UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Charles J. SANCHEZ, Jr., Defendant-Appellant

ALARCON, Circuit Judge:

Charles Jesse Sanchez (“Sanchez”) appeals from the judgment entered following his conviction by a jury of the crime of assisting federal offenders to avoid apprehension. He seeks reversal claiming that the prosecutor’s misconduct materially affected the jury’s verdict resulting in a miscarriage of justice. We agree and vacate the judgment of conviction and remand for a new trial.

I

PERTINENT FACTS

Steve Denton and Dana Jo Thompson failed to appear for sentencing on February 3, 1995, for the crime of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. On that date, they began an…