Robert Darrell YEARGAIN, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit1963-03-11No. No. 18186

314 F.2d 881

Summary · law.co

Holding. The trial court properly submitted the question of appellant's guilty knowledge and intent to the jury as a factual matter, and the partial denial of the bill of particulars did not prejudice appellant's substantial rights or prevent him from receiving a fair trial. The convictions are affirmed.

Appellant was convicted of two counts of uttering counterfeit money in violation of federal law. The undisputed evidence showed that counterfeit bills were passed; while appellant's identity as the person who passed them was questioned at trial, this issue is not pursued on appeal. The central question on appeal concerns whether appellant's testimony that he had "washed" a counterfeit $20 bill—testimony contradicted by expert evidence—was sufficient to allow the jury to infer that appellant knew the bills were counterfeit and intended to defraud. The court held this was a factual determination for the jury, and on appellate review, the court views all evidence and reasonable inferences in favor of the government. Appellant also challenged the trial court's partial denial of his bill of particulars request, but the court found no prejudice because appellant received adequate notice of the government's case theory and was informed of the bill recipients eleven days before trial, and made no showing of surprise at trial or request for continuance.

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Key issues

Whether testimony about "washing" counterfeit currency supports an inference of guilty knowledge and fraudulent intent
Whether partial denial of a bill of particulars violated the defendant's right to adequate notice of charges
Standard of appellate review for sufficiency of evidence in counterfeit currency cases

Procedural posture

Appellant appeals his conviction by the trial court for two counts of uttering counterfeit money.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant appeals from a conviction by the trial court of two counts of violating Section 472 of Title 18 United States Code, uttering counterfeit money. It is undisputed that the money passed in each instance was counterfeit. While some question of identification of the appellant as the “passer” was made below, that point, decided adversely to appellant, is not raised on appeal.

The primary question raised is this:

Is the fact appellant testified he ’“washed” a counterfeit $20 bill (a statement proved false by expert testimony, if the expert was believed) sufficient to permit the jury to infer a guilty knowledge on the part of appellant that the "bills were counterfeit, i. e., that he had .an intent to defraud?

We hold this was a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact; a determination we will not disturb. Sandez v. United States, 9 Cir., 1956, 239 F.2d 239. We must view the evidence .and all inferences to be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the government. Glasser v. United States, 1942, 315 U.S. 60, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680; C-O-Two Fire Equip. Co. v. United States, 9 Cir., 1952, 197 F.2d 489, certiorari denied 344 U.S. 892, 73 S.Ct. 211, 97 L.Ed. 690.

A second and secondary question raised is whether the trial court erred in granting two but denying three of the five items requested in a Bill of Particulars.

Items 1 and 2, plus the indictment returned, informed appellant as to (1) the denominations of the two bills; (2) that they were Federal Reserve Notes; (3) the date of passing; (4) the exact time of day; and (5) the state, county, city and exact street location where each bill was allegedly passed.

Denied to appellant were the names of the persons receiving the bills, and the time and place where those who received the bills first “became aware” or “discovered” the bills were counterfeit. Eleven days before trial the government advised appellant’s counsel who the recipient of each bill was.

The purpose of a bill of particulars is to protect a defendant against a second prosecution for an inadequately described offense, and enable him to prepare an intelligent defense. Remmer v. United States, 9 Cir., 1953, 205 F.2d 277, 281. A defendant is not entitled to know all the evidence the government intends to produce, but only the theory of the government’s case. Remmer v. United States, supra, p. 282; United States v. Caserta, 3 Cir., 1952, 199 F.2d 905.

The granting or refusal to grant the bill of particulars is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court. Wong Tai v. United States, 1927, 273 U. S. 77,47 S.Ct. 300, 71 L.Ed. 545; Rodella v. United States, 9 Cir., 1960, 286 F.2d 306, 310, certiorari denied 365 U.S. 889, 81 S.Ct. 1042, 6 L.Ed.2d 199.

Its function is not to provide a defendant with names of government witnesses. Duke v. United States, 9 Cir., 1958, 255 F.2d 721, 729.

Appellant’s substantial rights were not prejudiced, and no showing of surprise was made at the trial, nor any continuance asked. Williams v. United States, 9 Cir., 1961, 289 F.2d 598; Schino v. United States, 9 Cir., 1954, 209 F.2d 67, 69-70.

A reading of the entire transcript clearly indicates appellant received a fair trial. No error has been established.

The convictions are Affirmed.

. “§ 472. Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities

“Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both.”