United States v. Tyrell Henderson

MEMORANDUM

Tyrell James Henderson appeals from his conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 111 (a), (b). Henderson challenges the district court’s interruption of his counsel’s closing argument, questioning of defense witness Isaac Saenz after the government’s cross-examination of Saenz, and decision to call a ten-minute recess in the middle of Agent Dan Love’s testimony.

We review Henderson’s appeal of the district court’s interruption of defense counsel’s closing argument for abuse of discretion. United States v. Lazarenko, 564 F.3d 1026, 1043 (9th Cir.2009). The district court interrupted when defense counsel referred to the lack of a video camera on the police vehicle. The court was rightly concerned that counsel would describe what a camera might have shown and then argue facts that were outside the record. There was no abuse of discretion.

Henderson did not object to the district court questioning Saenz and calling a recess in the middle of Love’s testimony; we review those issues for plain error. United States v. Morgan, 376 F.3d 1002, 1007 (9th Cir.2004). The district court did not plainly err in questioning the witness, whose testimony…