United States v. Lamour

Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
12-26-2006
USA v. Lamour
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 05-4961
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
____________
No. 05-4961
____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
OBENS LAMOUR
a/k/a “ROB”
Obens Lamour,
Appellant
____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware
(D.C. No. 03-cr-00022-1)
District Judge: Honorable Sue L. Robinson
____________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
December 12, 2006
Before: FISHER and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges,
and BUCKWALTER,* District Judge.
(Filed: December 26, 2006)
____________
OPINION OF THE COURT
____________
*
The Honorable Ronald L. Buckwalter, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
BUCKWALTER, District Judge.
On August 3, 2005, following a trial by jury which began on August 1, 2005,
Obens Lamour was found guilty of Armed Bank Robbery (18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d));
Conspiracy to Commit Armed Bank Robbery (18 U.S.C. § 37); and Brandishing a
Firearm During a Crime of Violence (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)).
On November 3, 2005, he was sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment of
130 months. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. For reasons which
follow, we will affirm the conviction.
I.
The trial testimony in this case consisted primarily of:
(1) Two bank employees, both of whom identified Lamour1 as the person
carrying a gun which looked like a real gun and taking money from the bank;
(2) Co-conspirator Cornell Tribbitt who described Lamour as one of the two
men who went inside the bank. He also testified that later in the day after the bank
robbery, Lamour showed him his gun, a .40 caliber weapon;
(3) Lamour himself who testified that he was forced to participate in the
robbery by threats that he would be shot if he did not (SA:215); and
(4) The surveillance tape admitted into evidence showing Lamour in the bank
at various locations.
1
The one teller said that Lamour seems to resemble the gunman but was not sure.
2
II.
There are no non-frivolous issues presented for review. Counsel for Lamour has
filed an Anders brief pursuant to our Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a), together with a
motion to withdraw which we will grant. Lamour has filed a pro se “Formal Brief for
Pro Se Appellant” and a “Formal Reply Brief for Pro Se Appellant.”
Initially, we note that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions on all
counts, based upon a review of that evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution. United States v. Messerlian, 832 F.2d 778, 789 (3d Cir. 1987) (quoting
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979)).
The verdict must be sustained if “‘any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id. (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at
319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789).
Secondly, our review of the issues raised by Lamour in the briefs he filed on his
own behalf leads to the conclusion that they are all without merit.2
2
Lamour in his pro se brief devotes a considerable amount of argument to the
testimony regarding the gun allegedly used during the robbery. While it is correct that no
gun was ever found by the prosecution and introduced into evidence, as pointed out in
U.S. v. Beverly, 99 F.3d 570, 572, the production of the actual gun is not necessary.
Testimony regarding a gun and describing it is sufficient to sustain a conviction. In this
case, the one teller testified (SA:126):
Q. At any time did you manage to get a look at the gunman’s face?
A. Not that clearly.
Q. Why not?
A. Because I was too preoccupied with the gun and what was happening.
Q. Now, had you seen a gun before October 4, 2002?
A. Yes. I’ve seen guns before.
3
First, he claims that the aiding and abetting instruction given by the District Court
constituted an improper amendment to the indictment. Actually, the charge was listed in
Count One (SA:27) of the indictment and the charge regarding it was proper.
Second, Lamour stated the trial judge allowed the prosecutor to use a myriad of
improper methods calculated to produce an unfair trial. It appears that this myriad of
improper methods is primarily directed at the manner in which the government presented
identification testimony and, according to Lamour, improperly vouched for the credibility
of a witness.
As to the identification testimony, a review of the trial testimony reveals no
improper or suggestive identification procedures. It does reveal that there was some
discrepancy in the testimony of the one teller who identified the defendant and the
detective who showed her the photo array. The teller said she was shown two photo
arrays, but the detective testified to only one. (Actually, the fact of Lamour being in the
bank is admitted by him in his testimony, albeit he claims coercion).
Q. Have you handled guns before?
A. Yes, I have.
Q. Have you shot them before?
A. Yes, I have.
Q. What type?
A. Let’s see. I’ve shot a Ruger .357.
Q. Okay. Did this gun look like a real gun to you?
A. It looked real to me.
In addition, there was the testimony of another teller who responded “yes” to the
question, “Did it look like a real gun?” (SA:97). Tribbitt, one of the co-conspirators also
testified about Lamour’s possession of a real gun on the day of the robbery. (SA:170,
181).
4
Next, Lamour is mistaken when he suggests improper “bolstering the credibility of
the star witness” (pro se brief p. 15). The argument of the government in this regard
(SA:270) was a proper reference to matters the jury should consider in weighing
credibility and no personal opinion was expressed.
Third, Lamour in his pro se brief alleges violation of his right to a speedy trial
under the Sixth Amendment. He also alleges Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations.
With regard to the Sixth Amendment issue, Lamour does not contest the facts
alleged in the government’s brief; namely,
(1) He was a fugitive until his arrest in Louisiana on March 1, 2005.
(2) On March 3, 2005, he was ordered detained and transferred back to
Delaware.
(3) On March 24, 2005, he made his initial appearance in the District of
Delaware.
(4) On March 31, 2005, he was ordered detained pending trial.
(5) On March 31, 2005, he was arraigned and requested and received until
May 19, 2005 to file pretrial motions.
(6) Time was excluded under the Speedy Trial Act until June 6, 2005.
(7) On June 6, 2005, the District Court held a status conference. Defense
counsel advised the court that his client was possibly interested in a plea and requested
additional time.
5
(8) The District Court granted an extension until July 7, 2005 and this
additional time was excluded until July 7, 2005, the date of the next status conference.
(9) On July 7, 2005, the District Court set the trial date for August 1, 2005 and
excluded time under the Speedy Trial Act until that date at which time the trial began.
There is no Sixth Amendment or Speedy Trial Act violation based upon those
facts.
Lamour’s alleged Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations have no support in the
record. There was no evidence seized from defendant or post-arrest statements taken.3
III.
Based upon the foregoing analysis, we will affirm the judgment of the District
Court. We also grant the motion of counsel to withdraw.
3
Lamour also makes several claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, matters
which may not ordinarily be raised on direct appeal.
6