United States America v. Calvin G. Thomas Charles C. Copney Wendell Ronald Charles

Appellant Calvin Thomas was convicted of conspiracy to steal government property, interstate transportation of stolen goods and theft of government property. This appeal concerns the prejudicial effect of the introduction at trial of the guilty pleas of Thomass co-conspirators. Defense counsel moved in limine for the exclusion of the guilty pleas based on a pledge that he would not elicit any information about the pleas from the co-conspirators. The district court denied the motion, holding that the guilty pleas were being introduced for a proper purpose and that the courts limiting instructions to the jury would cure any prejudice to the defendant. We hold that the admission of this evidence by the district court constituted error so prejudicial that it requires reversal of Thomass conviction.