United States v. Wesley Lanham

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
File Name: 10a0261p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
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Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant -
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
(09-5094/5095), --
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Nos. 08-6504/6506;
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09-5094/5095
>
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v.
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WESLEY LANHAM (08-6504; 09-5094);
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SHAWN FREEMAN (08-6506; 09-5095),
Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees. -
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Covington.
Nos. 08-00005-002; 08-00005-003—Danny C. Reeves, District Judge.
Argued: March 5, 2010
Decided and Filed: August 24, 2010
Before: KEITH, BOGGS, and GRIFFIN, Circuit Judges.
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COUNSEL
ARGUED: Martin S. Pinales, STRAUSS & TROY, Cincinnati, Ohio, Randy J.
Blankenship, BLANKENSHIP MASSEY & STEELMAN, PLLC, Erlanger, Kentucky,
for Appellants. Conor B. Dugan, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, D.C., for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Martin S. Pinales, Candace C. Crouse,
STRAUSS & TROY, Cincinnati, Ohio, Randy J. Blankenship, C. Ed Massey,
BLANKENSHIP MASSEY & STEELMAN, PLLC, Erlanger, Kentucky, for Appellants.
Conor B. Dugan, Mark L. Gross, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, D.C., for Appellee.
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OPINION
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DAMON J. KEITH, Circuit Judge. Defendants Wesley Lanham (“Lanham”) and
Shawn Freeman (“Freeman”) were convicted of violating an inmate’s civil rights in
1
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violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242, and making a false entry in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 1519. Defendants were prison jailers when prison inmate, J.S., was raped in jail.
Defendants and their supervisor, Shawn Sydnor (“Sydnor”), decided to “scare” J.S. after
he was arrested for committing a traffic violation, by placing him in a general population
jail cell. Defendants now appeal their convictions and sentences, arguing that there was
insufficient evidence to support their convictions, and Freeman claims that he was
entitled to a downward sentencing departure. The government appeals the district
court’s application of the 2006 Sentencing Guidelines to Defendants’ sentences and
refusal to apply a sentencing enhancement to Lanham. For the reasons discussed herein,
we AFFIRM.
I. BACKGROUND
On February 14, 2003, Defendants Lanham and Freeman were working as
corrections officers at the Grant County, Kentucky, Detention Center. Sergeant Shawn
Sydnor and deputy jailers Jack Powell (“Powell”), Mark Coleman, Wendy Guthrie
(“Guthrie”), and Lula Garrison were also working the same shift, which began on
February 13, 2003, at 11 p.m. and ended on February 14, 2003, at 7 a.m. Lanham and
Freeman were assigned to the Class D section of the Detention Center, and Sydnor was
the supervisor that evening. That evening, J.S. was arrested for a traffic violation and
brought to the Detention Center by Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Allen. J.S. had been speeding
and was arrested for eluding police. Deputy Allen told Sergeant Sydnor that J.S. had
almost hit an off-duty police officer, who was Sydnor’s friend.
J.S. was eighteen years old, six feet tall, and weighed around 125 pounds. He
had blond highlights in his hair, wore a bright shirt, and had heart shapes on his
undershorts. Sydnor described J.S. as a “[s]cared little kid” who was “[s]issy looking.”
(R. 91, Tr. at 51.) When J.S. arrived, Sydnor called Guthrie, Lanham, and Freeman to
come to the booking room to look at J.S.’s hair. During booking, Sydnor, Lanham, and
Freeman teased and laughed at J.S. The officers told J.S. that he looked “like a girl” and
a “sissy,” and they made fun of his highlighted hair and undershorts. (R. 91, Tr. at 54.)
Sydnor told J.S. that he was “cute” and testified that he heard someone tell J.S. that he
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would make a “good girlfriend for the inmates.” (Id. at 55.) J.S. began shaking and
crying. Powell testified that he asked J.S. “what he was thinking, wearing silk heart
shaped boxers in jail on Valentine’s Day.” (R. 86, Tr. at 118.) Powell noted that “[i]t
wasn’t very smart because of the sexual content that could be brought because of it.”
(Id.) J.S. was booked at 1:05 a.m.
Sydnor told Lanham and Freeman that J.S. “needed to be scared.” (Id.) Sydnor
asked them to find J.S. a general population cell. Lanham stated that he “knew a guy
down in 26 Hall” in Cell 101, Bobby Wright. (R. 91, Tr. at 57-58.) The inmates housed
in 26 Hallway included those convicted of misdemeanors and felonies, and 26 Hallway
was known as the “hallway from hell.” (Id. at 59, 64.) Detention Center Nurse Sandy
Cook (“Nurse Cook”) described the inmates there as “almost . . . animalistic,” noting
that “there was so much testosterone . . . it was just a horrible place.” (R. 93, Tr. at 29.)
Sydnor testified that he was aware of instances of inmates expressing concern about
sexual assault; that sexually predatory behavior occurred in the prison; and that 26
Hallway had more incidents of sexually predatory conduct than other areas of the jail.
Jailer Guthrie testified that the Detention Center staff were aware of 26 Hallway’s
violent reputation.
Cell 101, which is located in 26 Hallway, housed felony-convicted prisoners, and
there were between twelve and fourteen inmates in the cell that evening. Among the
prisoners was Victor Zipp, who was known as an intimidating leader in the cell. Zipp
was often naked, and guards frequently had to tell him to put on clothes. Lanham and
Freeman had both worked in 26 Hallway prior to February 13, 2003. Earlier that
evening, Freeman had assisted in the removal of an inmate from Cell 102 in 26 Hallway
whom inmates had beaten up. Bobby Wright testified that the inmates in 26 Hallway
were “pretty rowdy” and “were looking for anything to go down again.” (R. 86, Tr. at
72.)
After Lanham volunteered that he knew an inmate in Cell 101, he and Freeman
left booking and proceeded to 26 Hallway. After they left, Wendy Guthrie told Sydnor,
“please don’t put [J.S.] down there, somebody is going to beat him up.” (R. 92, Tr. at
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132-33.) Sydnor told her that it was none of her business and that he wore the sergeant’s
stripes. Lanham and Freeman proceeded to Cell 101. Inmate Wright went to speak to
Lanham and Freeman, and there were other inmates around the door as well. Lanham
and Freeman were both standing outside the door while they spoke to Wright. Lanham
and Freeman told Wright they were going to bring J.S. down to Cell 101, and Lanham
told Wright they wanted him to “f-ck with” J.S. Freeman shook his head up and down
as Lanham spoke. The other inmates standing close to the door reacted with celebration.
Neither Lanham nor Freeman told the inmates to avoid hurting J.S. Wright testified that
the inmates began behaving in ways that he had never seen before immediately after the
guards told the inmates to “f-ck with” J.S.
Lanham and Freeman returned to the booking area, and Lanham told Sydnor that
he had spoken to Wright and that everything had been “taken care of.” (R. 91, Tr. at 62.)
Sydnor and Powell then escorted J.S. to Cell 101 in 26 Hallway. J.S. was crying.
Sydnor testified that the inmates were “hollering” and being “rowdy and noisy.” (R. 92,
Tr. at 5.) J.S. overheard an inmate call out, “Oh, it’s Valentine’s Day, bring him here.
He’d make a good girlfriend.” (R. 86, Tr. at 37.) Powell heard an inmate describe J.S.
as “pretty” and “cute.” (Id. at 121.) Because of the sexual comments, Powell was
concerned that this area was not safe for J.S. At least three or four inmates waited at the
door when J.S. arrived and as he entered the cell. Some said things like, “He’s so pretty,
bring him in here. We’ve got a nice spot for him.” (Id. at 38.) J.S. said he heard one
of the guards say, “Here you go boys. I got some fresh meat for you.” (Id. at 38-39.)
A guard pushed J.S. into the cell and closed the door.
An inmate then grabbed J.S. around the arm and led him over to a bed. Inmates
played with his hair, saying, “Oh it’s so pretty. I love blond highlights. You look just
like a girl.” (Id. at 39.) Soon after, several inmates picked him up, started taking off his
clothes, and slapped him with their prison flip-flops. J.S. called out for help numerous
times, but no one responded. The inmates then dropped J.S. on his back and took him
into the cell’s shower area. The inmates pushed him against the shower wall and turned
on the hot water; an inmate started beating his head against the wall. J.S. felt a strong
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pain in his buttocks and believed he was being anally raped. Eventually, J.S. got out of
the shower and tried to run towards the door, but he fell on the floor. Zipp came out of
the shower area naked. Some inmates picked J.S. up and started pressing his buttocks
against the cell’s window. Zipp told J.S. he had two choices: “Either get f-cked in the
ass or suck my dick.” (Id. at 44.) J.S. told him that he did not want to do either and said
no several times. An inmate came up behind J.S., punched him in the head, and forced
him to open his mouth. Zipp grabbed J.S. by the hair and forced his penis into J.S.’s
mouth. J.S. bit down as hard as he could, and Zipp withdrew. An inmate hit him in the
head again. After that, J.S. was left alone.
The guards left J.S. in Cell 101 all night and never checked on him. Later that
morning, J.S. was brought to pretrial services. J.S. saw the Detention Center’s nurse,
Nurse Cook, who testified that J.S. told her that “he had been traumatized and he been
raped and he had been abused all night long.” (R. 93, Tr. at 32.) Around 10:00 a.m., J.S.
learned that he would be released from the jail, and his father picked him up. As they
left, J.S. told his father that the jailers had placed him in a cell with other inmates, and
that the inmates had raped him. A day or two later, J.S.’s father brought him to St.
Luke’s Hospital where he was treated for abrasions inside his mouth, bruising on his left
buttocks, and an abrasion on his left lower chin and lower left leg.
Subsequent to February 14, 2003, Lanham admitted that he spoke to Bobby
Wright that night. Lanham admitted that the officers intended to scare J.S. and that they
spoke to Wright about this. He admitted that he participated in the plan for J.S. to be
housed in Cell 101. He also admitted that he knew that the guards had no control over
what happened to J.S. after he was placed into Cell 101. Several witnesses testified that
the general population cells were not safe for someone without prison experience, and
J.S. in particular. Deputy Wendy Guthrie stated that she had no doubt that danger was
awaiting J.S. when he was placed in Cell 101. She was concerned that “he would get
beat up.” (R. 92, Tr. at 13.) Nurse Cook testified that she did not believe that J.S. would
have been safe in 26 Hallway because of its gang members, and that it was inappropriate
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to house him there. Inmate Wright testified that Lanham was aware that the prison
housed violent felons.
During the shift beginning the night of February 14, 2003, Sydnor and the other
officers learned that J.S. had been raped and beaten in the cell. Sydnor fabricated a story
and told Lanham and Freeman to say that they needed to move J.S. to the general
population cells because the detox cells needed to be decontaminated. However, J.S.
was the only prisoner moved out of the detox cells that night, and Sydnor had told
Lanham and Freeman nothing about the detox cell before J.S. was moved. Sydnor and
Powell then signed a false statement that stated that they put J.S. in Cell 101 because
they were decontaminating the detox area. Powell later testified that he never
decontaminated a detox cell nor saw such decontamination that night.
Sydnor also told both Lanham and Freeman that they needed to get their stories
straight about the previous shift and “to be on the same page,” because they all “were
in a lot of trouble.” (R. 92, Tr. at 17.) In response, Lanham wrote and signed a false
statement that the detox cells needed to be emptied on the morning of February 14, 2003,
in order to clean them. Lanham further wrote, falsely, that at the end of his shift, he
asked Sydnor and Wright about J.S. and they told him that J.S. was fine. Freeman wrote
that he and Lanham left the booking area and that they passed through 26 Hallway to do
“a secure check for Sgt. Sydnor.” Sydnor also told Guthrie to write a false statement,
but she refused.
Sydnor, Lanham, and Freeman were subsequently arrested and charged with
violating J.S.’s civil rights and false entry. Sydnor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to
violate J.S.’s civil rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, and conspiracy to commit an
offense against the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The indictment in the
present case against Sydnor was subsequently dismissed, and he cooperated with the
government in its case against Lanham and Freeman. After a jury trial, Freeman and
Lanham were found guilty of conspiracy to violate J.S.’s civil rights in violation of 18
U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242, and making a false entry in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519.
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The Probation Office prepared a Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) for
each defendant. The government and the defendants objected to the PSRs. The
government argued that the more onerous 2008 Sentencing Guidelines applied rather
than the 2002 Guidelines used in the PSR. The government also argued that a four-level
upward adjustment for Lanham’s role as an organizer or leader should apply pursuant
to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1.(a). The PSR proposed a two-level downward adjustment to
Freeman’s sentence, based on his minimal involvement, but that adjustment was
objected to by the government and rejected by the district court. The district court
rejected the government’s request for an upward enhancement for Lanham’s leadership
role and refused to apply the 2008 Guidelines. The court sentenced Lanham to 180
months and Freeman to 168 months in prison.
II. ANALYSIS
1. Jury Selection
A. Standard of Review
A district court’s determinations during jury voir dire are reviewed for an abuse
of discretion. See United States v. Guzman, 450 F.3d 627, 629 (6th Cir. 2006), cert.
denied, 549 U.S. 1185 (2007) (citing United States v. Phibbs, 999 F.2d 1053, 1071 (6th
Cir. 1993)). “Only in the case of manifest error will [this Court] overturn a finding of
juror impartiality.” Id. A district court’s determination “regarding the credibility of
jurors’ assurances should receive substantial deference on appeal.” United States v.
Corrado, 304 F.3d 593, 604 (6th Cir. 2002). “[A] trial court’s finding that a juror was
impartial is entitled to a presumption of correctness, rebuttable only upon a showing of
clear and convincing evidence.” Dennis v. Mitchell, 354 F.3d 511, 520 (6th Cir. 2003).
B. Merits
The Sixth Amendment “guarantees an accused the right to be tried ‘by an
impartial jury.’” Guzman, 450 F.3d at 629 (quoting U.S. Const. amend. VI). “When a
juror’s impartiality is at issue, the relevant question is ‘did a juror swear that he could
set aside any opinion he might hold and decide the case on the evidence, and should the
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juror’s protestation of impartiality have been believed.’” Dennis, 354 F.3d at 520
(quoting Patton v. Yount, 467 U.S. 1025, 1036 (1984)).
Defendants argue that the district court abused its discretion by declining to strike
Jurors 56 and 143 for cause because both jurors expressed doubt concerning their ability
to put aside news reports that they had read about the case. Defendants claim that
neither juror was able to provide adequate assurances of impartiality. Juror 56 had read
about the case in the newspaper and stated, “I haven’t completely made up my mind,
but based on what I’ve read, it’s pretty made up.” (R. 90, Tr. at 27.) Juror 56 concluded
by saying, “[R]ight now I’m obviously not totally neutral. But I can certainly try.” (Id.
at 27.)
Juror 143 also admitted to having read news articles about the case and stated
that he had an opinion about the case. (Id. at 38.) He stated, “It’s hard not to read
material like that without . . . making a judgment. On the other hand, I do believe I
could make a judgment here based on what’s presented. I really can’t answer your
question [about my belief in the defendants’ guilty] yes or no, it’s a degree.” (Id. at 38.)
Juror 143 continued that he could “compartmentalize” the knowledge from the article
and stated that he would try his “darndest to do that.” (Id. at 39.) But he also stated,
“It’s kind of a question, though, you can’t really answer definitively.” (Id.)
Neither Juror 56 nor Juror 143 were able to definitively state that they would be
impartial and decide the case based on the facts presented at trial. Although they both
stated that they would try their best to do so, they both wavered in their ability to be fair
jurors. A “juror [must] give an affirmative promise of impartiality . . . [which is]
believable in light of what the juror has revealed and the context of the case.” Holder
v. Palmer, 588 F.3d 328, 344 (6th Cir. 2009). In Wolfe v. Brigano, “the trial judge
based his findings of [juror] impartiality exclusively upon each juror’s tentative
statements that they would try to decide this case on the evidence presented at trial.”
Wolfe v. Brigano, 232 F.3d 499, 503 (6th Cir. 2000) (emphasis added). This Court held
that “[s]uch statements, without more, are insufficient.” Id. (citing Goins v. McKeen,
605 F.2d 947, 953 (6th Cir. 1979)). Likewise, the noncommittal statements made by
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Jurors 56 and 143 were not a sufficient basis for finding impartiality, and the district
court’s failure to allow a for-cause challenge to these jurors was an abuse of discretion.
Neither juror promised to remain impartial, and both seemed affected by the news
accounts that they had read. The trial court abused its discretion by denying Defendants’
motion to strike these jurors for cause.
Nonetheless, Defendants have failed to demonstrate that any harm resulted from
this abuse of discretion. Jurors 56 and 143 were excluded from the final jury
composition by Defendants’ peremptory challenges. Where a defendant uses a
peremptory challenge to “cure” a district court’s failure to excuse a juror for cause, and
the defendant is “subsequently convicted by a jury on which no biased juror sat, he has
not been deprived of any rule-based or constitutional right.” United States v. Martinez-
Salazar, 528 U.S. 304, 307 (2000); see also McQueen v. Scroggy, 99 F.3d 1302, 1321
(6th Cir. 1996) (“It is insufficient simply to claim that, had there been another
peremptory available, a different juror would have been excluded, and the result might
have been a more favorable jury.”) (overruled on other grounds by In re Abdur’Rahman,
392 F.3d 174 (6th Cir. 2004) (en banc), judgment vacated by Bell v. Abdur’Rahman, 545
U.S. 1151 (2005)). The case which Defendants rely on to support reversal on this
ground, Wolfe v. Brigano, 232 F.3d at 500, is inapposite to this case – the impaneled
jury included four biased jurors who participated in the trial. Here, in contrast, the
biased jurors never participated in the trial and were removed through peremptory
challenges.
Freeman also argues that the court improperly granted the government’s request
to strike Juror 88 for cause. Juror 88 told the district court that she had worked with
Freeman’s attorney for fifteen years. She stated that she worked with him on many
occasions, had a good relationship with him, and would be sympathetic to him. Freeman
argues that the district court’s applied a different standard to the government when it
requested a motion to strike for cause. However, the district court was justifiably
concerned about the long-term and personal nature of Juror 88’s relationship with
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defense counsel. This Court has held that “close and ongoing” relationships of jurors
may be grounds for removing a juror for cause. Wolfe, 232 F.3d at 502.
For the foregoing reasons, the Defendants’ have failed to show that there was an
unconstitutional jury error.
2. Limits on Cross Examination
A. Standard of Review
Defendants contest the limitations that the district court imposed on the cross-
examination of Sydnor, including the prohibition of questions concerning certain details
of Sydnor’s cooperation agreement with the government. Trial counsel failed to object
to the limitations on the cross-examination imposed by the district court that appellate
counsel now challenges. Where trial counsel fails to object to a trial error raised on
appeal, the plain error standard applies. See United States v. Hadley, 431 F.3d 484, 498
(6th Cir. 2005). To find that there was plain error, this Court must find that: 1) an error
occurred in the district court; 2) the error was plain, i.e. obvious or clear; 3) the error
affected the defendant’s substantial rights; and 4) this adverse impact seriously affected
the fairness, integrity or public reputation of the judicial proceedings. See United States
v. Koeberlein, 161 F.3d 946, 949 (6th Cir. 1998).
B. Merits
At trial, the district court stated that, “the parties would be able to certainly ask
questions about the defendant [Sydnor] entering a plea guilty in exchange for hoping to
receive a lesser punishment [but] if it goes much beyond that, it may become
objectionable.” (R. 90, Tr. at 7.) Consequently, the jury was prevented from knowing
the length of Sydnor’s potential sentence, and Defendants’ sentences as well.
Defendants claim that their trial attorneys limited their questioning of Sydnor because
of the court’s order.
“The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant an
opportunity to impeach the credibility of a witness against him because impeachment is
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fundamental to effective cross-examination.” United States v. Holden, 557 F.3d 698,
704 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 315-18 (1974)). Trial courts
“retain great discretion to impose reasonable limits on the cross-examination of
witnesses . . . .” United States v. Davis, 430 F.3d 345, 360 (6th Cir. 2005) (internal
quotations and citations omitted). In determining whether a district court has abused its
discretion in limiting cross-examination, this Court “must decide whether, despite the
limitation of cross-examination, the jury was otherwise in possession of sufficient
information . . . to make a ‘discriminating appraisal’ of a witness’ motives and bias.”
United States v. Kone, 307 F.3d 430, 436 (6th Cir. 2002) (internal citations, quotations,
and alterations omitted).
Because defense counsel failed to object to the limitation at trial, the plain error
standard applies. There is a circuit split on the issue of whether defendants should be
prohibited from asking cooperating witnesses, and former co-conspirators, details about
their sentences and sentencing agreements with the government to expose the witnesses’
bias, and the Sixth Circuit has not considered this issue in a published decision.
Compare United States v. Chandler, 326 F.3d 210, 218-24 (3d Cir. 2003) (holding that
the district court abused its discretion when it limited defendants’ ability to cross-
examine co-conspirators about their sentences) with United States v. Cropp, 127 F.3d
354, 358-59 (4th Cir. 1997) (holding the opposite). Where there are conflicting
authorities, the district court could not have committed plain error. See United States v.
Williams, 53 F.3d 769, 772 (6th Cir. 1995) (“[A] circuit split precludes a finding of clear
error.”). “At a minimum, court of appeals cannot correct an error . . . unless the error is
clear under current law.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734 (1993). Because
the law on this issue is not clear, the district court did not commit plain error.
Accordingly, the district court’s determination is AFFIRMED.
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3. Sufficiency of the Evidence
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to uphold a conviction, this Court
asks “‘whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
crime.’” United States v. Jones, 102 F.3d 804, 807 (6th Cir. 1996) (emphasis in original)
(quoting United States v. Swidan, 888 F.2d 1076, 1080 (6th Cir. 1989)). The “defendant
claiming insufficiency of the evidence bears a very heavy burden.” United States v.
Fekete, 535 F.3d 471, 476 (6th Cir. 2008) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
“If we determine that any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements
of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, then the conviction must be upheld.” Id.
B. Merits
a. Civil Rights Violations
Lanham and Freeman contest their convictions for committing civil rights abuses
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242. Under 18 U.S.C. § 241, it is a crime when “two
or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person . . . in the
free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution
or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same.” This
statute provides for enhanced penalties if the conspiracy’s “acts include kidnapping or
. . . aggravated sexual abuse . . . .” 18 U.S.C. § 241. Here, the indictment charged
Lanham and Freeman with conspiring to injure J.S. and depriving him of his rights not
to be deprived of liberty without due process. The indictment further charged that the
conspiracy included sexual acts. “To obtain a conviction for conspiracy to violate civil
rights under § 241, the government must prove that [defendants] knowingly agreed with
another person to injure [the victim] in the exercise of a right guaranteed under the
Constitution.” United States v. Epley, 52 F.3d 571, 575-76 (6th Cir. 1995). The
government also must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was specific intent to
commit the deprivation. Id.
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Under 18 U.S.C. § 242, “[w]hoever, under color of any law . . . willfully subjects
any person . . . to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or
protected by the Constitution or law of the United States” has committed a federal crime.
If “bodily injury results from the acts,” the defendant shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. Id. “[P]rison officials have a duty . . . to
protect prisoners from violence at the hands of other prisoners.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511
U.S. 825, 833 (1994) (citation omitted). Prison officials are “not free to let the state of
nature take its course [in a prison].” Id. “Prison conditions may be ‘restrictive and even
harsh,’ but gratuitously allowing the beating or rape of one prisoner by another serves
no ‘legitimate penological objective.’” Id. (internal citations, quotations, and alterations
omitted). A prison official can be found guilty where “the official knows of and
disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety; the official must both be aware
of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm
exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Ford v. County of Grand Traverse, 535
F.3d 483, 495 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837)).
Lanham argues that J.S.’s sexual assault was not reasonably foreseeable and that
there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. However, the evidence
established that Lanham joined Sydnor in mocking J.S. about his slight appearance, and
he was present when Sydnor said that J.S. would make a “good girlfriend.” When
Sydnor stated that they needed to teach J.S. a lesson, Lanham quickly volunteered that
he knew a prisoner in Cell 101. The evidence showed that Lanham talked to Inmate
Wright, within earshot of other inmates, and explained that the guards would be bringing
a new prisoner down and that they wanted the prisoners to “f-ck with” him. The
evidence also showed that the inmates cheered at this news when Lanham was present,
and Lanham knew of 26 Hallway’s and Zipp’s reputations.
Additionally, there was evidence that pretrial detainees were normally housed
in the detox cells, not in the general population. Lanham stated that J.S. should have
been in a detox cell and admitted that he asked Wright to teach J.S. a lesson. Finally, the
evidence established that Lanham worked to cover up his actions after the fact. It is
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immaterial that he was not at Cell 101 when J.S. was brought there because a conspirator
“need not have personally performed the deed for which he is being held liable. A
conspirator can be held criminally liable for the actions of his co-conspirators committed
during and in furtherance of the conspiracy.” United States v. Gresser, 935 F.2d 96, 101
(6th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). Taken together, in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, this evidence was adequate for a rational fact-finder to find that Lanham
violated both 18 U.S.C. § 241 and 18 U.S.C. § 242. He acted with deliberate
indifference and in furtherance of the conspiracy to place J.S. in harm.
Freeman also argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.
Freeman taunted J.S., joined Lanham in taking action to solicit inmates to harm J.S.,
failed to check on J.S. throughout the five hours he was in Cell 101, and then joined in
the cover up of his assault. Sydnor testified that he told both Lanham and Freeman of
his plan to scare J.S., and that Freeman did not object to the plan. Officer Guthrie
testified that Freeman was present during the discussion of the plan to scare J.S.
Freeman went with Lanham to Cell 101 to solicit Inmate Wright’s assistance in scaring
J.S. “Although mere presence at the crime scene is insufficient to show participation,
a defendant’s participation in the conspiracy’s common purpose and plan may be
inferred from the defendant’s actions and reactions to the circumstances.” United States
v. Salgado, 250 F.3d 438, 447 (6th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 936 (2001) (citation
omitted).
Wright testified that while Lanham told him that they wanted him to “f-ck with”
J.S., Freeman was standing at the door “agreeing with Lanham, shaking his head yes.”
The jury could reasonably have found that Freeman knew and intended to join the
conspiracy to place J.S. in a general population cell to “scare” him. Freeman also failed
to protect or assist J.S. after learning of the plan. Freeman testified that he had a duty
to protect J.S., and his failure to do so could reasonably have been interpreted by the jury
as acquiescence in the conspiracy. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the prosecution, a rational fact-finder could find that Freeman participated in the
conspiracy and violated the relevant statutes.
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Furthermore, the record provides evidence that there was an objective risk of
harm for someone like J.S. Although Freeman argues that Sydnor is the only person
who knew that J.S. would be at risk if placed in the general population cells, Guthrie,
Powell, and Nurse Cook all testified that J.S.’s placement in 26 Hallway was
inappropriate. Guthrie testified that she was confident that J.S. would be assaulted;
Powell testified about Victor Zipp’s tendency to walk naked in the cell; and Nurse Cook
testified that it was almost “animalistic” in 26 Hallway. A reasonable fact-finder could
conclude that Freeman was aware of the objective risk of harm in placing J.S. in 26
Hallway.
Defendants took affirmative steps to place J.S. in harm and thus violated both
statutes. Accordingly, their convictions are AFFIRMED.
b. The Cover-up
Lanham and Freeman also challenge their convictions for unlawfully falsifying
their records in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519, which states “[w]hoever knowingly alters,
destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record,
document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the
investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any
department or agency of the United States . . . shall be fined under this title, imprisoned
not more than 20 years, or both.” Lanham argues that his incident report was not false
because his supervisor, Sydnor, testified that the detox cells were in fact contaminated
that night, and that there is a difference between a false statement and an omission. He
claims that his report simply omitted information rather than affirmatively made false
statements.
Sydnor testified that the detox cells “had an odor coming from them,” but further
stated that the odor would not “by itself” be a justification for moving J.S., and that the
other inmate in the same detox cell was not moved that night. (R. 92, Tr. at 15.) This
contradicted Lanham’s written report, which claims that Sydnor “stated that he was
going to start emptying our detox to get them cleaned.” (Appellee’s App. at 33.)
Lanham also wrote that he went to 26 Hallway to speak to Wright about being
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 16
reclassified. The evidence showed that Lanham went to 26 Hallway to tell Wright to “f-
ck with” J.S. Lanham himself admitted on cross-examination that his report was
“inaccurate.” (R. 87, Tr. at 19.) Sydnor testified that he told Lanham and Freeman that
they should report that the detox cells needed to be decontaminated after learning that
J.S. was raped in Cell 101. This is sufficient evidence for a rational fact-finder to find
that Lanham intentionally falsified his reports.
Freeman argues that his report contained omissions of fact rather than affirmative
lies. Freeman wrote that he and Lanham went to some prisoners in 26 Hallway and then
returned “to Class D . . . [and] went to 26 Hall [and] did a secure check for Sgt. Sydnor.”
(Appellee’s App. at 32.) These statements were false. In fact, Freeman returned to
booking after talking with Wright, rather than proceeding immediately to Class D as
stated in the written report. Material omissions of fact can be interpreted as an attempt
to “cover up” or “conceal” information. A reasonable fact-finder could conclude that
Freeman falsified his report.
Lanham also argues that there had to be an ongoing or imminent federal
investigation at the time the reports were written to meet the requirements of the statute.
The language in 18 U.S.C. § 1519 clearly states that the falsification could be done “in
relation to or contemplation of any” investigation or matter within United States
jurisdiction. The conspiracy to harm J.S. was within the jurisdiction of the United
States, and the falsification was presumably done in contemplation of an investigation
that might occur. A reasonable fact-finder could find that Sydnor warned Lanham and
Freeman that they had to get their stories straight in anticipation of an investigation of
J.S.’s rape.
For the aforementioned reasons, the convictions for falsification of records are
AFFIRMED.
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 17
c. Sexual Assault Enhancement under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242
Defendants were charged under 18 U.S.C. § 241 for conspiring to violate J.S.’s
civil rights. The indictment charged that the acts in furtherance of the conspiracy
included aggravated sexual abuse. The statute establishes a ten year maximum sentence
for those convicted under the statute, and includes an increased penalty of “any term of
years or for life,” if the conspiracy included an act of “aggravated sexual abuse.”
Because the question of whether an act of sexual abuse occurred is a factual issue that
“increases the penalty” for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241 “beyond the prescribed
statutory maximum,” the question was required to be “submitted to a jury, and proved
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000). The
district court properly submitted the question of whether aggravated sexual abuse
occurred to the jury, adopting the definition of aggravated sexual abuse found in 18
U.S.C. § 2241 (1998).
Defendants’ argument that their conduct had to meet the jurisdictional
requirements of aggravated sexual abuse in 18 U.S.C. § 2241, which require that the
abuse occurred in a federal prison, is without merit. They were not charged under that
statute, and the district court was merely giving content to the term “aggravated sexual
assault” by using the definition in 18 U.S.C. § 2241. The jurisdictional requirements of
18 U.S.C. § 2241 did not apply because they were not prosecuted under this statute.
Accordingly, the sexual assault enhancement is AFFIRMED.
4. Mitigating Role Adjustment to Freeman’s Sentence
This Court reviews a “district court’s denial of a mitigating role adjustment to
a defendant’s offense level for clear error.” Salgado, 250 F.3d at 458. “To be clearly
erroneous, . . . a decision must strike [this Court] as more than just maybe or probably
wrong; it must strike us as wrong with the force a five-week-old, unrefrigerated dead
fish.” United States v. Perry, 908 F.2d 56, 58 (6th Cir. 1990) (internal citations,
quotations, and alterations omitted).
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 18
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) directs courts to reduce a defendant’s offense level by two
levels where defendant “was a minor participant in any criminal activity.” This Court
has held, “[t]he ‘minor participant’ reduction is available only to a party who is ‘less
culpable than most other participants’ and ‘substantially less culpable than the average
participant.’” United States v. Lloyd, 10 F.3d 1197, 1220 (6th Cir. 1993) (quoting
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, cmt. n.3). The district court rejected the role reduction for Freeman,
stating: “While he did not have as much of a speaking role, his activities, first his
knowledge of what was going on and his participation in the agreement of defendants
was substantial. He added weight to Mr. Lanham’s statements and, as indicated during
trial, he indicated agreement with the activities that were being requested by Mr.
Lanham. And under those circumstances, the Court believes it would be improper to
reduce his role as a minor or minimal participant.” (R. 142, Tr. at 9.) Freeman’s actions
were deliberately indifferent, and after the rape he was an active participant in the cover-
up of the crime. The district court’s findings were not clearly erroneous. Accordingly,
Freeman’s sentence is AFFIRMED.
5. Freeman’s Brady Motion
Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), the government is required “to
disclose exculpatory and impeachment evidence that is ‘material either to guilt or to
punishment.’” Doan v. Carter, 548 F.3d 449, 459 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting Strickler v.
Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 280 (1999)). “A Brady violation includes three elements: (1)
the evidence must be favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory, or
because it is impeaching; (2) the evidence must have been suppressed by the State, either
willfully or inadvertently; and (3) prejudice must have ensued.” Id. Evidence is
“material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed
to the defense, the result of proceeding would have been different.” Id.(internal citation
and quotations omitted).
Freeman argues that the government “did not disclose to [the] defense that
Chandler had told them that the video depicted Shawn Freeman at a cell other than Cell
101,” and the “FBI was aware of this information and failed to disclose it.” (Appellant
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 19
Freeman’s Second Br. at 57.) This evidence presumably would have shown that
Freeman was not present when Lanham approached Wright about J.S. Assuming,
arguendo, that this evidence was deliberately or inadvertently withheld, Freeman is
unable to show that he was prejudiced by such withholding.
Inmate Wright testified that Freeman was with Lanham, and that Freeman
nodded his head in agreement with Lanham’s statements. Freeman himself corroborated
Wright’s testimony that he shook his head while Lanham asked Wright to “f-ck with”
J.S. Whether Freeman was standing in Cell 98 or 99, or 96 as Chandler originally stated,
is immaterial when there is significant corroboration of Wright’s testimony that Freeman
was there nodding his head when Lanham was telling Wright to “f-ck with” J.S.
Accordingly, there was no prejudice, and the district court properly held that no Brady
violation occurred. As such, the district court’s determination is AFFIRMED.
6. Applicable Sentencing Guidelines
The sentencing court is to apply the version of the Sentencing Guidelines in
effect at the time of sentencing unless it “determines that use of the Guidelines Manual
in effect on the date that the defendant is sentenced would violate the ex post facto
clause.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.11(b)(1).
Defendants committed their offenses in 2003 when the 2002 Guidelines were in
effect at the time of the crime. The 2008 Guidelines, in effect at time of sentencing,
establish a higher base offense level for the offense of Criminal Sexual Abuse. The
government argues that using the 2008 advisory Guidelines, which established a more
onerous offense level than that in effect on the date of crime, would not violate the Ex
Post Facto Clause under the new post-Booker advisory Guidelines regime. The Ex Post
Facto Clause “bars application of a law that changes the punishment, and inflicts a
greater punishment, than the law annexed to the crime, when committed.” Johnson v.
United States, 529 U.S. 694, 699 (2000) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
The Supreme Court has interpreted the Ex Post Facto Clause to bar retroactive
application of a revised version of a state’s sentencing guidelines, Miller v. Florida, 482
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 20
U.S. 423 (1987), and this Court applied that decision to the federal Sentencing
Guidelines, see United States v. Kussmaul, 987 F.2d 345, 351-52 (6th Cir. 1993). The
government argues that this legal precedent no longer applies because, post-Booker, the
Sentencing Guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory. Although this Court has not
directly determined whether the now advisory Guidelines regime implicates Ex Post
Facto concerns, there is some case law in support of holding that it does. This Court has
acknowledged that “[t]he presence of discretion does not displace the protections of the
Ex Post Facto clause.” Michael v. Ghee, 498 F.3d 372, 382 (6th Cir. 2007). When
evaluating the reasonableness of a sentence, the reviewing court must consider the
applicable Guidelines range and failure to do so is “reversible error.” See United States
v. Kosinski, 480 F.3d 769, 779 (6th Cir. 2007). The Sentencing Guidelines are still
relevant and are a starting point for determining a defendant’s sentence. Only when the
Guidelines range is unable to meet the goals of the Sentencing Guidelines is a sentencing
court expected to vary from the Guidelines sentence. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). As a result,
the advisory nature of Guidelines does not completely eliminate Ex Post Facto concerns.
Ironically, the government is presumably interested in having the 2008 Guidelines apply
because it would impact Defendants’ sentence, which demonstrates the Ex Post Facto
concerns that come into play when retroactively applying the 2008 Guidelines.
Accordingly, the district court’s determination is AFFIRMED.
7. Leader or Organizer Enhancement to Lanham’s Sentence
When a “defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved
five or more participants or was otherwise extensive,” the offense level is increased by
four levels. U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a). The Sentencing Guidelines direct the court to consider
facts such as “the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of participation in
the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the claimed right to a
larger share of the fruits of the crime, the degree of participation in planning or
organizing the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of
control and authority exercised over others.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, cmt n.4.
Nos. 08-6504/6506; 09-5094/5095 United States v. Lanham, et al. Page 21
The district court stated that it would not apply the enhancement because
“[u]nder the facts of this particular case, it would not appear that the initial idea for the
punishment of victim was Mr. Lanham’s idea.” (R. 143, Tr. at 10.) The government
argues that the district court committed legal error in overemphasizing the fact that
Lanham did not originate the conspiracy. However, this fact is significant in assessing
his “exercise of decision making authority,”the “nature of [his] participation in the
commission of the offense,” “the degree of participation in planning or organizing the
offense,” and “the degree of control and authority exercised over others.” U.S.S.G.
§ 3B1.1, cmt n.4.
The district court stated that “looking at all participants in the case and the
instructions that were given, the Court believes that while it is a close question, the Court
will not apply an adjustment for role in the offense based on the facts that are presented.”
(R. 143, Tr. at 10-11.) The district court did not commit legal error in holding that
Lanham did not act as an organizer. Lanham exercised limited decision-making
authority, did not originate the plan, did not actively participate in bringing J.S. to Cell
101, and did not exercise control over the other jailers in ensuring that the plan was
exercised. Under these facts, the district court’s determination was not a legal error and
the decision to deny the enhancement is AFFIRMED.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants’ convictions and sentences are
AFFIRMED.