Commonwealth v. Arthur Mellen. ( 2023 )

NOTICE: Summary decisions issued by the Appeals Court pursuant to M.A.C. Rule
23.0, as appearing in 97 Mass. App. Ct. 1017 (2020) (formerly known as rule 1:28,
as amended by 73 Mass. App. Ct. 1001 [2009]), are primarily directed to the parties
and, therefore, may not fully address the facts of the case or the panel's
decisional rationale. Moreover, such decisions are not circulated to the entire
court and, therefore, represent only the views of the panel that decided the case.
A summary decision pursuant to rule 23.0 or rule 1:28 issued after February 25,
2008, may be cited for its persuasive value but, because of the limitations noted
above, not as binding precedent. See Chace v. Curran, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 258, 260
n.4 (2008).
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
APPEALS COURT
21-P-1102
COMMONWEALTH
vs.
ARTHUR MELLEN.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER PURSUANT TO RULE 23.0
On July 19, 2018, the defendant's fiancé called the police
after learning that the defendant may have been suicidal and
that her handgun was missing. Norwood police officers responded
to the call and found the defendant passed out in a lawn chair
in the backyard of a side-by-side duplex, the right side of
which he shared with his fiancé, holding his fiancé's handgun.
The defendant was tried on two counts of a five-count
indictment: carrying a firearm without a firearm identification
card (count two) and larceny of a firearm (count three). 1 On
1 Count one of the indictment, alleging the carrying of a loaded
firearm without a license, was nolle prossed on December 10,
2019, the first day of trial. The defendant's motion to dismiss
count four of the indictment, seeking a sentencing enhancement
for the commission of a firearm violation with one prior
conviction of a violent or drug crime, was granted prior to
trial, on November 18, 2019. Count five of the indictment, for
carrying a firearm without a license (second offense), was
count two of the indictment, the jury found the defendant guilty
of the lesser-included offense of possession of a firearm; on
count three the defendant was found not guilty. After argument,
we stayed this appeal pending proceedings in the Supreme
Judicial Court in Commonwealth v. Guardado, 491 Mass. 666 (2023)
(Guardado I), S.C., 493 Mass. 1 (2023) (Guardado II). Because
the Commonwealth presented no evidence at trial as to
nonlicensure, the Commonwealth acknowledges, and the defendant
agrees, that in light of Guardado I, 491 Mass. at 668, the
defendant's conviction of the lesser-included offense of
unlawful possession of a firearm in violation of G. L. c. 269,
§ 10 (h), should be vacated. We also agree that if the
Commonwealth elects to retry the defendant on this count of the
indictment, see Guardado II, 493 Mass. at 7, double jeopardy
principles require that he may be tried only for the lesser-
included offense. 2 We address the defendant's other claims of
error to the extent they may arise in any subsequent retrial.
1. Voir dire. After exchanging proposed attorney voir
dire questions, the parties each agreed, at the final pretrial
conference, that they had no objections to the other's
dismissed at the request of the Commonwealth on December 13,
2019, following trial.
2 We decline the defendant's invitation to order entry of a not
guilty finding as to counts one, four, and five of the
indictment. See note 1, supra.
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questions. During empanelment the Commonwealth asked its
proposed questions without objection, including question four,
"Do you understand and accept that, as a juror, your only duty
is to determine the facts of the case?" After the jurors were
seated, defense counsel noted at side bar that while he did not
think any of the jurors were "really misled" by question four,
he asked that when the judge instructed the jury, the judge make
clear that the jurors' job included more than just determining
the facts. The judge agreed, and as requested, provided proper
instruction on the role of the jury at least four times after
empanelment. On appeal, the defendant argues that question four
was improper, as a juror's role includes more than just
determining the facts of the case, and that the trial judge
abused his discretion by permitting it to be asked. The
Commonwealth rightly conceded at argument that the question
standing alone was not correct.
Here, defense counsel did not object to the question when
it was proposed or after it was asked. Instead, he asked that
the judge provide some further instruction to the jury that they
apply the law as given to them by the judge; the judge provided
that instruction repeatedly. As a result, the defendant's claim
is waived. See Commonwealth v. Vickery, 82 Mass. App. Ct. 234,
235 (2012) ("acquiescence of defense counsel to actions taken by
the trial judge can constitute a waiver of any objection to the
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judge's actions"). In any event, because we presume that jurors
follow instructions, Commonwealth v. Anderson, 445 Mass. 195,
214 (2005), and the judge explained the jury's role, any harm to
the defendant resulting from the question "was cured by the
judge's instructions to the jury." Commonwealth v. Horn, 23
Mass. App. Ct. 319, 325 (1987). "[A]ny error was not 'of a type
and seriousness which should lead [the court] to reverse in the
absence of a proper [objection]'" (citation omitted). Id.
2. Jury nullification instruction. During the trial,
defense counsel requested an instruction on jury nullification,
which the judge denied. A defendant does not have a right to a
jury nullification instruction; there was no error. See
Commonwealth v. Kirwan, 448 Mass. 304, 319 (2007) (no error in
failing to provide jury nullification instruction as "[j]ury
nullification is inconsistent with a jury's duty to return a
guilty verdict of the highest crime proved beyond a reasonable
doubt"). 3
Conclusion. In light of Guardado I, 491 Mass. at 668, the
defendant's conviction of unlawfully possessing a firearm in
3 At the close of the Commonwealth's case, and again after the
close of all the evidence, the defendant moved for a required
finding of not guilty as to the larceny and carrying charges,
conceding that the evidence was sufficient to find him guilty of
possession of a firearm. As the jury acquitted the defendant of
larceny and carrying charges, any error in the denial of the
motions was harmless. See Commonwealth v. Cook, 419 Mass. 192,
204 (1994).
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violation of G. L. c. 269, § 10 (h), is vacated, and the verdict
is set aside.
So ordered.
By the Court (Milkey,
Massing & Henry, JJ. 4),
Clerk
Entered: December 6, 2023.
4 The panelists are listed in order of seniority.
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