United States v. Paul Rowton Bailleaux

Appellant Paul Rowton Bailleaux was convicted after a jury trial on three counts of a five count indictment. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and two counts of substantive violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 arising out of attempted extortions in the San Diego and Palm Desert areas in California. Bailleaux appeals from his conviction alleging that (1) the trial court committed an abuse of discretion in denying his motion for a change of venue due to extensive pretrial publicity concerning the crimes charged; (2) the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence relating to appellant’s prior criminal conduct and conviction in Oregon; and (3) it was reversible error for the district court to admit evidence of a taped conversation between appellant and his former business associate because appellant was not advised of the existence of the tape until after he had testified on direct examination.

We affirm the judgment of the district court.

I

Appellant’s first contention is that he should have been granted a change of venue because the jury was prejudiced by adverse pretrial publicity…