United States Fifth Circuit

Convictions for violating the Mann Act, which criminalizes transporting a minor child across state lines for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity, are affirmed over claims of error regarding: 1) sufficiency of the evidence; 2) the district court's Allen charge; 3) a courtroom closure; 4) cross-examination of the victim; 5) admission of expert testimony; 6) a Rule 413 challenge involving a decision to admit evidence regarding a separate alleged victim; 7) the use of an inculpatory statement of one defendant against the other; 8) a limitation on witness questioning; and 9) the government's closing statement.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/13/2006
• Published 12/14/2006

Judges

• EDITH BROWN CLEMENT, Circuit Judge:, Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DENNIS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Betty Lee Marak (argued), Shreveport, LA, for Scott H. Hitt., Brian E. Steel (argued), Atlanta, GA, Kenneth Craig Smith, Jr., Smith & John, Shreveport, LA, for William A. Causey.


• For Appellees:
  
• Josette Louise Cassiere, Asst. U.S. Atty. (argued), Ross Stewart Owen, Earl M. Campbell, Shreveport, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.