United States v. Charles Winters

On this appeal, Winters challenges his convictions for kidnapping in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201 (a) (1982), and for transporting women in interstate commerce for immoral purposes in violation of the Mann Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2421 (1982).

Winters argues that we should reverse these convictions because the trial judge improperly permitted the jury to hear testimony about prior similar acts that Winters had committed and expert testimony about the subjects of post-traumatic stress disorder and forced prostitution. We affirm.

I

The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the government, United States v. Larios, 640 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir.1981), shows that in late September 1981, defendant Winters parked his van at a truck stop in Castaic, California, and picked up three young women who were hitchhiking to Washington State. Winters drove north and stopped in Hanford, California. There he forced Darlene Beltran, one of the hitchhikers, to spend the night in his van, where he beat and raped her. The other two hitchhikers thought that Darlene wanted to stay with Winters, so they continued hitchhiking on their own. Thereafter, Winters beat and raped Darlene on numerous occasions.…