................................................................... 22
V. THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN EXCLUDING TESTIMONYREGARDING THE GOVERNMENT’S WITHDRAWAL OF A
WRIT. ........................................................................................................... 25
A. Evidence of the Writ’s Withdrawal Was Permitted During theFirst Trial, but Excluded from the Second. ........................................ 25
B. The Trial Court Erred in Excluding Evidence Related to theWithdrawal of the Writ. ..................................................................... 26
VI. CONCLUSION. ............................................................................................ 31
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 2 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
3/41
Table of Authorities
Page(s)
- ii -
Cases
Gollehon v. Mahoney,626 F.3d 1019 (9th Cir. 2010) .............................................................................. 8
Griffith v. Kentucky,
479 U.S. 314 (1987) ....................................................................................... 25,27
Ingram v. United States,
360 U.S. 672 (1959) .............................................................................................. 5
Marks v. United States,
430 U.S. 188 (1977) .............................................................................................. 9
Miranda v. Arizona,
384 U.S.436 (1966) .................................................................................. 18, 19,20
United States v. Banks,
514 F.3d 959 (9th Cir. 2008) ......................................................................... 4, 5,6
United States v. Bonds,
784 F.3d 582 (9th Cir. 2015) ................................................................. 6, 9, 28,29
United States v. Chu Kong Yin,935 F.2d 990 (9th Cir. 1991) .............................................................................. 27
United States v. Collicott ,92 F.3d 973 (9th Cir. 1996) ...............................................................11, 12, 15,16
United States v. Conley,
186 F.3d 7 (1st Cir. 1999) ................................................................................... 10
United States v. Crocker ,568 F.2d 1049 (3d Cir. 1977) ............................................................................. 25
United States v. Estepa,
471 F.2d 1132 (2d Cir. 1972) ............................................................................. 24
United States v. Flores,
802 F.3d 1028 (9th Cir. 2015) ............................................................................ 17
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 3 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
4/41
Table of Authorities
(continued)Page(s)
- iii -
United States v. Jacobs,
547 F.2d 772 (2d Cir. 1976) ............................................................................... 23
United States v. Ladum,141 F.3d 1328 (9th Cir. 1998) ............................................................................ 29
United States v. Lanier ,
520 U.S. 259 (1997) .............................................................................................. 7
United States v. Liu,731 F.3d 982 (9th Cir. 2013) ................................................................................ 4
United States v. Macias,789 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 2015) ....................................................................... 17,30
United States v. Mandujano,
425 U.S. 564 (1976) ............................................................................................ 23
United States v. Marbella,73 F.3d 1508 (9th Cir. 1996) .............................................................................. 28
United States v. Marshall,
767 F.2d 293 (6th Cir. 1985) .............................................................................. 10
United States v. Millan,230 F.3d 431 (1st Cir. 2000) ............................................................................... 11
United States v. Mullins,22 F.3d 1365 (6th Cir. 1994) .............................................................................. 10
United States v. Ortega,
203 F.3d 675 (9th Cir. 2000) .............................................................................. 16
United States v. Rasheed ,663 F.2d 843 (9th Cir. 1981) .............................................................................. 29
United States v. Ryan,455 F.2d 728 (9th Cir. 1971) ................................................................................ 5
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 4 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
5/41
Table of Authorities
(continued)Page(s)
- iv -
United States v. Santos,
553 U.S. 507 (2008) .............................................................................................. 7
United States v. Smith,424 F.3d 992 (9th Cir. 2005) ................................................................................ 5
United States v. Tham,
960 F.2d 1391 (9th Cir. 1992) ....................................................................... 20,28
United States v. Thompson,37 F.3d 450 (9th Cir. 1994) ................................................................................ 30
United States v. Thompson,728 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 2013) .............................................................................. 8
United States v. Wallace,
848 F.2d 1464 (9th Cir. 1988) ....................................................................... 17,18
United States v. Washington,431 U.S. 181 (1977) ............................................................................................ 24
United States v. Wilkerson,
84 F.3d 692 (4th Cir. 1996) ................................................................................ 16
United States v. Williams,504 U.S. 36 (1992) .............................................................................................. 24
Statutes
18 U.S.C. § 1503(a) .......................................................................................... passim
Other Authorities
Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(a) .............................................................................................. 16
Fed. R. Evid. 106 ..................................................................................................... 11
Fed. R. Evid. 803(3) ................................................................................................. 15
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 5 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
6/41
I. INTRODUCTION AND FACTUAL SUMMARY
The Government’s opposition brief presents a simple story: the conviction
should be affirmed because Appellant James Sexton confessed. The Government
is wrong. This appeal is not about whether Sexton—a young former Los Angeles
County Deputy Sheriff caught in a turf war between the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department (“LASD”) and the FBI—confessed. This appeal is about
whether that “confession” should have ever come into evidence. This appeal is
about whether the Government’s excerpting of Sexton’s Grand Jury testimony
violated the Federal Rule of Evidence’s Rule of Completeness, when Sexton’s
more complete testimony showed neither the “confession” the Government relies
on so heavily nor a dominant purpose to impede or to obstruct justice. This appeal
is about whether the District Court got the law right, or whether the District
Court’s mixed motive instruction allowed the jury to convict Sexton without
showing his dominant purpose was to obstruct justice.
The Government’s simple story, in other words, is simply wrong.
In 2011, the Federal Government was conducting an undercover
investigation of the LASD. (Sexton’s Excerpts of Record (“ER”) ER183 at
574:10-12.) During the investigation, the FBI provided a cellular phone to an
extremely dangerous inmate, Anthony Brown, who had been sentenced to more
than 400-years imprisonment. (ER183 at 574:11-19.) A cellular phone in the
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 6 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
7/41
- 2 -
hands of an inmate is exceptionally dangerous, as it can be used in a variety of
crimes, including killing witnesses. (Government’s Excerpts of Record (“GER”)
GER779 at 1020:8-19; GER432 at 673:9-12.) When former Sheriff Leroy Baca
and former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka discovered the planted phone, they ordered a
counter-investigation into the FBI (concerned a law may have been breached) and
sought to protect Inmate Brown and their investigation. (ER207 at 846:10-12;
ER204 at 813:8-14; and ER240-241 at 885:23-886:4.)
Sexton did not participate in any meetings or conversations with Sheriff
Baca or Undersheriff Tanaka—or any other official—pertaining to the FBI’s
investigation or the LASD’s counter-investigation. Instead, his commanding
officers directed Sexton, a low-level deputy (GER121 at 362:9-16), to change
Inmate Brown’s name in the LASD’s inmate locator system and to relocate Inmate
Brown to different facilities, a commonplace practice to ensure the safety of “high-
profile and at-risk inmates.” (ER250-254 at 1020:23-1030:3 and GER 277-278 at
518:12-519:11.) As had been done “hundreds” of times to remove such inmates
from the LASD computer system, see id., Sexton followed facially-valid orders
issued by his commanding officers, consistent with LASD policy. (ER181-182 at
507:13-508:7; ER214-241 at 859-886:1; and ER245-246 at 890:18-891:9.)
Ultimately, a full-scale jurisdictional, tit-for-tat, turf war erupted between the FBI
and the LASD—and while that conflict is a tragedy in and of itself—it led to
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 7 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
8/41
- 3 -
another tragedy. It led to the prosecution and ultimate conviction of a junior
deputy for following his commanding officers’ lawful orders. (ER490-507.)
But that is not all. The Government’s turf war mentality led them to
disregard their own rules. No one disputes that Sexton fully cooperated with
federal prosecutors and investigators, meeting with the Government more than 30
times and testifying before the Grand Jury twice. Yet despite relying almost solely
on that testimony to charge and prosecute Sexton, the Government never told him
prior to his Grand Jury appearances that he was a target of their investigation,
notwithstanding the United States Attorney’s Manual (“USAM”) mandate to do so.
The Government’s turf war mentality also led it to selectively edit Sexton’s
testimony—deleting his comments demonstrating he was not intending to obstruct
justice—in his second trial; after presenting the full and complete story led to an
evenly-split, hung jury in his first trial.
This appeal, in short, is about much more than Sexton’s supposed
“confession.” It is about whether the law was properly followed in the trial below
and the events that led up to it, and, ultimately, about fairness. In his opening
brief, Sexton gave this Court numerous independent grounds to reverse. The
Government’s opposition brief says nothing that should change the result.
Sexton’s conviction should be set aside.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 8 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
9/41
- 4 -
II. THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN GIVING THE “MIXED
MOTIVE” INSTRUCTION.
In his opening brief, Sexton explained why the District Court erred in
providing a mixed motive instruction. See AOB31-43. Properly construed, 18
U.S.C. § 1503(a), requires that the Government prove the defendant had a
predominantly corrupt purpose in obstructing justice and not that this purpose was
“more than merely incidental” as the District Court instructed the jury. The
Government cannot meet that standard here and thus unsurprisingly argues for a
lower standard. Government’s Answering Brief (“GAB”) at 35-36.1 As shown
below, the Government is wrong and reversal should follow. United States v. Liu,
731 F.3d 982, 987 (9th Cir. 2013) (reversal warranted where an instructional error
is not harmless).
A. Obstruction of Justice Requires a Predominantly Corrupt
Purpose.
The Government first attempts to recast this Court’s decision in United
States v. Banks, 514 F.3d 959 (9th Cir. 2008). (GAB at 39-42.) Sexton showed in
his opening brief that Banks supports reversal. (AOB at 36-37.) It still does.
1Despite the Government’s contention (GAB34 n.9) that the parties agreed to this
instruction, the parties only agreed to the first two paragraphs of this instruction.(ER255-56; ER33.) Over Sexton’s objection, the court added the third paragraph
to the parties’ jury instructions stating that the Government need only prove thatthe defendant had a more than incidental purpose of obstruction. (ER58-59.) This
was error.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 9 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
10/41
- 5 -
In Banks, this Court discussed the elements required for a conviction
regarding racketeering, including the defendant’s “purpose” —mirroring the mens
rea question under Section 1503(a). Id. at 966, 968. Banks demonstrates that
when a criminal statute speaks of purpose as an important element of the crime,
that purpose must be “more than merely incidental.” Indeed, Banks establishes
that a corrupt intent must be “integral” to the defendant’s purpose. Banks, 514
F.3d at 969-70 (the Government must prove that defendant’s “dominant” purpose
was to commit the underlying offense). Relevant here, this Court has already
explained that Section 1503’s use of the word “corrupt[ly]” “means for an evil or
wicked purpose.” United States v. Ryan, 455 F.2d 728, 734 (9th Cir. 1971). As
the obstruction charge requires proof of purpose as an important element of the
crime, this Court’s analytical approach in Banks confirms that it is the
Government’s burden to show Sexton’s alleged “corrupt” purpose was the
“dominant” or “integral” purpose.2
2The Government also claims that the level of intent for a conspiracy charge neednot be substantial, see GAB at 37, but this misstates the law. As a case the
Government relies on confirms, “‘[c]onspiracy to commit a particular substantiveoffense cannot exist without at least the degree of criminal intent necessary for the
substantive offense itself[,]’” meaning that on the 371 charge, the Government hadto meet Section 1503’s mens rea. Ingram v. United States, 360 U.S. 672, 678
(1959) (emphasis added). The Government’s other claims, about the non-exclusivity of intent for the 1503 charge, see GAB at 36-37, are equally
inapposite. The cases the Government invokes do not answer the question. Whilethey discuss non-exclusivity, see, e.g., United States v. Smith, 424 F.3d 992, 1010-
11 (9th Cir. 2005), they do not meaningfully address the relative importance
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 10 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
11/41
- 6 -
The court’s “mixed motive” or “more than merely incidental” instruction
meant that the jury could ignore that Sexton’s dominant purpose was to follow
what appeared to be lawfully-issued orders as required by the LASD hierarchy.
Despite the “rumors” and “innuendo” permeating the LASD concerning the
planted cellular phone and the FBI’s undercover operation, the jury should have
been allowed to consider evidence permitting it to infer that Sexton’s actions
regarding Inmate Brown did not establish the necessary corrupt specific and
dominant intent.
Moreover, contrary to the Government’s assertion (GAB40), a narrow
reading of Section 1503 is required to avoid the risk of creating “status crimes,”
wherein any investigatory act by a state or local law enforcement agency that may
overlap with a federal investigation may be deemed obstruction of justice. There is
no indication that Congress intended that the mere existence of competing or
conflicting law enforcement investigations should become a “status offense”
paralyzing local law enforcement agencies from taking any action where there may
be overlapping federal jurisdiction. Such a reading would endanger parallel
investigations across the country. Cf. United States v. Bonds, 784 F.3d 582, 584
(9th Cir. 2015) (Kozinski, J. concurring) (“[S]ection 1503 poses a significant
among non-exclusive purposes. Banks does that expressly, see Banks, 514 F.3d at
968, and Banks confirms reversal is appropriate.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 11 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
12/41
- 7 -
hazard for everyone involved in our system of justice, because so much of what the
adversary process calls for could be construed as obstruction.”).
B. Under the Fair Warning Doctrine and the Rule of Lenity,
Ambiguity in Section 1503(a) Should Have Been Resolved in
Sexton’s Favor.
The District Court’s confusing “mixed motive” instruction (as well as its
previous denial of Sexton’s motion to dismiss on the same legal question, see
AOB23, and ER33) was based on a statute which, under the Fair Warning doctrine,
should have been interpreted in Sexton’s favor. United States v. Lanier , 520 U.S.
259, 267 (1997) (fair warning is “whether the statute, either standing alone or as
construed, made it reasonably clear at the relevant time that the defendant’s
conduct was criminal”). Likewise, under the rule of lenity, ambiguity in the
statutory language should have led the Court to instruct the jury that the
Government had to show that Sexton’s dominant purpose was to obstruct justice.
United States v. Santos, 553 U.S. 507, 514 (2008).
Where, as here, the statute uses a term like “corruptly” that on its face
conveys a gravity of wickedness, but the statute does not define the necessary
depth of wickedness required for conviction, the statute is ambiguous. When a
statute contains ambiguous language a defendant should not be held criminally
liable when his actions were not and could not have reasonably been understood to
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 12 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
13/41
- 8 -
have been covered by that statute. United States v. Thompson, 728 F.3d 1011 (9th
Cir. 2013).
In Thompson, the defendants used a thermal tool to cut through metal during
a robbery, and were convicted for larceny with a statutory sentencing enhancement
for “using fire” during the felony. Id. at 1013-14. This Court reversed, holding
that the defendants did not have “fair warning” that under the statute their actions
would subject them to the enhanced sentence. Id. at 1020. This Court focused on
the fact that the Government failed to identify any other cases where the sentencing
enhancement was applied in cases involving thermal cutting tools. Id. Similarly
here, the Government has not identified any other prosecutions for obstruction of
justice where defendants were following lawful job-related orders while having
merely incidental ill-will towards the Federal Government.
The Government ignores Thompson and incorrectly relies on Gollehon v.
Mahoney to argue that Sexton understood his actions to constitute obstruction of
justice at the time he was given and followed lawfully-issued orders. 626 F.3d
1019, 1023 (9th Cir. 2010). In Gollehon, the defendant brutally murdered another
inmate in prison and there was no evidence that the defendant had a good faith
basis to believe, “at the relevant time,” that his actions may have been lawfully-
issued by a superior. Id. at 1028.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 13 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
14/41
- 9 -
Here, despite all the “rumors” and “innuendo,” there is no evidence that
Sexton knew or had fair warning, at or prior to the time the orders were issued, that
he could or should object to his commanding officers’ orders, particularly when
relocating an at-risk inmate and changing his name in the locator system had
occurred “hundreds” of times to protect inmates. (ER250-254 at 1020:23-1030:3
and GER 277-278 at 518:12-519:11.) Given the ambiguity in the statute regarding
the mens rea requirement, the Fair Warning Doctrine confirms that it should have
been interpreted in Sexton’s favor—that was true at the instructions phase, see
ER255-256 at 1049:22-1050:15; ER58-59, and when Sexton moved to dismiss.
ER455-456. Either reversal or remand is appropriate. See Marks v. United States,
430 U.S. 188, 196 (1977) (applying fair warning doctrine to jury instructions); see
also Bonds, 784 F.3d at 582 (Kozinski, J. concurring) (“The amorphous nature of
the statute is also at odds with the constitutional requirement that individuals have
fair notice as to what conduct may be criminal.”).
The Government likewise asserts that Sexton’s arguments (see AOB at 42-
44) have not identified a textual ambiguity justifying the imposition of the rule of
lenity where ambiguous criminal laws are interpreted in favor of the defendant.
(GAB42.) This, too, is incorrect. The parties hotly dispute the scope and breadth
of the word “corruptly” in the statutory language. Either Sexton is right in his
reading or there is statutory ambiguity here.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 14 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
15/41
- 10 -
The Government tries to bolster its argument by citing a string of cases in
which law enforcement officers have been prosecuted. (GAB at 43-44.) The
Government tellingly discusses none of these cases’ facts, none of which mirrors
the facts here, where a junior deputy follows what he believes to be lawful orders
of his commanding officers only to be prosecuted following a turf war between
agencies. See, e.g., United States v. Conley, 186 F.3d 7, 15 (1st Cir. 1999)
(withholding information during testimony); United States v. Mullins, 22 F.3d
1365, 1367 (6th Cir. 1994) (defendant giving instructions, not following them);
United States v. Marshall, 767 F.2d 293, 294 (6th Cir. 1985) (“defendant had
extorted money from the store owner”). The clear factual discrepancies between
the cases the Government relies on and this case shows why both the Fair Warning
Doctrine and the rule of lenity support reversal.
III.
THE DISTRICT COURT ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT TO
PRESENT AN INCOMPLETE AND MISLEADING TRANSCRIPT.
A. Portions of Sexton’s Grand Jury Testimony Should Have Been
Admitted under the Rule of Completeness.
As Sexton explained in his opening brief, the District Court incorrectly
excluded potentially exculpatory, non-hearsay portions of Sexton’s Grand Jury
testimony that should have been admitted pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence
106. (See AOB at 44-49.) The rule of completeness provides:
If a party introduces all or part of a writing or recorded
statement, an adverse party may require the introduction,
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 15 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
16/41
- 11 -
at that time, of any other part – or any other writing orrecorded statement – that in fairness ought to be
considered at the same time.
Fed. R. Evid. 106 (emphasis added). Admitting additional portions of a
defendant’s statement is appropriate to “correct a misleading impression of a prior
statement created by taking [the defendant’s] comments out of context.” United
States v. Collicott , 92 F.3d 973, 983 (9th Cir. 1996); United States v. Millan, 230
F.3d 431, 434 (1st Cir. 2000) (“a party wishing to introduce only a portion of a
recorded statement may be precluded from doing so”).
The Government does not dispute that during Sexton’s first trial—which
resulted in an evenly split hung jury—the District Court admitted a relatively
complete recitation of Sexton’s Grand Jury testimony. (See ER395-453.) In the
second trial, the Government requested, and the trial court excluded in violation of
the rule of completeness, critical context for Sexton’s alleged confession and other
key evidence, resulting in a guilty verdict. (ER11-12.) This was not harmless
error.
The Government focuses on Sexton’s purported confession and contends
everything else is irrelevant. It further argues that Sexton “has never explained
how any particular statement was ‘taken out of context’” to mislead the jury.
(GAB51-52.) These contentions collapse under their own weight.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 16 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
17/41
- 12 -
In his opening brief, Sexton identified exemplars of his Grand Jury
statements introduced in the first trial and omitted in the second trial. (AOB at 22-
23.) These statements related to the basis of Sexton’s understanding of the source
of the information to which he allegedly “confessed.” For example, the
Government read a portion of the Grand Jury transcript to the jury discussing
Sexton’s understanding of an email regarding transferring Inmate Brown to
another station jail. (ER157-159 at 59:14-61:1.) During that same discussion,
Sexton explained that the LASD is “all about innuendo and nuance[.]” (ER158 at
60:24.)3
The Government excised this entire statement, upon which a reasonable
juror could have inferred that the basis of Sexton’s knowledge and understanding
regarding the FBI investigation was not premised upon personal knowledge.
Selectively editing the transcript—including significant context—allowed the jury
to be misled. United States v. Collicott , 92 F.3d 973, 983 (9th Cir. 1996).
Similarly, the Government eliminated numerous other statements clarifying
Sexton’s intent and knowledge behind his alleged confessions. As described in the
Opening Brief, the Government withheld from the jury numerous statements
3During Sexton’s closing argument in his first trial, counsel identified fourteen
such statements regarding Sexton’s lack of knowledge or basis for his claimedunderstanding of the LASD’s motivations. (ER100-170.) In the second trial, the
Government removed half of these statements. Sexton provided the District Courtwith a redline showing the Government’s selectively stricken testimony. (See
ER100-170.)
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 17 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
18/41
- 13 -
regarding Sexton’s actual lack of foundation for his alleged confessions, such as:
“there were rumors,” “we as young deputies were speculating,” “I was not
privileged to the entire information,” “I had conversations about this with . . . my
peers and just trying to establish what we were doing,” “innuendo,” “we’re baby
faced in there,” “I’m not going to detain a U.S. Attorney at gun point,” and “[t]his
is our Sheriff’s Department . . . [i]t’s all about innuendo and nuance.” (AOB22-
23.)
These were not the only sections of excluded testimony making Sexton’s
Grand Jury transcript misleading in the second trial. Others include:
Omitted Statement Relevance of the Omitted Statement
“Prior to the meeting a cellphone was
discovered in the most secure area thatwe have amongst the most dangerous
inmates.” (ER104.)
The statement shows Sexton’s state of
mind with respect to the dangers of placing a cellular phone into the prison,
including the belief that a lawfully-issued order to investigate the same was
reasonable under the circumstances.
“They were still piecing that togetherthrough interviewing both the inmate
and the deputy, and I was not privilegedto the entire information of that. I was
having to put it together on my own.”(ER106.)
The statement is probative of Sexton’sstate of mind and actual knowledge
regarding the FBI investigation by providing context to the alleged
confession that Sexton admittedly knewvery little about the investigation or the
machinations of Sherriff Baca and/or
Undersheriff Tanaka with respect to thesame.
“I had conversations about this withRathbun and my peers and just trying to
establish what we were doing and why
we were doing it. But they [more senior
LASD officers] had the handle on the
Sexton explained that other, high-levelofficials “were the leaders” of the
LASD’s counter-investigation into the
placement of the cellular phone into the
prison. A reasonable juror could infer
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 18 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
19/41
- 14 -
Omitted Statement Relevance of the Omitted Statement
investigation. They were the leaders ofthe investigation. They made that clear
that at the direction of our unitcommander Lieutenant Thompson that
they were ramrodding what OSJ wasdoing with regards to this inmate, and
they set a very adversarial tone towardsthe federal government in a don’t ask,
don’t tell kind of policy. Your need toknow, right to know.” (ER108-109 at
10:28-11 through 11:12.)
from the statement that Sexton followedfacially lawfully orders and he did not
believe he could question hiscommanding officers regarding the
same.
“Q: What was the idea about howthe LASD was going to treat AnthonyBrown after this meeting with everyone
at Hero’s Park?A: The bosses had come up with
the idea to sequester him. Just cut off
his access to everybody and that wouldinclude FBI and vice versa.
Q: When you say ‘the bosses,’
who is that?A: . . . . the greater powers that
be.” (ER118 at 20:5-26.)
By excluding Sexton’s statementsrelated to the “bosses” or “greater powers that be” who were controlling
the LASD’s counter-investigation, the jury could have been left with the false
understanding that Sexton had more
control over the investigation than heactually possessed.
Coupled with the improper “mixed motive” jury instruction requiring a
corrupt purpose that was simply “more than merely incidental,” the exclusion of
significant portions of Sexton’s testimony permitted the jury to find culpability on
an incomplete and misleading record. The trial court should have permitted the
jury to consider evidence contextualizing Sexton’s over-zealous assertions
concerning the potential for impeding the FBI investigation and his role in the
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 19 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
20/41
- 15 -
same. Sexton’s basis of knowledge was limited. The jury could have reasonably
inferred that, at the time of the lawfully-issued orders, Sexton believed the orders
to be reasonable given the dangers inherent to placing a cellular phone into the
prison with an at-risk inmate. Such an inference would have negated the mens rea
required to show a corrupt purpose here, particularly without a faulty “mixed
motive” instruction.
Finally, contrary to the Government’s assertions (GAB at 49-50), the
portions of Sexton’s Grand Jury transcript that he sought to admit during the
second trial were not inadmissible hearsay. Fed. R. Evid. 803(3) (exception from
general hearsay exclusion for statements of the “declarant’s then-existing state of
mind (such as motive, intent, or plan)”). Indeed even if the statements were not
admissible under the state of mind exception to the hearsay exclusion, Collicott
clarifies that hearsay statements become relevant and admissible when the
opposing party has admitted other portions of that material, “such that
misunderstanding or distortion can be averted only through presentation of another
portion.” 92 F.3d at 983 (citing Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey, 488 U.S. 153, 172
(1988)).4 The omitted statements demonstrated Sexton’s state of mind and basis
4United States v. Ortega, cited by the Government (GAB49), concerned an
officer’s testimony regarding the defendant’s unrecorded oral statements, unlike
the recorded transcript at issue here. 203 F.3d 675, 682 (9th Cir. 2000) (“Becausethe officer’s testimony concerned an unrecorded oral confession, the rule of
completeness does not apply”). Similarly, United States v. Wilkerson dealt with an
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 20 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
21/41
- 16 -
for his admitted statements and should have been included under the rule of
completeness.
B. Selectively Editing Sexton’s Testimony was Not Harmless and
Objectively Misled the Jury.
The Government bears the burden of demonstrating harmlessness. See Fed.
R. Crim. P. 52(a). It has not done so. No other evidence, beyond his own omitted
statements, explained the basis for Sexton’s testimony to the Grand Jury.
Furthermore, contrary to the Government’s assertion (GAB at 54-55), the
difference in verdict between the two trials is illustrative of the harm occurring
from selectively editing Sexton’s Grand Jury testimony.
The Government now claims that any error that occurred due to editing his
statements was harmless because such statements were cumulative of other
evidence offered in the matter. (GAB at 53.) The Government, however, fails to
show any examples of admitted evidence addressing Sexton’s own state of mind
and how the same relates to whether he formed the requisite specific intent to
commit obstruction. Instead, the Government selected a few instances where the
transcript referenced “unofficial statements” and “innuendos,” but these statements
were so divorced from context— i.e., the purported confession—that they lacked
meaning, particularly with regard to Sexton’s state of mind. (GAB 52-53 (citing
out of court conversation, not a recorded statement. 84 F.3d 692, 696 (4th Cir.1996) (holding that “when the rule does apply, its purpose is to prevent a party
from misleading the jury”).
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 21 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
22/41
- 17 -
TT750, TT751, and TT754-55) (more than twenty (20) pages of testimony separate
these statements from the alleged confession).)
The Government’s reliance on United States v. Flores, 802 F.3d 1028 (9th
Cir. 2015) (GAB55) is misplaced. Flores did not concern two trials of the same
defendant with different results due to differences in the evidence presented to the
jury. See id. at 1034 (concerning prosecutorial misconduct and prejudicial
evidence). This Court has already held that where “[t]he jury hung at the first trial,
and the material difference between the two trials was the admission of [certain
evidence]” the error is not harmless. United States v. Macias, 789 F.3d 1011, 1028
(9th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Wallace, 848 F.2d 1464, 1475 (9th Cir. 1988) is likewise
instructive. This Court explained that it was “particularly troubled by the possible
cumulative effect of those errors which go to the credibility of the witnesses[.]” Id.
at 1476. Similarly, while each of the stricken portions of Sexton’s testimony
constitutes error, when taken as a whole, the cumulative effect of those errors
likely altered the outcome of the second trial. Reversal is the appropriate remedy.
Id. at 1475.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 22 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
23/41
- 18 -
IV. THE DISTRICT COURT SHOULD HAVE SUPPRESSED SEXTON’S
GRAND JURY TESTIMONY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE A
TARGET WARNING.
It is insufficient for the Government to argue that Sexton’s purported
confession renders meaningless its obligations under the USAM. Like a
confession obtained by violating a defendant’s Miranda rights would be
suppressed, so, too, should a confession obtained incident to the Government’s
failure to advise a defendant of his/her target status. Miranda v. Arizona, 384
U.S.436 (1966). Unless this Court admonishes the prosecutors for their behavior,
no remedy exists to prevent prosecutors from deliberately putting known targets of
an investigation before the Grand Jury and subjecting them to either confessing
(under oath) in that coercive atmosphere or committing perjury.
A.
The Government Objectively Knew Sexton Was a “Target.”
The USAM defines a target as “a person as to whom the prosecutor or the
Grand Jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a
crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defendant.”
(ER476.) By any objective standard—and regardless of whether this is a question
of law or question of fact—it cannot be meaningfully disputed the Government
knew Sexton was a “target” of the Grand Jury investigation. The Government
claims that, prior to his second Grand Jury appearance on November 28, 2012,
Sexton was not considered a “target” because he only had been “interviewed on
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 23 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
24/41
- 19 -
topics unrelated to [Inmate] Brown.” (GAB56.) This is patently untrue and any
claim to the contrary would be wrong under either a clearly erroneous or a de novo
standard.
On August 29, 2012, Sexton met with FBI Special Agents and an AUSA.
(GER1783.) At this meeting, according to the Government, Sexton allegedly
explained that he “participated in LASD’s attempts at hiding inmate Anthony
Brown (“Brown”) from FBI Agents.” Id. On November 16, 2012, two weeks
before the second Grand Jury appearance, the prosecutor and two FBI Special
Agents again interviewed Sexton. (GER1799-1807.) According to the FBI
memorandum memorializing the interview, Sexton specifically admitted, inter
alia, to following Undersheriff Tanaka’s orders regarding Inmate Brown’s
treatment (particularly, in view of the federal Writ), including using the LASD
computer system to alter Inmate Brown’s name and edit his file “jacket.”
(GER1800-03.) At this same meeting, Sexton described how a cellular phone was
found in Inmate Brown’s possession and that “[a]fter the phone was found,
[Inmate] Brown was frequently moved around[.]” (GER1801.)
Additionally, the Government contends that prior to his second Grand Jury
appearance, Sexton never admitted that a “federal writ or court order” motivated
Inmate Brown’s movements and name changes within the LASD system, and thus
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 24 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
25/41
- 20 -
the Government did not know he was a target of their investigation. (GAB57,
emphasis added.) Again, this is demonstrably false.
At the same November 16, 2012 meeting with the FBI and AUSA, and
according to the FBI’s own record of the conversation, Sexton explained that he
had “heard there was a federal writ issued for [Inmate] Brown, [and] it was [his]
understanding that . . . LASD was attempting to play a dueling court order game.”
(GER1803.) Sexton proceeded to tell the FBI agents and AUSA that “[o]ne day
after the writ was issued, [Deputy] Smith called . . . OSJ deputies to tell them they
should take whatever steps necessary if the FBI or United States Attorney came to
take Brown into their custody.” Id.
The fact that Sexton told the Government about his knowledge of the
“federal writ” weeks before he was ordered before the Grand Jury was more than
sufficient for the prosecution to have determined that he was a target of their
investigation into obstruction of “some aspect of the Government’s judicial
function.” United States v. Tham, 960 F.2d 1391, 1400 (9th Cir. 1992). The
Government, therefore, was not allowed to summon Sexton to testify before the
Grand Jury because he was a “putative defendant” or target of the investigation.
(ER476 (citing USAM, §9-11.151).)
Further, during the second trial, the Government made numerous references
to Sexton’s alleged confessions prior to his second Grand Jury testimony,
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 25 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
26/41
- 21 -
disproving its own argument that the Government did not consider him to be a
target prior to his November 28, 2012 Grand Jury testimony:
•
“First interview, Agent Dahle:
5
‘Sexton took part in hiding AnthonyBrown from the FBI.’” (GER925.)
• “November 16, 2012 . . . So Leah Marx’s first interview of James
Sexton: Sexton talked about how he was involved in this early[.]”(GER923-24.)
•
“Sexton also talked about his concealment. This is his guilty conscience .
. . November 16th interview, Leah Marx: ‘Sexton took steps to ensurethat Brown’s name was not in the LASD books.’” (GER926.)
•
“What about his own corrupt intent? His own corrupt intent? Remember
him – you heard this in the interview that Leah Marx [November 16,
2012] conducted of him. Sexton said that he would use Deputy Teixeirato get around Deputy Tara Hadley Adams.” (GER928.)
• “Agent Dahle interviews Sexton ten days later [November 26, 2012, two
days before Sexton’s second Grand Jury appearance]. He says somethingentirely consistent.” (GER924.)
The record belies the Government’s claims that Sexton did not become a
target of the investigation until after his second Grand Jury appearance.
B. The USAM Explicitly Requires Prosecutors to Provide Target
Warnings.
The USAM states that while a Grand Jury may properly subpoena a subject
or target of an investigation, that right is limited due to the potential for the
appearance of unfairness. (ER474.) Thus, before a target is subpoenaed, it is
United States Department of Justice policy to “advise a Grand Jury witness of his
5Agent Dahle interviewed Sexton on August 29, 2012. (GER1770.)
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 26 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
27/41
- 22 -
or her rights if such a witness is a ‘target’ or ‘subject’ of a Grand Jury
investigation.” (ER476.)
The Government may not now attempt to sidestep the notice requirement by
claiming that it had not decided to prosecute Sexton until after he testified before
the Grand Jury. The USAM is not so limited. A target must be notified of his
status and rights prior to being subpoenaed for Grand Jury testimony. That did not
occur here. The Government specifically advised Sexton, and his counsel, that he
was not a target of the investigation (a claim that was false). (ER458 at ¶¶ 4-5;
ER459 at ¶ 9 (Sexton’s prior counsel stated under penalty of perjury that “it was
obvious to me that I had been misled and James Sexton had always been a target
defendant”).)
By its own admissions—particularly given its reliance on the evidence at
trial—the Government believed it had sufficient facts linking Sexton to a crime. It,
therefore, had a duty to notify Sexton (or counsel) of his target status prior to
obtaining a sworn “confession.”
C.
Due Process Requires Federal Courts to Exercise Supervisory
Authority over Grand Jury Procedural Rules Governing
Defendants.
It is only under the federal courts’ supervision that the United States
Attorney’s Office may use the Grand Jury’s investigatory power, and that power is
limited by the courts’ responsibility to ensure that the “assurances of the United
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 27 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
28/41
- 23 -
States Attorneys [are translated] into consistent performance by their assistants.”
United States v. Jacobs, 547 F.2d 772, 778 (2d Cir. 1976) (citing United States v.
Costello, 350 U.S. 359 (1956) (emphasis in original)). The Grand Jury has
historically been a “shield against arbitrary or oppressive action, by insuring that
serious criminal accusations will be brought only upon the considered judgment of
a representative body of citizens acting under oath and under judicial instruction
and guidance.” United States v. Mandujano, 425 U.S. 564, 571 (1976).
Here, the Government misused the District Court’s authority over the Grand
Jury by compelling the Grand Jury testimony of a target of an investigation. The
Government also put three of Sexton’s co-defendants before that same Grand Jury
(without warnings) before subsequently indicting them. Such repeated and
egregious conduct justifies this Court exercising its supervisory power to suppress
Sexton’s Grand Jury testimony for the Government’s failure to follow binding
USAM guidance. See, e.g. , United States v. Jacobs, 547 F.2d at 778 (suppressing
Grand Jury testimony where defendant was not provided with a target notice);
United States v. Estepa, 471 F.2d 1132, 1137 (2d Cir. 1972) (reversing following
improper presentation of evidence before the Grand Jury).
Contrary to the Government’s assertion, Sexton is not seeking to have this
Court impermissibly “prescribe” standards of prosecutorial conduct. (GAB62
(citing United States v. Williams, 504 U.S. 36, 45 (1992).) Williams is
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 28 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
29/41
- 24 -
distinguishable. The issue there was whether a district court may dismiss an
indictment when the Government failed to disclose to the Grand Jury exculpatory
evidence in its possession. Id. at 37-38. Exculpatory evidence to the Grand Jury is
not at issue here. Instead, Sexton asks the Court to exercise its supervisory power
to ensure that this District’s USAO not compel putative defendants’ testimony
before the Grand Jury.
United States v. Washington, 431 U.S. 181, 190 (1977) is also inapposite. In
Washington, the Supreme Court found that target warnings are not constitutionally
required when the interrogation is not conducted in an “inherently coercive
setting.” Washington emphasized that the respondent was on notice that he was a
suspect because he was made “aware that his exculpatory version of events had
been disbelieved,” and the prosecutor made it clear during an interview that his
“implausible story” was not accepted as true. Id. at 189.
Unlike Washington, the Government knew that Sexton was a target and
deliberately misled him. (ER458 at ¶ 4.) Nor is there evidence, during Sexton’s
testimony to prosecutors, that he was “abundantly aware” that prosecutors found
him to be incredible. Much the opposite, Sexton believed he was not a target but a
witness, because that’s what the Government told his counsel.
The Government’s deliberate lulling of Sexton should not be countenanced.
“Lack of candor by government prosecutors in making disclosures can in some
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 29 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
30/41
- 25 -
instances amount to a due process violation[;]” United States v. Crocker , 568 F.2d
1049, 1056 (3d Cir. 1977); and due process exists to ensure that similarly situated
defendants are treated the same. Griffith v. Kentucky, 479 U.S. 314, 323 (1987).
Here, the Government failed to follow its own publicly available USAM,6 and treat
Sexton with candor. Having been singled out for unfair treatment—another
indication of how far this turf war went—Sexton’s Grand Jury testimony should be
suppressed.
V.
THE DISTRICT COURT ERRED IN EXCLUDING TESTIMONYREGARDING THE GOVERNMENT’S WITHDRAWAL OF A WRIT.
A. Evidence of the Writ’s Withdrawal Was Permitted During the
First Trial, but Excluded from the Second.
On or about August 25, 2011, the Court issued a Writ compelling the
production of Inmate Brown for testimony before the Grand Jury on September 7,
2011. (ER257.)During the first trial, Sexton introduced evidence that, four days
after the Writ was issued, Sheriff Baca met with then-United States Attorney
André Birotte to discuss the investigation into the LASD. (ER200-203.)
Following this meeting, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Carlos Narro testified that
“there [were] discussions about holding off on some subpoenas and stuff.” (ER190
at 702:17-23.) Then, SSA Narro testified that AUSA Lawrence Middleton (who
6 The Supreme Court recently stated that the USAM is supposed to guide
prosecutors’ decisions. Torres v. Lynch, 578 U.S. ___, (2016) (“when U. S.Attorneys have jurisdiction, they are generally to defer to, rather than supplant,
state prosecutions of serious offenses. [citing the USAM]”.)
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 30 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
31/41
- 26 -
was overseeing the investigation into the LASD) told him that, on August 29,
2011, “the writ for Anthony Brown had been withdrawn[.]” (ER354.) SSA Narro
explained:
Q: So Mr. Middleton told you that the writ had beenwithdrawn . . .
A. That was my understanding. The investigation as
a whole was going to be halted. . . .
. . .
Q. As you sit here today, do you have any informationthat would lead you to believe that that delay impededyour investigation?
A. Not that I know of.
(ER354-356 at 797:14-799:22.).7
Because the Writ was withdrawn four days after being issued, the
Government was not expecting Inmate Brown to appear for Grand Jury testimony,
and the FBI investigation had been suspended; it would have been reasonable for
the jury to infer that Sexton could not have committed obstruction.
Prior to Sexton’s second trial, however, the Government moved to exclude
evidence that the Writ had been withdrawn. (ER309-317.) During trial, the
7In Sexton’s second trial, AUSA Middleton disputed that he told SSA Narro theWrit had been withdrawn. (GAB66.) AUSA Middleton previously admitted,
however, that he told the Federal Marshals Service “not to pursue it [the Writ] untilfurther notice.” (GER1422 at 779:22.) The second jury was not allowed to hear
SSA Narro’s contrary testimony.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 31 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
32/41
- 27 -
District Court granted the Government’s motion, holding that because the Court
did not know of any evidence suggesting that the withdrawal of the Writ was
communicated to the LASD, the Court would preclude any evidence as to the
withdrawal. (ER41 at 650:8-21.)
B. The Trial Court Erred in Excluding Evidence Related to the
Withdrawal of the Writ.
The Government begins its defense on this issue by trying to lower this
Court’s standard of review. (GAB67.) Citing no law, the Government claims this
Court should review only under an abuse of discretion standard not a de novo
standard. While the Government loses regardless of standard, the Government is
wrong. Here, legal issues predominate regarding whether the LASD’s knowledge
of the termination of the Grand Jury investigation is sufficient to negate the
elements required to establish obstruction of justice. The District Court’s
suppression of evidence turned not on factual disputes, or discretionary
determinations. (ER41 at 650:8-21.) It turned on its understanding of the
underlying charge and materiality—legal questions requiring de novo review. Id.;
see also United States v. Chu Kong Yin, 935 F.2d 990, 994 (9th Cir. 1991)
(explaining de novo review); United States v. Marbella, 73 F.3d 1508, 1515 (9th
Cir. 1996) (same).
Notwithstanding the standard of review, the Government asserts that, even if
the Writ had been withdrawn prior to Inmate Brown’s scheduled Grand Jury
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 32 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
33/41
- 28 -
appearance, the withdrawal would not impact whether Sexton’s acts obstructed a
Grand Jury investigation. (GAB68.) This argument fundamentally misapprehends
the legal requirements for obstruction of justice, which demands that obstruction at
least be a theoretically possible result of the defendant’s actions. See 18 U.S.C. §
1503(a); see Tham, 960 F.2d at 1400 (“Obstruction of justice requires acts to
thwart some aspect of the Government’s judicial function.”).
While actual obstruction is not an element of proof, the act must be
“material” and have the “capability” of obstructing justice. United States v. Bonds,
784 F.3d 582, 585 (9th Cir. 2015). Specifically, the “government must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that the charged conduct was capable of influencing a
decisionmaking person or entity—for example, by causing it to cease its
investigation, pursue different avenues of inquiry, or reach a different outcome.”
Id.
Here, the jury should have had the opportunity to hear evidence related to
the Writ’s withdrawal to make a determination regarding whether Sexton’s actions
could have impeded a Grand Jury that no longer sought Inmate Brown’s testimony.
Because the Writ had been withdrawn, Sexton’s actions likely had no consequence.
The Government’s reliance on United States v. Rasheed , 663 F.2d 843 (9th
Cir. 1981), is misplaced. In Rasheed , the defendant destroyed documents of which
the prosecutors were unaware and subsequently received a notice that her
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 33 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
34/41
- 29 -
production duties under the Grand Jury subpoena had been satisfied. Id. at 853.
The Government focuses on the Rasheed court’s statement that the offense had
been committed when the order to destroy documents was issued. Id.
As above, Sexton did not issue, but simply followed, lawfully-issued orders.
In addition, there is no evidence that Inmate Brown would have never been made
available to the Grand Jury upon request (unlike the documents that were
destroyed). An analysis of materiality under Section 1503 requires an analysis of
the charged conduct and “the context in which [it was] made[.]” Bonds, 784 F.3d
at 585 (9th Cir. 2015) (Konzinski, J. concurring) (citations omitted). Here, that
context shows a defendant following orders he believed to be lawful, regarding a
witness the Grand Jury ultimately never wanted to hear from. The evidence was
material.
The same analysis applies to United States v. Ladum, 141 F.3d 1328, 1339
(9th Cir. 1998). In Ladum, the defendant created false records that were never
presented to the Grand Jury. No similar facts occurred here.
Rather, Sexton was charged with keeping a witness from the Grand Jury
when the facts—had the jury been allowed to hear them—would have shown that
the Grand Jury no longer wanted to hear from Inmate Brown. With a hung jury in
the first trial (when this evidence came in) and a conviction in the second (when
kept from the jury) this evidence is very probative and its exclusion was not
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 34 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
35/41
- 30 -
harmless. Macias, 789 F.3d at 1028; United States v. Thompson, 37 F.3d 450, 454
(9th Cir. 1994) (previous hung jury is “persuasive evidence that the district court’s
error affected the verdict”).
Due to the District Court’s exclusion of testimony regarding the Writ’s
withdrawal, the trier of fact was precluded from determining whether Sexton’s
actions had the natural and probable effect of impeding the Grand Jury. See ER32
(“[T]he government must prove that the defendant’s actions would have had the
natural and probable effect of interfering with the due administration of justice.”).
Such an error was not harmless, particularly in light of the six-to-six hung jury in
the first trial (where the information was admitted) and the conviction in the
second trial (where the information was excluded).
The prejudicial error warrants a reversal and remand here.
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 35 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
36/41
- 31 -
VI. CONCLUSION.
For the foregoing reasons, Appellant Sexton respectfully requests that this
Court reverse his conviction.
DATED: May 20, 2016 PAUL HASTINGS LLP
By: /s/
THOMAS P. O’BRIEN
THOMAS P. O’BRIEN (SB# 166369)
KATHRYN C. WANNER (SB# 269310)
PAUL HASTINGS LLP515 South Flower Street
Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071-2228Telephone: 1(213) 683-6000
Facsimile: 1(213) 627-0705
Attorneys for AppellantJames Sexton
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 36 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
37/41
- 32 -
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that the attached Appellant’s Reply Brief uses a 14 point Times
New Roman font and contains 6,998 words, exclusive of the table of contents,
table of citations, addenda, and certificates of counsel, relying on the word count of
the computer program used to prepare Appellant’s Reply Brief.
DATED: May 20, 2016 PAUL HASTINGS LLP
515 South Flower Street
Twenty-Fifth FloorLos Angeles, CA 90071-2228
THOMAS P. O’BRIENKATHRYN C. WANNER
By: /s/
Thomas P. O’Brien
Attorneys for AppellantJames Sexton
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 37 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
38/41
- 33 -
ADDENDUM OF RELEVANT CITED STATUTES
Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3) ............................................................ Addendum 1
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(a) ............................................. Addendum 2
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 38 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
39/41
- 34 -
Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3)
Rule 803(3). Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay--Regardless of Whether
the Declarant Is Available as a Witness.
The following are not excluded by the rule against hearsay, regardless of whether
the declarant is available as a witness:
. . .
(3) Then-Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical Condition.A statement of thedeclarant's then-existing state of mind (such as motive, intent, or plan) or
emotional, sensory, or physical condition (such as mental feeling, pain, or bodilyhealth), but not including a statement of memory or belief to prove the fact
remembered or believed unless it relates to the validity or terms of the declarant'swill.
ADDENDUM 1
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 39 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
40/41
- 35 -
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(a)
Rule 52(a). Harmless and Plain Error.
Any error, defect, irregularity, or variance that does not affect substantial rightsmust be disregarded.
ADDENDUM 2
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 40 of 41
-
8/16/2019 5-20-16 -- James Sexton Reply Brief
41/41
I hereby certify that I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of the Court for the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by using the appellate CM/ECF system
on (date) .
I certify that all participants in the case are registered CM/ECF users and that service will be
accomplished by the appellate CM/ECF system.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICEWhen All Case Participants are Registered for the Appellate CM/ECF System
I hereby certify that I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of the Court for the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by using the appellate CM/ECF system
on (date) .
Participants in the case who are registered CM/ECF users will be served by the appellate
CM/ECF system.
I further certify that some of the participants in the case are not registered CM/ECF users. I
have mailed the foregoing document by First-Class Mail, postage prepaid, or have dispatched it
to a third party commercial carrier for delivery within 3 calendar days to the following
non-CM/ECF participants:
Signature (use "s/" format)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
When Not All Case Participants are Registered for the Appellate CM/ECF System
9th Circuit Case Number(s)
*******************************************************************************
NOTE: To secure your input, you should print the filled-in form to PDF (File > Print > PDF Printer/Creator ).
*******************************************************************************
s/Thomas P. O'Brien
14-50583
May 20, 2016
Case: 14-50583, 05/20/2016, ID: 9984665, DktEntry: 48, Page 41 of 41