United States v. Blackmon

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-60240
Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

WILLIE CHARLES BLACKMON, JR.,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Mississippi
USDC No. 3:17-CR-75-1

Before KING, GRAVES, and WILLETT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
*

Willie Charles Blackmon Jr. was convicted by a jury of two counts of sex
trafficking of minors by force and two counts of interstate and foreign travel in
aid of racketeering. Blackmon raises a single issue: whether the district court
violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause by admitting hearsay
statements of the victim, A.Z. The Government argues that any error was
harmless.

*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5
TH
CIR. R. 47.5.4.
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
March 3, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
Case: 19-60240 Document: 00515329838 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/03/2020

No. 19-60240
2
Outside of the challenged testimony, there was overwhelming evidence
presented against Blackmon at trial. Thus, the record reflects that the hearsay
statements did not substantially influence the jury’s verdict. See United States
v. Flores, 640 F.3d 638, 643 (5th Cir. 2011). The judgment is AFFIRMED.

Case: 19-60240 Document: 00515329838 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/03/2020