United States v. Cathey, No. 20-1421 (8th Cir. 2021)
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Defendants Phillips and Cathey were convicted of two counts of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. 846 and 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) and one count of distribution resulting in serious bodily injury in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1). The jury also found Phillips guilty of one additional count of distribution resulting in serious injury and Cathey guilty of two additional counts of distribution resulting in serious injury or death.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed and concluded that the evidence was sufficient to establish that the heroin Phillips gave to two individuals was a but-for cause of their injury; the evidence was sufficient to support Cathey's convictions for conspiracy and distribution of drugs resulting in serious injury or death; the district court did not err when it admitted hearsay statements of a coconspirator; the district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to take remedial steps to correct any possible violation of the sequestration order; and the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting NCIC records to establish Cathey's prior convictions for sentencing purposes.
Court Description: [Kobes, Author, with Gruender and Erickson, Circuit Judges] Criminal case - Criminal law. The evidence was sufficient to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs defendant Phillips distributed were the sole cause of serious bodily injury to two subsequent users; evidence was sufficient to support Cathey's convictions for conspiracy and distribution of drugs resulting in serious injury or death; no error in admitting hearsay statement from co-conspirator; court's remedy to correct any possible violation of the sequestration order was not an abuse of its discretion; the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the NCIC records admitted to establish Cathey's prior convictions were sufficient to prove the convictions for sentencing purposes.
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