From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

United States v. Donahey

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 3, 1976
529 F.2d 831 (5th Cir. 1976)

Summary

holding that government is entitled to withdraw from plea bargain where defendant is in breach

Summary of this case from State v. Hogue

Opinion

No. 75-2376.

April 5, 1976. Rehearing Denied May 3, 1976.

Arthur B. Stark, Miami, Fla., for defendant-appellant.

Robert W. Rust, U.S. Atty., Donald L. Ferguson, Asst. U.S. Atty., Miami, Fla., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Before GEWIN and AINSWORTH, Circuit Judges, and MARKEY, Chief Judge.

Of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, sitting by designation.


Defendant Denise Donahey appeals from her conviction on Count 1 of the indictment which charged her with violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a). We affirm.

Issues

Defendant asserts that the District Court erred when in (1) failed to require specific performance of a Plea Bargaining Agreement, (2) failed to grant defendant equitable immunity for her Grand Jury testimony, (3) failed to dismiss the indictment because of a denial of fair and impartial consideration before the Grand Jury and (4) misstated the law in its answer to a post-instruction inquiry.

(1) Plea Bargaining Agreement

Donahey was apprehended and found in possession of cocaine. Soon after her arrest the Government entered a Plea Bargaining Agreement with her, signed by the Assistant U.S. Attorney, whereby in exchange for testimony before the Federal Grand Jury and for full cooperation in the prosecution of one Vincent Marotta, the Government would permit Donahey to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and would recommend a sentence of one year probation. Before the trial, the Government indicated that it would prosecute her on all counts of the indictment. At a pre-trial hearing the Government produced several witnesses who testified that Donahey had given evasive and misleading answers, had given answers which could not be verified, and, on numerous occasions, had refused to answer questions at all.

The District Court had ample basis, therefore, for concluding that Donahey had failed to live up to her part of the Plea Bargaining Agreement, thus freeing the Government from its pledge. We find no error in the District Court's refusal to require specific performance by the Government of the Plea Bargaining Agreement.

(2) Equitable Immunity

Donahey testified freely before a Grand Jury on matters which were self-incriminatory. She was not given any cautionary warnings.

In returning the indictment against Donahey, however, the Grand Jury was instructed not to consider her testimony and at trial none of her Grand Jury testimony was used against her. She was in no way prejudiced, therefore, by her testimony or by the lack of cautionary warnings.

Immunity in exchange for testimony is obtainable only by way of a grant from the District Court, 18 U.S.C. § 6003. Donahey knew, as evidenced by the Plea Bargaining Agreement, that she was subject to prosecution on the matters to which she was testifying before the Grand Jury. She appeared and answered questions voluntarily. Donahey says she did so in reliance on the Plea Bargaining Agreement, yet it was she, not the Government, who by her own actions violated the Plea Bargaining Agreement. That fact and the non-use of her Grand Jury testimony against her cause us to agree with the District Court that Donahey was not entitled to equitable immunity.

(3) Indictment

In requesting an indictment against Donahey, the Assistant United States Attorney, realizing that she had not been informed of her right to remain silent, told the Grand Jury to disregard Donahey's testimony. Although failing to inform the defendant of her rights was an error, it was a harmless error, because (1) she was well aware that she was the subject of a criminal investigation and prosecution, and voluntarily testified; (2) an accused has no right to appear before the Grand Jury to state her case; (3) there was sufficient evidence from the testimony of other witnesses from which the Grand Jury could deduce probable cause; and (4) her testimony was not used against her at the subsequent trial. Because her indictment was drawn, and subsequent prosecution proceeded, without reliance on or reference to her Grand Jury testimony, she was not prejudiced and the District Court did not err in failing to dismiss the indictment.

(4) Post-Instruction Inquiry

The District Court's response to the jury's post-instruction inquiry was that the mens rea requirements of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a) are (1) that the importation be knowingly and intentionally made and (2) that she knew the imported substance, stipulated to be cocaine, was a controlled substance. That response was an accurate statement of the applicable law and was consistent with the jury instructions.

Accordingly, the judgment below is affirmed in all respects.


Summaries of

United States v. Donahey

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 3, 1976
529 F.2d 831 (5th Cir. 1976)

holding that government is entitled to withdraw from plea bargain where defendant is in breach

Summary of this case from State v. Hogue

rejecting a similar contention under similar facts

Summary of this case from United States v. Keith

providing evasive, misleading answers, answers which could not be verified, and refusing to answer questions

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Castaneda

In Donahey, the court found that the defendant had breached a cooperation agreement by giving evasive and misleading answers and refusing to answer certain questions.

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Seeright

In United States v. Donahey, 529 F.2d 831 (5 Cir. 1976), the Court recognized that the defendant, "as evidenced by the Plea Bargaining Agreement, * * * was subject to prosecution on the matters to which she was testifying before the grand jury," and, therefore, was not entitled to equitable immunity.

Summary of this case from Rowe v. Griffin

In Donahey, an agreement was struck between the government and defendant which obligated the prosecution to reduce the charges and recommend the minimum sentence in return for information and cooperation in the prosecution of another individual.

Summary of this case from State v. Hovind
Case details for

United States v. Donahey

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, v. DENISE DONAHEY…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: May 3, 1976

Citations

529 F.2d 831 (5th Cir. 1976)

Citing Cases

United States v. Weiss

This exercise of discretion is reviewable for its clear abuse, see Oyler v. Bowles, 368 U.S. 448, 456, 82…

State v. Rivest

". . . [W]hen the prosecution contends that it should be released from its obligations under a plea bargain…