105 Nev. 767, 783 P.2d 444Barbara Lynch BARRON, Carol Lynn
Tomlinson, Appellants,
v.
The STATE of Nevada, Respondent.
No. 18837.
Supreme Court of Nevada.
Nov. 27, 1989.
PER CURIAM:
Appellants Barbara Lynch Barron and
Carol Lynn Tomlinson were convicted of
multiple counts of embezzlement and
obtaining money under false pretenses,
and one count of racketeering arising out
of their conduct as loan brokers at the
failed mortgage brokerage firm of Lemons
and Associates. Appellants submit: (1)
that the district court erred by not properly
instructing the jury; (2) that improper jury
**446 instructions resulted in parallel
convictions for embezzlement and
obtaining money by false pretenses; and
(3) that the district attorney engaged in
such numerous instances of prosecutorial
misconduct as to mandate reversal with
prejudice. We hold: (1) that the jury was
adequately instructed; (2) that the
appellants could be convicted of both
embezzlement and obtaining money by
false pretenses involving the same
investor; and (3) that the prosecutorial
misconduct that occurred does not
mandate reversal of this case.
FACTS
Appellants Barbara Lynch Barron
(Barron) and Carol Lynn Tomlinson
(Tomlinson) were employed at the
mortgage brokerage firm of Lemons and
Associates (L & A). L & A began business
in 1977 as a small mortgage brokerage
firm. In less than eight years L & A
expanded from a small firm on
Washington Street in Reno, to a multi-state, multi-function financial
conglomerate, with offices in Reno, Las
Vegas, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and
Boise.
While L & A held itself out as a mortgage
broker, it is clear from the manner of
business conducted by L & A that the
operation was distinct from that of a
traditional mortgage broker. A traditional
mortgage broker acts as a middleman
between the lender and a borrower,
making its profit by taking a commission
from the amount of the loan. Once the
"brokering" has been done, the lender and
borrower deal face to face. The
borrower's name appears on the deed of
trust taken back by the lender, with the
risk of foreclosure or declining value
falling on the lender. L & A was different
in that L & A itself would fund the loan
from internal sources, and would receive
additional money from investors to
maintain internal funds. The loans were
made prior to the *770 receipt of the
investments and without obtaining
commitments for participating investments
as a predicate to the issuance of loans.
Investors placed their money with L & A,
for which they received interest payments
(18% per annum or more) within thirty
days. They continued to receive interest
payments regardless of loan performance,
and received repayment of principal,
regardless of whether principal had been
paid to L & A. Barron and Tomlinson
touted the risk-free character of investing
with L & A, and in several cases took the
life savings of those who invested.
By no later than 1982, L & A was
experiencing financial difficulty. This was
due to the number of nonperforming loans
in L & A's portfolio. There was testimony
that L & A had made several loans to
"preferred customers" who were not
expected to be able to repay any portion
of the loans. The preferred loans totalled
close to ten million dollars. L & A was
unable to continue to pay 18% interest
and to repay principal to investors, and
simultaneously carry millions of dollars
worth of bad loans.
By late 1982, L & A was operating a
"Ponzi" or "Pyramid" scheme. L & A
began to use the funds contributed by
new investors to pay the previous
investors. Additionally, L & A would over-assign investors into deeds of trust,
selling greater than 100% of the value of
the trust deed, as a regular policy. As an
example of over-assignment, Tomlinson
induced investor R.J. to invest $5,000 on
August 31, 1983, with L & A to be secured
by trust deed No. 456. The total value of
the property securing trust deed No. 456
was $198,000. Tomlinson had assigned
$199,000 worth of investment to No. 456
by September 9, 1982. By the time
Tomlinson accepted R.J.'s investment,
however, the level of investment assigned
to trust deed No. 456 was already
$298,884.
L & A's investment counselors would sell
full or fractionalized interests in loans
represented as secured by deeds of trust.
From 1984 on, there were only three
investment counselors in the Reno office--Gary Hill, who subsequently pleaded guilty
to criminal charges arising out of his
activities with L & A, and the appellants,
Barron and Tomlinson.
In 1984 and 1985, the appellants
counseled the vast majority of the Reno
branch investors. The evidence
introduced at trial showed that appellants
knew the investments **447 made
through the Reno branch office were
extraordinarily risky, yet they made no
mention of this fact when soliciting
investors. The evidence clearly
demonstrated that appellants knowingly
and regularly over-assigned by 400%, and
sometimes more, loans secured by
underlying trust deeds. By the time L & A
went bankrupt early in 1985, at least 50%
of all loans from the Reno branch were
over-assigned. A report completed
shortly before *771 L & A closed its doors
revealed that over- assignment of loans at
the Reno branch had become an eleven
million dollar problem.
By 1983 the policy of over-assigning
loans was the rule and not the exception
in the Reno branch. As a result, appellant
Barron instructed office employees to set
up a double filing system--the pink and
green file system--for present and future
investment. The green file contained the
paperwork for investors who had
purchased up to 100% of the face value
of the loan. The pink file was the overflow
file, containing the paperwork of the
oversold investments. In 1984, when
state examiners requested to see the
information on a particular file, they were
only given the green file to review.
Barron's testimony strongly suggested
that the purpose of the dual filing system
was to mislead the state examiners.
When L & A went bankrupt on April 10,
1985, 898 investors from the Reno branch
discovered the true value of their
investments. The bankruptcy estate
showed a $26 million loss, of which only
one-half was recoverable, resulting in a
total loss to the investors of $13 million.
Barbara Barron was convicted of 14
counts of embezzlement or obtaining
money under false pretenses, and one
count of racketeering, and was sentenced
to six years in the Nevada State Prison on
each count to be served concurrently, with
a $4,000 fine on each count. Carol
Tomlinson was convicted of 20 counts of
embezzlement or obtaining money under
false pretenses, and one count of
racketeering, and was sentenced on each
count of embezzlement and obtaining
money under false pretenses to three
years in the Nevada State Prison to be
served concurrently, with a $2,000 fine on
each count. Tomlinson received a five-year suspended sentence for the
racketeering conviction, with a $2,000
fine.
During trial, District Attorney Mills Lane
made numerous remarks which appellants
cite as prosecutorial misconduct. Mr.
Lane made several objections to
witnesses' testimony as being hearsay,
stating in his objection that, if the
defendants wished, they could produce
that evidence or the hearsay declarant.
Mr. Lane even made direct reference to
the appellants' ability to testify. On cross-examination, one of the defense attorneys
asked Alma Walsh, an investor, who
testified as a witness in the State's case-in-chief, what Tomlinson said to her about
the strength and security of L & A. Mr.
Lane objected to this question:
The question was what Ms. Tomlinson
said. Tell me what Ms. Tomlinson said.
That is hearsay. If Miss Tomlinson has
something to say, she can say it, not
through this witness.
*772 (Emphasis added). Later in the
State's case-in-chief, a defense attorney
asked Mary DeLa Cruz, Barron's
secretary, when Barron told her that there
was a problem with the financial stability
of L & A. Mr. Lane again objected:
Your Honor, if it please the Court, we
haven't objected, but counsel knows
statements--if Miss Barron has got
something to say, there's a way for her
to say it. You don't get in through
defense what Miss Barron says through
this witness. That's hearsay.
(Emphasis added.) The court instructed
Mr. Lane to phrase his objections in legal
terms and to refrain from other comments
and arguments.
During closing argument Mr. Lane made
statements that the appellants assert
were improper because they expressed
the prosecuting attorney's personal
opinion and were disparaging of the
appellants' case.
Mr. Lane: I suggest to you, ladies and
gentlemen, these people tried to hustle
you just like they hustled those
investors.
**448 Mr. Wishart: Objection, Your
Honor, that's improper argument.
Mr. Lane: I don't think it is improper
argument. I will say it again. They tried
to hustle you.
Mr. Semenza: May we have a rule and
admonition.
The Court: You may proceed.
Mr. Lane: They tried to hustle you, just
like they tried to hustle those victims....
Mr. Lane's rhetoric continued:
Mr. Lane: Let me tell you something,
based upon the facts in this case, and
the evidence which was testified to by
those victims, and the people that work
there, we talked for 30 days
thereabouts, about real estate. And
based upon the facts, if you accept what
Barbara Barron and Carol Tomlinson
told you, I got some ocean front property
for you in Tonopah.
Mr. Wishart: Objection, improper
argument.
Mr. Semenza: Join in that, Your Honor.
The Court: Let's move on from that Mr.
Lane.
(Emphasis added.) Mr. Lane, however,
insisted on repeating the substance of this
statement a short time later:
Mr. Lane: Well, I submit to you, if you
believe that, based upon the evidence,
I got ocean front property for you in
Tonopah.
*773 Mr. Wishart: I am going to object
to that as improper argument.
The Court: Sustained. I previously
directed you not to refer to that.
Mr. Semenza: Admonish the jury,
please, Your Honor.
The Court: Ladies and gentlemen,
when objections to argument are
sustained, you are admonished not to
consider the comments in argument.
LEGAL DISCUSSION
I. Jury Instructions
First, appellants contend that the district
court erred by refusing to instruct the jury
on their theory of the case. At trial,
appellants attempted to portray
themselves as loyal but unwitting
employees who solicited investments with
a good faith belief that L & A was
conducting business in a legitimate
manner. Appellants offered an instruction
stating that good faith is a complete
defense to the charge of obtaining money
under false pretenses.
[1] This court has held that a criminal
defendant is entitled to have the jury
instructed on the defendant's theory of the
case, no matter how weak or incredible
the evidence supporting the theory may
be. Brooks v. State, 103 Nev. 611, 613,
747 P.2d 893, 895 (1987). The holding in
Brooks is limited by the requirement that
the instruction must correctly state the
law. Id. at 614, 747 P.2d at 895.
Additionally, if a proffered instruction
misstates the law or is adequately
covered by other instructions, it need not
be given. Cutler v. State, 93 Nev. 329,
335, 566 P.2d 809, 813 (1977). The
district court concluded that appellants'
proffered instruction misstated the law,
and therefore rejected it.
[2] Appellants offer no authority
supporting their proposition that good faith
is a complete defense to a charge of
obtaining money under false pretenses.
In Adler v. State, 95 Nev. 339, 344, 594
P.2d 725, 729 (1979), this court
considered the relevancy of "good faith" to
a charge of obtaining money by false
pretenses. We upheld the trial court's
instruction allowing the jury to consider
the issue of "good faith" as bearing only
on the question of intent. Id. at 344, 594
P.2d at 729. Additionally, we concluded
that good faith was not a complete
defense to a charge of obtaining money
by false pretenses. Id. at 346, 594 P.2d
at 730. Further, the remaining portions of
appellants' rejected instruction were
adequately covered by the instructions
given. Accordingly, the district court
properly rejected appellants' proffered
instruction stating, that good faith was not
a complete defense.
*774 Appellants next contend that the
district court failed to properly instruct the
jury on the elements of the crimes of
obtaining money under false pretenses
and embezzlement. This contention is
without merit.
**449 [3] Jury Instruction No. 13 set forth
the statutory definition of the crime of
obtaining money under false pretenses.
See NRS 205.380. Instruction No. 14 set
out the specific elements of the crime.
[FN1] Instruction No. 15 defined the
necessary intent to defraud. [FN2] These
instructions standing alone adequately
instructed the jury on the elements of the
crime of obtaining money under false
pretenses. Accord, Bright v. Sheriff, 90
Nev. 168, 170, 521 P.2d 371, 372 (1974)
(Elements of crime of false pretenses are:
(1) intent to defraud; (2) a false
representation; (3) reliance on that
representation; and, (4) that the victim be
defrauded).
FN1. Jury Instruction No. 14
provided:
In order to prove the commission
of the crime of obtaining money by
false pretenses each of the
following elements must be proved:
1. That a person made or caused
to be made to another person, by
word, conduct or writing,
a.) a representation which was not
true, or
b.) a concealment of a material
fact, which above action was
calculated to mislead the other.
2. That such person represented
or concealed with the intent to
defraud, (this intent to defraud
required herein is defined in
Instruction No. 15).
3. That the false representation or
concealment was believed and
relied upon by another and was a
material cause of inducing the
other person to part with his money
or property, even if the false
representation was not the sole
cause, and
4. That the fraud was
accomplished in that the other
person parted with his money or
property.
FN2. Jury Instruction No. 15
provided:
An intent to defraud is an intent to
deceive another person for the
purpose of inducing him to part
with property or to alter his position
to his injury or risk, and to
accomplish that purpose by some
false statement, false
representation of fact, wrongful
concealment or suppression of
truth, or by any other artifice or act
calculated to deceive.
[4] Appellants' contention that the court
improperly instructed the jury on the
required intent necessary to sustain a
conviction for embezzlement must also
fail. Appellants' argument that the
instructions as given allowed for
conviction of innocent misusers, and
therefore were defective and prejudicial, is
not persuasive. The requisite intent as
enunciated by statute and this court
makes no requirement of an animus
furandi. See Rose v. State, 86 Nev. 555,
557, 471 P.2d 262, 263 (1970); NRS
205.300(1). "The act *775 of diverting
carries its built-in intent that speaks for
itself, that is, the performance of the act,
such as using money ... for a purpose
other than for which it was designated,
makes the crime." 86 Nev. at 557, 471
P.2d at 263. The jury instructions
pertaining to the crime of embezzlement,
when read together as they must be,
sufficiently instructed the jury upon the law
as to intent. See Cupp v. Naughten, 414
U.S. 141, 94 S.Ct. 396, 38 L.Ed.2d 368
(1973) (jury instruction may not be read in
isolation, but must be viewed in context of
the overall charge). Further, we do not
perceive any indication that the jury was
confused or misinstructed.
[5] Appellants also contend that the
district court failed to properly instruct the
jury regarding the weight and importance
to be given evidence of good character,
and that this error mandates reversal with
prejudice. The basis of this contention is
that the court failed to give the instruction
proffered by appellants and that the
instruction ultimately given and contained
in Instruction No. 26, should have been
placed elsewhere. [FN3]
FN3. Instruction No. 26 provided:
The degree of credit due a witness
should be determined by his or her
character, conduct, manner upon
the stand, fears, bias, impartiality,
reasonableness or
unreasonableness of the
statements he or she makes, and
the strength or weakness of his or
her recollections, are viewed in the
light of all the other facts in
evidence.
You have heard evidence of
defendant's character, that is,
opinion evidence about a character
trait of honesty. You should
consider character evidence
together with and in the same
manner as all the other evidence in
the case.
If you believe that a witness has
lied about any material fact in the
case, you may disregard the entire
testimony of that witness or any
portion of his testimony which is
not proved by other evidence.
(Emphasis added).
Appellants argue that the instruction
should have included the sentence,
"Character evidence alone may create a
reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt."
They **450 argue that the instruction as
given told the jury to consider the
character evidence together with, and in
the same manner as, all other evidence in
the case, and that no mention was made
of "reasonable doubt" or that such
evidence may justify acquittal. According
to appellants, this deficiency amounts to
reversible error.
[6] Appellants correctly point out that an
accused is permitted a jury instruction on
the legal effect of good character
evidence produced at trial. See, Emerson
v. State, 98 Nev. 158, 162, 643 *776 P.2d
1212, 1214 (1982); Beddow v. State, 93
Nev. 619, 624, 572 P.2d 526, 529 (1977).
The district court's decision in this case to
reject the proposed instruction, however,
was not error because the proposed
instruction was not a correct statement of
the law. An instruction that states,
"character evidence alone may create a
reasonable doubt," allows the jury to
consider character evidence in isolation,
to the exclusion of everything else.
"There is no good reason to consider any
evidence standing alone. If a jury should
ever consider evidence in isolation,
character evidence is the wrong kind to
single out." United States v. Burke, 781
F.2d 1234, 1239 (7th Cir.1985). We
agree with the court in Burke, which
rejected an instruction identical to the
proposed instruction in the instant case.
The court of appeals stated:
The "standing alone" instruction could
readily be understood by the jury as
permission (even a command) to acquit
a defendant of good general character,
even if the jurors are convinced that the
defendant committed the acts with
which he was charged. The instructions
should not send this message. They
should keep the jury's focus squarely on
what matters--did the defendant commit
the act charged, with the necessary
mental state?
Id. at 1239. Appellants were entitled to
an instruction on the legal effect of
character evidence. Beddow, 93 Nev. at
626, 572 P.2d at 529. The district court
did instruct the jury on the weight to be
afforded evidence of good character. Had
the judge failed to give the instruction, and
had the evidence supporting conviction
been weak, this issue would pose a more
compelling argument for reversal. See
Emerson v. State, 98 Nev. 158, 643 P.2d
1212 (1982) (conviction reversed because
evidence was weak and the judge refused
to give any instruction on good character).
[7] Appellants also object to the
placement of the instruction on good
character evidence. Preliminarily, we
observe that no authority supports the
proposition that placement of a jury
instruction is a matter for review, let alone
a predicate for judicial error. That the
instruction was included with a "credibility"
instruction is not error. United States v.
Marquardt, 786 F.2d 771, 783-84 (7th
Cir.1986). In Marquardt, a false
pretenses case, the judge failed to give an
instruction on character evidence after
such evidence was presented at trial.
Holding that the judge's failure to give the
character instruction was not error, the
court of appeals stated:
*777 [T]he court's instruction "to
consider all the evidence ..." was
sufficient and proper and the court's
failure to specifically instruct the jury
regarding character evidence was not
error. Furthermore, assuming arguendo
that the court's failure to so instruct the
jury was erroneous, we fail to
understand how the giving of the
requested instruction would have had a
"probable impact" on the jury's finding
that Marquardt is guilty.
Id. at 784.
In this case the court instructed the jury
on character evidence. Additionally, much
of the evidence supporting conviction was
documentary. There was testimony by
office employees that appellants knew of
and used a dual filing system in an effort
to mislead investors and state
investigators, and that they knowingly and
substantially over-assigned trust deeds.
The convictions did not hinge on the
appellants' credibility alone and the
evidence supporting the convictions was
not weak.
Looking to Marquardt, if failure to give
any instruction on character evidence is
not error, where the conviction did not
turn on the defendant's credibility, then it
can hardly be error to give a character
instruction, **451 albeit arguably in the
wrong place, where the conviction also
did not turn on the appellants' credibility.
Appellants have not sustained their
burden of showing that a different result
would have been obtained had the
proposed instruction been given.
Therefore, we hold that the district court
did not err in the manner in which it
instructed the jury regarding the weight to
be given evidence of good character.
II. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Appellants contend that the trial was
infected with instances of prosecutorial
misconduct of the type and in such
quantity so as to mandate reversal with
prejudice. The trial transcript contains
several instances of misconduct
committed by the District Attorney, Mills
Lane. However, we conclude that in light
of the overwhelming evidence supporting
the convictions, the misconduct does not
mandate reversal. See United States v.
Hasting, 461 U.S. 499, 103 S.Ct. 1974, 76
L.Ed.2d 96 (1983).
By their own testimony, appellants
admitted to knowingly over-assigning
deeds of trust by as much as 400%.
Documentary evidence suggested that in
some instances the policy of over-assignment reached a level of 700%.
Both appellants testified that they knew of
and used the dual filing systems as a
method of misrepresenting the true
condition of the offered *778 investments.
A more compelling case of guilt would be
difficult to imagine.
While we recognize that reversal is an
option where prejudicial prosecutorial
misconduct is found, we realize that such
is not the only remedy, nor the most
appropriate. Reversal due to
prosecutorial misconduct may prejudice
society more than the prosecutor and
increase the expense of the state and all
concerned. Yates v. State, 103 Nev. 200
at 202, 734 P.2d 1252 at 1253.
[8] With the foregoing in mind we address
the issues appellants raise. The first area
of prosecutorial misconduct results from
Mr. Lane objecting to testimony as
hearsay, and then stating that the
defendants could have produced the
declarant if they desired. These improper
statements create two legal problems:
first, they tend to shift the burden of proof
from the State to the defendant; and
second, when the reference is that the
defendant can testify and establish such
evidence, it is a reference to the
defendant's ability or reluctance to take
the stand and testify, which is forbidden
by the Fifth Amendment of the United
States Constitution.
It is a fundamental principle of criminal
law that the State has the burden of
proving the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt and that the defendant
is not obligated to take the stand or
produce any evidence whatsoever. The
tactic of stating that the defendant can
produce certain evidence or testify on his
or her own behalf is an attempt to shift the
burden of proof and is improper. It
suggests to the jury that it was the
defendant's burden to produce proof by
explaining the absence of witnesses or
evidence. This implication is clearly
inaccurate. See Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421
U.S. 684, 95 S.Ct. 1881, 44 L.Ed.2d 508
(1975); In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 90
S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970);
Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85
S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965);
Emerson v. State, 98 Nev. 158, 643 P.2d
1212 (1982).
[9] The more serious problem created by
the prosecutor's reference to the
appellants' being able to testify is that it is
an indirect reference to the appellants'
ability and possible reluctance to take the
stand and testify. The United States
Constitution states that a defendant shall
not "be compelled in any criminal case to
be a witness against himself." U.S.
Const. amend. V. The United States
Supreme Court has held that direct
references by a prosecutor to a
defendant's decision not to testify, at any
stage of the proceeding, is always a
violation of the defendant's fifth
amendment right against self-
incrimination, and mandates reversal of
the case. Griffin v. California, 380 U.S.
609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106
(1965); See also Franklin v. State, 98
Nev. 266, 646 P.2d 543 (1982).
*779 Indirect references to a defendant's
failure to testify are constitutionally
impermissible if "the language used was
manifestly **452 intended to be or was of
such a character that the jury would
naturally and necessarily take it to be a
comment on the defendant's failure to
testify." See Barnes v. State, 97 Nev.
354, 630 P.2d 1221 (1981) (quoting
United States v. Lyon, 397 F.2d 505, 509
(7th Cir.1968), cert. denied sub nom.
Lysczyk v. United States, 393 U.S. 846,
89 S.Ct. 131, 21 L.Ed.2d 117 (1968)).
In Deutscher v. State, 95 Nev. 669, 601
P.2d 407 (1979), we considered a similar
remark made by a prosecutor in closing
argument and the test to determine if the
comment requires reversal of the case.
We stated:
The second comment occurred during
the prosecutor's final argument when he
said, "[The defendant] testified he then--excuse me. He stated during the video
interview...." This vague reference to
the appellant's confession cannot be
construed as a direct reference to his
failure to testify. Layton v. State, 87
Nev. [598] at 600, 491 P.2d [45] at 47.
The established test is whether the
language was "manifestly intended or
was of such character that the jury
would naturally and necessarily take it to
be a comment on the failure of the
accused to [respond]." Knowles v.
United States, 224 F.2d 168, 170 (10th
Cir.1955). This non-deliberate, self-corrected statement by the prosecutor
does not constitute a sufficient comment
to mandate reversal. See Sanchez v.
Heggie, 531 F.2d 964 (10th Cir.1976).
95 Nev. at 682, 601 P.2d at 416.
[10] While the district attorney
unequivocally said that the defendants
could testify to such facts if they wanted
to, we do not find that these remarks were
manifestly intended to convey to the jury
that the defendants would fail to testify.
Further, Barron and Tomlinson did
ultimately testify, although claiming they
were, in part, forced to do so by Mr.
Lane's statements. Viewing the
comments about the appellants being able
to testify in the total context in which they
were made and mindful of the
overwhelming evidence of guilt in this
case, we hold that such improper
comments do not mandate reversal.
[11][12] In the State's case-in-chief Mr.
Lane compared the defense theory to a
"hustle." Mr. Lane repeated the "hustle"
comment in closing argument,
notwithstanding that he had been directed
by the court to proceed with his argument.
We believe this comment *780 to be equal
to the "red herring" remark in Pickworth v.
State, 95 Nev. 547, 598 P.2d 626 (1979).
The prosecutor in the Pickworth case told
the jury in closing argument that the
defendant's drug intoxication defense was
a "red herring" interposed only in the hope
that the jury would return a compromise
verdict of second degree murder. We
indicated that the remark was improper,
and we were critical of the prosecution for
disparaging legitimate defense tactics. As
with this case, in Pickworth we affirmed
the conviction because the evidence
against the defendant was substantial,
and there was very little evidence
supporting the defense theory. Id. at 550,
598 P.2d at 627.
[13][14][15] Mr. Lane argued twice during
final argument that if the jury believed the
defendants' testimony or defense theory,
then he had "some ocean front property in
Tonopah" that he wanted to sell. Mr.
Lane repeated this comment after it was
objected to as improper, and the court
directed him to refrain from making such
comments. Such statements may be
good news copy or acceptable cocktail
chatter, but they are improper when used
in court by a prosecuting attorney. A
criminal jury trial is not a verbal free-for-all. A prosecutor may not offer his
personal opinion of the guilt or character
of the accused. See Emerson v. State,
98 Nev. 158, 643 P.2d 1212 (1982);
Pacheco v. State, 82 Nev. 172, 414 P.2d
100 (1966). Mr. Lane's statements were
also a violation of a district attorney's duty
not to ridicule or belittle the defendant or
his case. Accord, McGuire v. State, 100
Nev. 153, 677 P.2d 1060 (1984). The
appropriate way to comment, by the
defense or the State, is simply to state
that the prosecution's case or the
defendant is not credible and then to
show how the evidence supports that
conclusion.
In Yates, supra, we admonished Mr. Lane
for stating his own personal opinion **453
on a defendant's guilt and making
disparaging remarks about a defense
witness and the defense attorney. While
the improper remarks in this case are not
as serious as those made in Yates, we
caution Mr. Lane to avoid such improper
comments.
III. Parallel Convictions
[16] Appellants contend that the separate
charges of obtaining money by false
pretenses and embezzlement arise out of
alleged misappropriation of the same
funds and resulted in two convictions for
the same act. The third and final
amended indictment charged 32 counts of
embezzlement and false pretenses.
Counts I through XVI charged false
pretenses from particular investors on
*781 particular dates. Counts XVII
through XXXII renamed the same
investors in the same order and charged
embezzlement. The time frame in which
the embezzlement took place for each
investor began on the day of the
investment as charged in the parallel
count for false pretenses and ended
uniformly on the date of bankruptcy, April
10, 1985.
Appellants contend that they were
convicted of obtaining money by false
pretenses and later embezzling the same
funds. In Ex Parte Ricord, 11 Nev. 287,
292 (1876), this court agreed with the
petitioner that he could not have both the
authority to obtain the money lawfully,
satisfying an element of the crime of
embezzlement, and, at the same time,
obtain the same money by false
pretenses. In Point v. State, 102 Nev.
143, 147, 717 P.2d 38, 41 (1986), this
court stated, "Where the accused cannot
be convicted of both crimes, both
convictions are reversible when the
reviewing court cannot ascertain what
verdict would have been returned by a
properly instructed jury. Milanovich v.
United States, 365 U.S. at 551 [, 81 S.Ct.
at 728, 5 L.Ed.2d 773]."
Respondent submits that appellants were
not held accountable for the same money
in the parallel charges. We agree.
Sufficient evidence supports the jury's
conclusion that appellants did obtain
some funds by false pretenses, and
embezzle other funds from the same
parties.
Specifically, Counts I and XVII charge
false pretenses and embezzlement
respectively. Both crimes were alleged to
have been committed against W.H.
Marke, and to have occurred on March
28, 1985. Because Marke's total
investment of $327,000 was made over a
period of time, in the form of several
separate investments, appellants could
have placed the earlier investments in
"honest" accounts, rendering that money
"legally obtained." Then, on March 28,
when Marke entered into a $40,000 bogus
investment, with a $15,000 personal
check and a $25,000 roll-over from an
earlier investment, appellants could have
embezzled the $25,000 and obtained the
$15,000 by false pretenses. This
explanation is applicable to the other three
instances of parallel charges.
Additionally, the jury did find appellant
Barron guilty of embezzlement as charged
in Counts XXVIII through XXXI, while
finding Barron not guilty of false pretenses
in Counts XII through XV. The counts
were "parallel," in that they related to the
same victims. Barron was found guilty of
false pretenses in Count III, and not guilty
of embezzlement in Count XIX, both
relating to transactions with Mr. R. Talley.
Based on this differentiation in conviction,
we hold that the jury was capable of
understanding the differences between
the two offenses.
*782 CONCLUSION
The appellants, Barron and Tomlinson,
were given a fair trial and abundant
evidence supports the judgments of
conviction. The instructions given when
viewed as a whole were adequate and
delineated the crimes of embezzlement
and obtaining money by false pretenses.
There was sufficient evidence to support
each conviction involving the same
investor when such parallel convictions
were returned by the jury.
The prosecutorial misconduct, while
substantial, does not require the reversal
of this case in view of the overwhelming
evidence of guilt.
**454 Accordingly, we affirm the
judgments of conviction.
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