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MISJOINDER

Where a single indictment joins offenses, other than as provided above, such constitutes a “misjoinder” of offenses. US v. Goodman, 285 F.2d 378, 379 (5^th Cir. 1960), cert. denied, 366 US 930, and failure to grant a severance for separate trial of such offenses constitutes reversible error, regardless of whether a showing of specific prejudice is made. US v. Marionneaux, 514 F.2d 1244 (5^th Cir. 1973); US v. Sutton, 605 F.2d 260 (6^th Cir. 1979); US v. Chinchic, 655 F.2d 547 (4^th Cir. 1981). See also US v. Werner, 620 F.2d 922 (2^nd Cir. 1980); Tillman v. U.S., 406 F. 2d 930, 933, n. 5 (5^th Cir. 1969); Moore’s Federal Practice and Procedure: Criminal, §14.02[1]; Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure: Criminal, §144. Contra: US v. Friedman, 445 F.2d 1076 (9^th Cir. 1971); US v. Aleman, 609 F.2d 298 (7^th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 63 L.Ed.2d 780 (1980). The vice inherent in “misjoinder”, which Rule 8(a) attempts to negate, is the harmful spill-over effect of trying an accused for unconnected offenses in the same trial.