United States v. Thomas Zavesky

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
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No. 15-3039
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United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Thomas Zavesky
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the Southern District of Iowa - Davenport
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Submitted: February 9, 2016
Filed: October 5, 2016
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Before SMITH and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges, and ERICKSON,1 District
Judge.
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ERICKSON, Chief District Judge.
A jury convicted Thomas Zavesky on one count of receipt of child pornography
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2), 2252(b)(1), and 2256 and one count of
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The Honorable Ralph R. Erickson, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the District of North Dakota, sitting by designation.
possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B),
2252(b)(2), and 2256. He appeals, claiming his due process rights were violated
because he was not present or given notice when the district court ordered him to
undergo a competency examination, his right to a speedy trial was violated, his
convictions for receipt and possession of child pornography violate double jeopardy,
and the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress. We affirm.
I. Background
Zavesky came to the attention of law enforcement officers when they noticed,
as part of their investigations on Internet child pornography, what appeared to be a
single computer sharing child pornography at different IP addresses. Through the use
of subpoenas, the investigating officers learned that Zavesky was employed as a truck
driver, that Zavesky’s employer was a business using one of the IP addresses, and that
Zavesky had been near the various IP locations that caught the officers’ attention.
Upon learning from Zavesky’s employer when and where Zavesky was
scheduled to be in Iowa, two special agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigations located Zavesky sitting in his parked semi-truck. When approached,
the agents noticed the smell of marijuana emanating from the truck and observed part
of a marijuana pipe in the truck and a laptop computer that was open and appeared
to be turned on sitting on the passenger’s seat. One of the agents advised Zavesky
that they were conducting an investigation, asked whether he would be willing to talk
to them, and informed Zavesky that he was not under arrest. Zavesky exited his semi-
truck and agreed to sit in the front passenger’s seat of that agent’s vehicle.
Once inside the agents’ vehicle, Zavesky was again advised that he was not
under arrest and he did not have to talk to the agents. The agent made sure the door
was unlocked so Zavesky could leave if he wanted. Zavesky began answering
questions, cut off the interview after a short time, left the agents’ vehicle, walked
toward the semi-truck, returned a short time later, and reinitiated conversation with
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an agent who was now standing by the trunk of his vehicle. When Zavesky left the
agents’ vehicle, he was told he could not go back inside his semi-truck out of concern
about the contents on the computer and whether Zavesky was under the influence
given the strong odor of marijuana observed by the agents.
After observing Zavesky, the agent determined that he did not appear to be
under the influence. When Zavesky resumed talking to the agents by the trunk of
their car, Zavesky learned that they wanted to talk about the files on his computer.
Zavesky was willing to talk about that topic, and admitted to his knowledge about
file-sharing programs and estimated he had 2,800 images of child pornography.
Zavesky refused to talk about a motel theft that he thought they could be investigating
or the marijuana that was found underneath his semi-truck, and declined to give the
password for his computer.
One of the agents then left the scene to get a search warrant for the laptop
computer. A search warrant was obtained. A forensic examination uncovered child
pornography, which lead to the charges in this case. Zavesky appeared on the charges
on December 30, 2013. Between February 2014 and September 11, 2014, Zavesky
requested the trial be continued five times, which the court granted.
On September 11, 2014, the district court held a telephonic scheduling
conference. Zavesky did not participate but his lawyer appeared on his behalf and
expressed concerns about Zavesky’s mental condition and competency. Zavesky’s
lawyer indicated he was having difficulty communicating with Zavesky and Zavesky
believed he was working for the Federal Bureau of Investigations to stop the Russian
mafia from bringing child pornography into the United States. Zavesky’s lawyer also
reported that a family member indicated Zavesky had a history of mental illness. The
district court ordered Zavesky transferred from pretrial confinement to the custody
of Bureau of Prisons for a competency evaluation.
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Zavesky refused to cooperate with any mental health testing or interviews. The
evaluator opined that Zavesky was competent to proceed and that Zavesky’s
statements about the Russian mafia were likely an attempt to make excuses and
explain his criminal conduct. After completion of the evaluation, the district court
reset the case back on the trial calendar.
Zavesky then moved to suppress the statements he made to the agents on the
grounds that there was a “de facto arrest” and Zavesky was illegally seized when he
was told he could leave but could not get back in his semi-truck. Zavesky also argued
that the evidence obtained from the semi-truck must be suppressed as it was “fruits”
evidence obtained as a result of the unconstitutional seizure. The district court denied
his motion to suppress, finding there was probable cause to search the semi-truck and
Zavesky was not in custody when he provided the statements to the agents.
Zavesky proceeded to trial on June 8, 2015. A jury convicted him on one count
of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
He was sentenced to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment for receipt of child
pornography and a concurrent term of 120 months’ imprisonment for possession of
child pornography.
II. Discussion
On appeal, Zavesky argues there was no reasonable cause to order a mental
competency evaluation, and the district court’s committal for such an evaluation
without notice to him violated due process and his right to a speedy trial. He also
argues his convictions for both receipt and possession of child pornography violate
double jeopardy because the jury used the same evidence to convict him on both
counts, and the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress because his
statements to law enforcement officers were based on an impermissible seizure of his
person and the evidence obtained from his semi-truck was “fruit of the poisonous
tree.”
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A. Competency Evaluation
Zavesky asserts that his statutory rights to notice and presence under 18 U.S.C.
§ 4241(a) were violated when he was committed for an inpatient competency
evaluation during a scheduling conference in which he was not present and without
notice that his lawyer would be requesting an evaluation. Zavesky also asserts the
district court’s committal process violated his Fifth Amendment due process right and
the Sixth Amendment speedy trial right.
When an issue surrounding a defendant’s competency to stand trial is raised,
the district court must follow the process set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 4241. A district
court has a duty to order a competency hearing as follows:
At any time after the commencement of a prosecution for an offense and
prior to the sentencing of the defendant, the defendant or the attorney for
the Government may file a motion for a hearing to determine the mental
competency of the defendant. The court shall grant the motion, or shall
order such a hearing on its own motion, if there is reasonable cause to
believe that the defendant may presently be suffering from a mental
disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that
he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the
proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.
18 U.S.C. § 4241(a). The court may order a defendant to undergo a psychiatric or
psychological examination and require that a report be filed with the court before the
date of the hearing. 18 U.S.C. § 4241(b). Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §4247(b), the court
may commit the defendant for an examination under § 4241 “for a reasonable period,
but not to exceed thirty days.”
If the court holds a competency hearing, the hearing must be conducted
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4247(d). 18 U.S.C. § 4241(c). Under § 4247(d):
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The person whose mental condition is the subject of the hearing shall be
represented by counsel. . . . The person shall be afforded the opportunity
to testify, to present evidence, to subpoena witnesses on his behalf, and
to confront and cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing.
A district court’s decision to order a competency evaluation is reviewed for
abuse of discretion. United States v. Turner, 644 F.3d 713, 723 (8th Cir. 2011).
Defendant’s counsel’s opinion on competency should receive “significant weight
since ‘counsel, perhaps more than any other party or the court, is in a position to
evaluate a defendant’s ability to understand the proceedings.’” Id. (quoting United
States v. Denton, 434 F.3d 1104, 1112 (8th Cir. 2006)).
Whether to order a competency evaluation prior to a hearing under § 4241(b)
is discretionary. There is neither a statutory requirement of notice to a defendant, nor
is the defendant’s presence required when the evaluation is ordered. A court may
make a “reasonable cause” determination without a hearing. See Krupnick v. United
States, 264 F.2d 213, 216 (8th Cir. 1959); United States v. Jackson, 179 F. App’x
921, 932 (6th Cir. 2006); United States v. McEachern, 465 F.2d 833, 837 (5th Cir.
1972). The statutory right to notice and an opportunity to be heard arises when the
district court is tasked with making a determination on whether a defendant is
competent to proceed. 18 U.S.C. § 4241(c), (d), and § 4247(d).
Defense counsel expressed concern to the district court that he was having
difficulty communicating with Zavesky, and that Zavesky was delusional based on
his claim that he was investigating child pornography activities for the FBI.
Zavesky’s sister also reported to counsel that Zavesky suffered from some mental
health issues after his child died, which was about five years before the trial. On this
record, the information before the district court was sufficient to establish reasonable
cause to investigate further Zavesky’s mental competency.
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Turning to Zavesky’s constitutional claims, a district court’s authority to
commit a person to the Bureau of Prisons for an inpatient competency evaluation is
subject to due process requirements. United States v. Neal, 679 F.3d 737, 740-41 (8th
Cir. 2012). At its heart, due process requires “the opportunity to be heard ‘at a
meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.’” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319,
333 (1976) (quoting Armstrong v. Manzo, 380 U.S. 545, 552 (1965)). Zavesky was
represented by counsel at the hearing when the district court ordered Zavesky
committed for a competency evaluation. While the preferred practice would include
the presence of the defendant when it appears likely that the defendant and the lawyer
are at odds about the necessity of a competency evaluation, under the circumstances
of this case, the process and procedures undertaken by the district court were
sufficient to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Due Process Clause.
Even assuming due process requires something more than what the district
court did in Zavesky’s case, “[i]t has long been clear that constitutional violations can
be subject to harmless error analysis.” Lufkins v. Leapley, 965 F.2d 1477, 1480 (8th
Cir. 1992) (citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 22 (1967)). Constitutional
violations occurring during a criminal proceeding are divided into two categories:
trial errors and structural defects. Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 307-10
(1991). A trial error is an error that can “be quantitatively assessed in the context of
other evidence presented,” and is subject to harmless-error analysis. Id. at 307-08.
A structural defect “affect[s] the framework within which the trial proceeds, rather
than simply an error in the trial process itself” and thus “def[ies] analysis by
‘harmless-error’ standards.” Id. at 309-10. A structural defect is “the exception and
not the rule.” Rose v. Clark, 478 U.S. 570, 578-79 (1986). As recognized by the
Supreme Court, “most constitutional errors can be harmless.” Fulminante, 499 U.S.
at 306.
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Under these circumstances, Zavesky’s asserted lack of notice and opportunity
to be personally heard would constitute, at most, a trial error. Even assuming a
constitutional violation, Zavesky has not demonstrated prejudice that resulted from
the committal process. Following the evaluation, the district court found Zavesky
competent to proceed. To the extent there was any information gathered during the
competency evaluation, it was not used against Zavesky either at trial or at
sentencing. Finally, Zavesky proceeded to trial and he has not pointed to any
evidence that was unavailable because he was required to undergo a competency
evaluation. Any trial error under these particular circumstances was harmless.
Zavesky contends that the committal process violated his right to a speedy trial.
Assessment under the Sixth Amendment for a speedy trial violation includes
consideration of the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the defendant’s
assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and prejudice to the defendant. United States
v. Sprouts, 282 F.3d 1037, 1042 (8th Cir. 2002). In this case, there was an
approximate five-month delay between the date the competency evaluation was
ordered and when Zavesky was again available for trial. Before that, Zavesky
requested five continuances of the trial. After the competency evaluation, defense
counsel was granted permission to withdraw and new counsel was appointed,
resulting in another continuance. Trial proceeded approximately four months after
the district court found Zavesky competent to proceed.
During the course of this case, Zavesky managed to work through three
different lawyers, each of whom were required to become familiar with Zavesky’s
case. The motions to continue were at Zavesky’s request. Zavesky has not identified
any prejudice caused by any period of delay. Under all the circumstances, the
approximate 18-month delay between when Zavesky appeared on the charges and
trial commenced does not rise to the level of a Sixth Amendment violation.
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Finally, the Speedy Trial Act specifically excludes from consideration delay
resulting from an examination to determine mental competency. 18 U.S.C. §
3161(h)(1)(A); United States v. McGhee, 532 F.3d 733, 737 (8th Cir. 2008)
(proceedings to determine competency are excluded under the Speedy Trial Act,
whether reasonable or unreasonable). Thus, Zavesky has shown no statutory
violation of the Speedy Trial Act.
B. Double Jeopardy
Zavesky asserts that his convictions for receipt and possession of child
pornography violate the double jeopardy clause. The Indictment alleged in count one
that between September 13, 2010, and April 9, 2012, Zavesky knowingly received
one or more visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Count two alleged that on or about April 11, 2012, Zavesky knowingly possessed at
least one matter containing a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit
conduct.
To prove a double jeopardy violation, a defendant must demonstrate that he
was convicted of “two offenses that are in law and fact the same offense.” United
States v. Muhlenbruch, 634 F.3d 987, 1002 (8th Cir. 2011). Possession of child
pornography is a lesser-included offense to receipt of child pornography. Id.
Convictions for both possession and receipt of the same image violate the double
jeopardy clause. Muhlenbruch, at 1004.
Each count in the Indictment alleges conduct occurring on a different date. At
trial, the prosecutor presented evidence that child pornography was located in two
main folders on the computer. Images and videos containing child pornography were
downloaded between September 13, 2010, and April 10, 2012, to a folder named
“Incoming”. The jury was shown several images from the “Incoming” folder. In
addition, child pornography, specifically a copy of a video entitled “wowowowow”,
was also located in a folder entitled “Documents” that existed on April 11, 2012.
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This video was played for the jury. The charging document and evidence before the
jury demonstrate that different dates and different visual depictions of minors were
at issue and thus there is no double jeopardy violation.
Even if there should have been more precision in distinguishing the offenses,
at the jury instruction conference the prosecution had no objection to the district
court’s proposed special interrogatories regarding the image or images involved in
each offense. Zavesky’s counsel acknowledged that he likely had a right to the
interrogatories but that he did not believe that issue to be a “determinate factor” and
waived any right he might have had to present special interrogatories to the jury. T.
Tr.Vol. II, pp. 185-87. Zavesky’s counsel’s statements constitute a waiver and his
claim is not reviewable on appeal. See United States v. Wisecarver, 598 F.3d 982, 988
(8th Cir. 2010) (explaining that a defendant waives an argument by intentionally
relinquishing or abandoning a known right and that waived claims are not reviewable
on appeal).
C. Suppression Motion
Zavesky argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress
because he was illegally seized and subjected to a “de facto arrest” when he provided
incriminating statements to law enforcement officers, and that the evidence obtained
from his semi-truck was “fruit of the poisonous tree.”
A district court’s legal determination about whether a defendant was in custody
is reviewed de novo and the court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error.
United States v. Vinton, 631 F.3d 476, 481 (8th Cir. 2011). Six nonexclusive factors
are considered when determining whether a suspect is in custody:
(1) whether the suspect was informed at the time of questioning that the
questioning was voluntary, that the suspect was free to leave or request
the officers to do so, or that the suspect was not considered under arrest;
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(2) whether the suspect possessed unrestrained freedom of movement
during questioning; (3) whether the suspect initiated contact with
authorities or voluntarily acquiesced to official requests to respond to
questions; (4) whether strong arm tactics or deceptive stratagems were
employed during questioning; (5) whether the atmosphere of the
questioning was police dominated; or, (6) whether the suspect was
placed under arrest at the termination of the questioning.
United States v. Griffin, 922 F.2d 1343, 1349 (8th Cir. 1990).
During his encounter with law enforcement officers, Zavesky was informed
multiple times, at least five times according to the interviewing agent’s testimony,
that he was not under arrest and that he did not have to talk to them. The vehicle’s
doors were unlocked, and at one point, Zavesky left the agents’ vehicle and started
walking away. When Zavesky returned, he voluntarily reinitiated the conversation
with the agents. Zavesky was selective in which questions or topics he would talk
about, declining to answer certain questions. Zavesky was not arrested at the scene,
but left in a cab. We agree with the district court that Zavesky was not in custody and
thus there was no Miranda violation.
Zavesky also argues the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress
the evidence seized from his semi-truck as “fruit of the poisonous tree.” In light of
the background investigation and Zavesky’s statements, law enforcement officers had
probable cause to detain Zavesky’s semi-truck after observing the laptop in the
passenger’s seat. See United States v. Goodale, 738 F.3d 917, 922 (8th Cir. 2013)
(noting where officers have probable cause to believe laptop contains contraband and
there is a legitimate interest in preventing destruction of the potential contraband, the
Fourth Amendment permits seizure of the property, pending issuance of a warrant to
examine its contents). The semi-truck was detained for approximately one hour while
the officers obtained a search warrant. The warrantless seizure of the semi-truck and
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laptop did not violate Zavesky’s constitutional rights. The district court did not err
in denying Zavesky’s motion to suppress.
III. Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the district court.
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