United States v. Meisel

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A jury found Steven Meisel guilty of distributing and possessing child pornography. On appeal, he argued the district court: (1) violated his right to present a complete defense by preventing him from adducing alternative perpetrator evidence; and (2) erred in denying his request to instruct the jury on “identity.” The Tenth Circuit affirmed: even assuming the district court erred in limiting Meisel’s ability to present alternative perpetrator evidence, any such error was harmless. And, since the jury instructions, considered as a whole, adequately conveyed to the jury the gist of Meisel’s defense, the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to give Meisel’s proffered instruction. View "United States v. Meisel" on Justia Law