United States v. Keys
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
2018 WL 4002028 (2018)
- Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD
Facts
The prosecution charged Martavious Keys (a.k.a. “Cheese”) (defendant) with sex-trafficking minors. At trial, the prosecution asked two of three officers who interrogated Keys if, based on their entire investigations, they believed (1) one victim had been forced to engage in commercial sex acts; (2) the second victim had been compelled to engage in commercial sex acts; and (3) Keys had the opportunity to observe both victims. The prosecution then asked who forced or compelled the victims to engage in sex acts, and both officers named Keys. The defense lodged no objections. One of the officers also testified that he did not believe some of Keys’s interview responses. Key appealed his conviction, arguing the trial court improperly admitted lay-witness opinion on the ultimate issue of whether Keys committed the offense charged, and opinion as to Keys’s truthfulness.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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