United States v. McCarthy

¶5KOELSCH, Circuit Judge.

¶6William Joseph McCarthy appeals from a judgment of the district court convicting him of smuggling marihuana into the United States from Mexico, as charged in a one count indictment. (21 U.S.C. 176a).

¶7In the district court the only real issue was whether or not McCarthy knew of the presence of the some 35 pounds of marihuana, which Customs Inspector Gaudur discovered in McCarthy’s automobile during the search of the vehicle at the border port of entry. The principal attention of the parties in the presentation of proof and in argument to the *1291jury, and of the court in its instructions, was devoted to that issue. At no time did McCarthy question the validity of the search, and attempt to have suppressed as illegally seized, the marihuana and any proof concerning it.

¶8However, McCarthy now seeks to do so and to have this court declare that the remaining properly admitted evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction.1 We decline the invitation. “For the search and admissibility of the product of the search to be challenged on appeal, that challenge must be made in the first instance in the trial court. ‘Fairness to that court and to counsel and to the reviewing court demands this.’ So do ‘fair procedural requirements’.” Carlton v. United States, 391 F.2d 684 (8th Cir. 1968); see also, Darden v. United States, 405 F.2d 1054 (9th Cir. 1969).

¶9McCarthy’s remaining points are without merit:

¶10 Whether to postpone a trial on the grounds of physical distress of counsel is a matter ordinarily within the sound, discretion of the trial court; on this record we cannot say the court was obliged to grant a continuance. Counsel represented he was suffering from a recent back injury and taking some medication to ease the pain. Nevertheless, the transcript indicates that counsel was mentally alert during the trial and was able to and did competently defend McCarthy. Mende v. United States, 282 F.2d 881 (9th Cir. 1960).

¶11For some reason, not apparent to us, the government had marked for identification as Exhibit 3 a search report prepared by Inspector Chapman during the strip search of McCarthy following his arrest. Inspector Gaudur was allowed to testify, over objection, that the report indicated that McCarthy was tattooed and that he had no driver’s license. Although such use of the report was error, the testimony based upon it could not possibly have prejudiced McCarthy.2

¶12No reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.