Opinion
CASE NO. 18-20403
08-08-2019
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. DOMINIQUE TRUMBO, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT'S ORAL MOTIONS FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL
On July 26, 2019, at sidebar after the Government completed its case-in-chief, Defendant indicated that he would like to preserve the right to make a motion at the close of the case. The Court permitted Defendant to do so.
On July 29, 2019, after the close of the proofs, Defendant made: (1) an oral motion for acquittal with respect to the Government's case-in-chief, and (2) an oral motion for acquittal based on all of the proofs. The Government stated that it opposed both oral motions based on the evidence admitted at trial.
To support a motion for judgment of acquittal, the court must consider, "whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Caseer, 399 F.3d 828, 839-40 (6th Cir. 2005); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). A defendant claiming insufficiency of the evidence bears a heavy burden. United States v. Jackson, 473 F.33d 660, 669 (6th Cir. 2007). The Court is bound to make all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in support of the jury's verdict. Id. at 669-70. The question is merely one of legal sufficiency; the court does not substitute its judgment for that of the jury, independently weigh the evidence, or judge the credibility of trial witnesses. United States v. Ramirez, 635 F.3d 249, 255-56 (6th Cir. 2011). There is a strong presumption in favor of sustaining a jury conviction. United States v. Peters, 15 F.3d 540, 544 (6th Cir. 1994).
Having heard all of the testimony and viewed all of the evidence admitted at Defendant's trial in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the Court concludes that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of each of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Defendant's oral motions for judgment of acquittal made by Defendant on July 30, 2019 are DENIED.
IT IS ORDERED.
S/Denise Page Hood
DENISE PAGE HOOD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE August 8, 2019