United States v. Hills

765 F. Supp. 381, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7263, 1991 WL 88086
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedMay 16, 1991
Docket91-X-71682
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 765 F. Supp. 381 (United States v. Hills) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hills, 765 F. Supp. 381, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7263, 1991 WL 88086 (E.D. Mich. 1991).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR BOND PENDING EXTRADITION HEARING

ROSEN, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This is an extradition action. The Canadian government, through the U.S. Attorney’s office, is pursuing the extradition of Defendant Derrick Leon Hills, a/k/a Stacey Shelby, 1 under the terms of the Treaty on Extradition between the United States and Canada. Shelby has been charged by Canadian authorities with various crimes in connection with a January 4, 1991 armed bank robbery in Windsor, Ontario. The events leading up to Defendant’s arrest at the request of the Canadian government are detailed in documents in the Court file of this matter, and are summarized below.

This matter is presently before the Court on the Motion of Defendant for an order directing that he be released on bail pending his extradition hearing, which, according to the Court’s file, is scheduled for May 29, 1991. The Court heard oral argument on Defendant’s Motion on May 16, 1991. Having reviewed and considered Defendant’s Motion and Brief and having heard the oral arguments of counsel at the May 16,1991 hearing, the Court is now prepared to rule on this matter, and this Opinion and Order sets forth that ruling.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On April 16, 1991, the United States Government requested and obtained a warrant for the immediate arrest of Defendant Shelby, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3184 and the Treaty on Extradition between the United States and Canada, pending receipt of a regular diplomatic request for extradition, with accompanying documentation, in conformity with Article 11 of the Extradition Treaty. The Government further requested in its April 16, 1991 application that Shelby be detained by the United States Marshal pending the conduct of an extradition hearing.

Defendant Shelby was brought before Magistrate Judge Paul J. Komives, on that same date. Shelby’s initial appearance was continued to April 17, 1991 because he had indicated on April 16 that he was hopeful of having counsel of his own selection represent him. [See, 4/17/91 Order of Magistrate Judge Paul J. Komives, p. 1.] At the continued hearing on April 17, 1991, however, Shelby requested the appointment of counsel, stating that he was unable to retain an attorney of his own because of lack of funds. Accordingly, Magistrate Judge Komives appointed the Federal Defender Office to represent him. Id.

A. BASIS FOR THE WARRANT FOR SHELBY’S ARREST

According to the sworn Application of Assistant United States Attorney Ross Parker presented to Magistrate Judge Ko-mives on April 16, 1991, the United States Attorney’s office was informed through diplomatic channels that Shelby is duly and legally charged with having committed in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (1) robbery; (2) use of a firearm while committing an offense; (3) possession of an unregistered restricted weapon; and (4) possession of a firearm with serial number defaced, all in violation of §§ 85(1)(A), 91(1), 104(3) and 344 of the Canadian Criminal Code. These offenses were allegedly committed on Jan *383 uary 4, 1991, when Defendant Shelby “did use an unregistered .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, with a defaced serial number, to rob the Bank of Montreal, 1295 Walker Road of a quantity of currency.” [April 16, 1991 Application for Warrant, pp. 1-2.]

AUSA Parker’s sworn application further indicates that a warrant for the arrest of Defendant Shelby was issued on April 16, 1991 by Judge Joseph McMahon of the Ontario Court (General Division), Windsor, Canada. [4/16/91 Application p. 1.] Parker further states that the crimes with which Shelby is charged are among the offenses enumerated in Article 2 of the Treaty on Extradition between the United States of America and Canada, 27 UST 983, TIAS 8237. [4/16/91 Application pp. 2-3.]

According to the application for immediate arrest warrant, Defendant Shelby “fled the outside boundaries of Canada” 2 and the warrant for his arrest issued by the Ontario Court Judge cannot be served in the United States. [4/16/91 Application, p. 2-]

B. MAGISTRATE JUDGE KOMIVES’ DETERMINATION REGARDING BAIL

At the continued April 17, 1991 hearing, Magistrate Judge Komives ruled on the Government’s request to order Shelby detained by the Marshal pending the holding of an extradition hearing. The Magistrate Judge issued a written Order that date granting the Government’s request. In that April 17, 1991 “Order Remanding Accused to Custody Pending Extradition Hearing”, the Magistrate Judge stated his reasons for refusing Defendant Shelby’s request that he be released on bail pending the extradition hearing:

Defendant’s counsel further explained these assertions at the May 16, 1991 hearing. He also submitted a copy of a letter from the Windsor Police Service which explained some of these matters. It appears that Defendant was arrested on January 4, 1991 by Canadian authorities on the United States side of the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. Shelby was immediately thereafter remanded to custody in Windsor. He subsequently filed a habeas corpus complaint against the Windsor police challenging his arrest by the Canadian authorities on American soil. Apparently, after investigating Shelby’s complaint, and after consultation with the U.S. Embassy and the Attorney General, the Canadian authorities released him on April 16, 1991 and ordered him to leave that country within two hours of his release, and then proceeded with seeking to have him provisionally arrested in the United States by the FBI pursuant to the Extradition Treaty.
... As argued by the Government, the presumption in extradition matters favors detention unless unusual circumstances warrant admission to bail in the discretion of the Court. While certain unusual features are present in this case, I conclude that the usual presumption should be applied in this case. A report from the Pretrial Services Agency of this Court, done at my request, also recommends detention and notes an outstanding warrant from a state district court based upon failure to appear. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the United States Marshall shall maintain custody of the accused pending the holding of an extradition hearing, which is currently scheduled for May 29, 1991, at 9:00 a.m., before the undersigned.

[April 17, 1991 Order, pp. 1-2.]

C. BASIS OF DEFENDANT’S INSTANT MOTION FOR BOND PENDING EXTRADITION HEARING

On May 9, 1991, Defendant Shelby filed the instant “Motion for Bond Pending Extradition Hearing”. 3 It is Defendant’s posi *384 tion that he is entitled to bail pending his extradition hearing because he claims that he does not pose a risk of flight and his case presents “special circumstances” warranting his release from incarceration. According to Defendant’s Brief in Support of his Motion, these “special circumstances” are as follows:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
765 F. Supp. 381, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7263, 1991 WL 88086, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hills-mied-1991.