United States v. Davis

658 F. Supp. 394
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedDecember 30, 1986
DocketNo. CR 86-93
StatusPublished

This text of 658 F. Supp. 394 (United States v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Davis, 658 F. Supp. 394 (W.D. Pa. 1986).

Opinion

HISTORY, STATUTORY FINDINGS OF FACT AND/OR LAW, DISCUSSION AND ORDER IN REGARD TO DEFENDANT WILLIAM HALLOWAY DAVIS’ MOTION FOR A BAIL BOND PENDING THE OUTCOME OF HIS APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD CIRCUIT, FROM THE ORDER OF THIS COURT WHICH REVOKED HIS PROBATION

SIMMONS, District Judge.

History Of This Case

The Defendant in this case, William Hal-loway Davis was the subject of a five count indictment involving the Defendant’s alleged possession of a number of checks which said Defendant allegedly knew had been stolen from the mail. This indictment was filed with this Court on April 28, 1986, at Criminal No. 86-93.

On May 5, 1986, the Defendant appeared before a Federal Magistrate and pled not guilty. The Defendant had been previously placed on a $5000.00 unsecured bond. On June 12, 1986, the Defendant appeared before this Court and pursuant to a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney, withdrew his plea of not guilty as to Count Two of said indictment and pled guilty to the same. The other Four Counts of said indictment upon motion of the Assistant United States Attorney were dismissed by this Court.

Based upon the Defendant’s plea of guilty, to Count Two of said indictment, this Court formally adjudicated Defendant guilty and entered a judgment of conviction against the Defendant and on August 5, 1986, sentenced him as follows:

The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Attorney General or his authorized representative for imprisonment for a period of four years; and on condition that the defendant be confined in a jail-type or treatment institution, such as the Community Treatment Center on the South Side for a period of 90 days, the execution of the remainder of the sentence of imprisonment is hereby suspended and the defendant is placed on probation for a period of five years to [395]*395commence upon the defendant’s release from confinement upon the following terms and conditions:
1. That he comply with all local, state and federal rules and laws;
2. That he comply with the rules and regulations of the probation department;
3. That he make restitution in the sum of $513.30, payable at the rate of $20/month;
4. That the defendant be involved in a work release program and maintain his job;
5. Special assessment of $50 to be paid at the rate of $5/month;
6. That the defendant make payments of at least $5/month towards the fines and costs owed to the Allegheny County Courts. The Court recommended that the defendant be housed at the South Side Community Treatment Center so that he can participate in a work release program.

Mr. Davis was incarcerated at the Goodwill Community Treatment Center located on the South Side section of Pittsburgh and was released from the CTC on November 7, 1986, and entered upon the service of his three years of probation. At no time was the defendant in prison or under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of the United States Bureau of Prisons while at the Treatment Center, and up to and including the date of his probation revocation hearing he was personally living in this Federal Judicial District under the jurisdiction of this Court. (NOTE: Attached hereto is a transcript of the sentencing proceeding in this case.)

On November 6, 1986, a petition for probation revocation action was filed with regard to the above captioned case and thereafter on November 13, 1986, a hearing was held before this Court.

The Defendant was charged with having violated the terms of his commitment to the treatment center as follows:

1. The defendant admitted that he falsely told the officials at the treatment center that he was signing out to his place of employment on 10/4/86, when as a matter of fact he spent the day helping his father-in-law move his household furniture, etc.
2. The defendant admittedly was guilty of a curfew violation on 11/1/86, when he was due back to the Center from his place of employment at 2:15 P.M., and where he in fact did not arrive back at the Center until 6:55 P.M. over four hours later than the required time.

Based on the admitted violations of the rules of the Center and the conditions of his sentence, this Court concluded on November 13, 1986, during the period of his probation, after a full hearing, and by clear and convincing evidence, the truth of which was admitted by the defendant, that the defendant had violated the terms and conditions of his probation, and thereupon this Court revoked said probation, and sentenced defendant to the custody of the Attorney General or his authorized representative for imprisonment for a period of four years.

On November 18, 1986, the defendant filed a notice of appeal from the Order of this Court revoking the probation of the defendant. On November 19, 1986, the defendant moved this Court for bail and stay of sentence pending the outcome of the appeal from this Court’s Order revoking defendant’s probation.

Because it seemed clear to this Judge beyond doubt that Rule 9(b) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure [as is clearly set forth in the caption of said Rule 9, Section (b)” in bold face type, “(b) Release Pending Appeal from a Judgment of Conviction”}, did not apply in this case since the defendant is not appealing from a Judgment of Conviction or the terms and/or conditions of sentence, but rather is only appealing from a revocation of his probation, this Court on November 20, 1986, summarily refused defendant’s application for bail pending his first appeal.

The Order of this Court denying bail also was appealed to the Honorable Court of Appeals and this Court was directed by the [396]*396Appeals Court to comply with Rule 9(b) and 18 U.S.Code Section 3143(b).

A bail hearing was held on December 24, 1986, and the following findings were made by this Court:

FINDING NO. ONE

Findings of Fact required by Title 18 Section 3143(b)(1) of the United States Code and Discussion.

This Court finds that the defendant has failed to provide clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to flee if he is released on bail. To the contrary, the uncontested evidence clearly shows that the defendant has failed recently on at least two occasions to observe time limits set for his return to the Community Treatment Center and this conduct gives credence to the possibility that the defendant may flee if given an opportunity to do so.

FINDING NO. TWO

Findings Required by Title 18 Section 3143(b)(2) of the United States Code and Discussion.

It is the finding of this District Court that this appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals is for the purpose of delay and said appeal does not raise a substantial question of law or fact that is likely to result in a reversal of this Court’s Order which revoked the defendant’s probation.

In the first place this Court knows of no authority which authorized the granting of bail to a defendant who is appealing an order revoking his probation and who has been adjudicated guilty based on an uncontested legally proper plea of guilty.

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Related

Affronti v. United States
350 U.S. 79 (Supreme Court, 1955)
United States v. Michael Veatch
792 F.2d 48 (Third Circuit, 1986)

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Bluebook (online)
658 F. Supp. 394, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-davis-pawd-1986.