United States v. Ibarra

770 F. Supp. 337, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9861, 1991 WL 132475
District Court, S.D. Texas·Decided July 16, 1991·No. Crim. H-91-97·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

ORDER OF CONTINUED PRETRIAL DETENTION

KENT, District Judge.

Before the Court are Defendant Ibarra’s Motion to Amend the Detention Order, (Instr. #7), Defendant Guerrero’s Motion for Bond Reconsideration, (Instr. # 10), and Defendant Chambers’ Motion to Revoke the Magistrate’s Detention Order and for Release Upon the Combination of Reasonable Conditions, (Instr. # 5). The Court has considered these Motions jointly, for purposes of this Order, but individually as respects the merits of each, and for the reasons hereinbelow set out, each of said Motions is DENIED.

BACKGROUND

Pursuant to the terms of 18 U.S.C. § 3142, a preliminary and detention hearing was held before the Hon. Calvin Botley, United States Magistrate-Judge, on May 28, 1991, in Houston, Texas. After a hearing lasting almost six hours, Magistrate-Judge Botley determined that the Defendants had successfully rebutted the presumption that they constituted a risk of flight, but found that they had failed to rebut the statutory presumption that they constituted a danger to the community, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3142(e) and (f). 1 On that basis, Magistrate-Judge Botley determined that no condition or combination of pre-trial release conditions would ameliorate such danger to the community, and denied bail, in his Order of Detention Pending Trial, which was entered on May 30, 1991. 2

*339 Subsequent to the entry of such Order, these Defendants have individually and collectively moved for reconsideration of the Magistrate-Judge’s Order of Detention on a variety of factual and legal bases, and have requested this Court to conduct such review de novo, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3145(b). Therefore, notwithstanding any prior findings by the Magistrate-Judge, as this Court herein acts de novo, it is entitled to make an independent determination as to proper pre-trial detention or proper conditions for release, if any. U.S. v. Fortna, 769 F.2d 243, 249 (5th Cir.1985).

BOND GENERALLY

18 U.S.C. § 3141(a) provides for the authority of this Court to consider bond issues. Under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(a), the Court must establish terms of any pre-trial release, and under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(c)(3), this Court may amend release terms, if any, as from time to time required. Similarly, if pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142(a)(4), the Court determines that detention, rather than pretrial release is appropriate, it is mandated to adhere to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3142(e) and (f).

The standard required in the Fifth Circuit, regarding consideration of pre-trial release, is that conditions must be set that “reasonably assure appearance, not ‘guarantee’ appearance, and that detention can be ordered on this ground only if ‘no condition or combination of conditions reasonably assure the appearance.’ ” U.S. v. Fortna, 769 F.2d 243, 250 (5th Cir.1985), citing U.S. v. Orta, 760 F.2d 887, 890-92 (8th Cir.1985). This is of course consistent with the presumption of innocence, in each Defendant’s behalf, and with Constitutional guarantees against the establishment of excessive or unreasonable bail. U.S. Const, amend. VIII. On the other hand, the Court must juxtapose its serious and legitimate concerns in such regard with current statutory enactments.

The Indictment in this cause, (Instr. # 1), asserts three counts. Count One alleges violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), § 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. Count Two alleges violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)® and § 2. Count Three alleges violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)® and § 371. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(e) and (f) establish a rebut-table presumption that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the Defendant as required and the safety of any other person in the community, where “an offense for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed in the Controlled Substances Act 18 U.S.C. § 3142(e), 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f)(1)(C). Consequently, while such presumption does not apply, as regards Count Two or Count Three, pertaining to any of the three Defendants, such rebuttable presumption does exist as a matter of law, as regards Count One, pertaining to each of said Defendants.

Notwithstanding such distinction, and as regards each count, pertaining to each Defendant, this Court must consider four factors in determining conditions of release, if any, or the justification for pretrial detention: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offenses charged, especially if narcotics are involved; (2) the weight of the evidence against each Defendant; (3) the history and characteristics of each Defendant, in a number of specified particulars; and, (4) the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or to the community, regarding the contemplated pre-trial release of any Defendant. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g).

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United States v. Ibarra, 770 F. Supp. 337, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9861, 1991 WL 132475 (S.D. Tex. 1991).

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