Opinion
Cr. No. 14-20007
06-05-2014
United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Walter Louis Bridges, Jr., Defendant.
Honorable Sean Cox
ORDER DENYING
DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL
This matter is currently before the Court on Defendant Walter Louis Bridge's oral Motion for Judgment of Acquittal Pursuant to Rule 29. Defendant seeks acquittal as to all five counts in the Indictment
In considering a motion for judgment of acquittal under FED. R. CRIM. P. 29, this Court must determine whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could find the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Abner, 35 F.3d 251, 253 (6th Cir. 1994); United States v. Meyer, 359 F.3d 820, 826 (6th Cir. 1979). In doing so, the Court does not weight the evidence, consider the credibility of witnesses, or substitute its judgment for that of the jury. Id.
The Sixth Circuit has explained that a defendant claiming insufficiency of the evidence "bears a very heavy burden." Abner, 35 F.3d at 253. On review, all evidence must be construed in a manner most favorable to the Government.
Having considered Defendant's motion, and having reviewed the stipulations in this case, and viewing the evidence presented at trial in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the Court concludes that a rational trier of fact could find the essential elements of all of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Defendant Bridge's Motion for Judgment of Acquittal is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Sean F. Cox
United States District Judge
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record on August 6, 2012, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
Jennifer McCoy
Case Manager