United States v. Lee

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedJanuary 7, 2003
Docket01-4485
StatusPublished

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Bluebook
United States v. Lee, (3d Cir. 2003).

Opinion

Opinions of the United 2003 Decisions States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

1-7-2003

USA v. Lee Precedential or Non-Precedential: Precedential

Docket 01-4485

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Recommended Citation "USA v. Lee" (2003). 2003 Decisions. Paper 829. http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2003/829

This decision is brought to you for free and open access by the Opinions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit at Villanova University School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2003 Decisions by an authorized administrator of Villanova University School of Law Digital Repository. For more information, please contact Benjamin.Carlson@law.villanova.edu. PRECEDENTIAL

Filed January 7, 2003

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

No. 01-4485/4496

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v.

ALBERT M. LEE,

Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (D.C. Criminal Action No. 00-cr-00024-1 & No. 00-cr-00028-1) District Judge: Honorable Gregory M. Sleet

Argued on October 17, 2002

Before: GREENBERG, ROTH, Circuit Judges and WARD,* District Judge

(Opinion filed January 7, 2003)

Christopher S. Koyste (Argued) Assistant Federal Public Defender 704 King Street, Suite 110 Wilmington, DE 19801

Attorney for Appellant _________________________________________________________________

* The Honorable Robert J. Ward, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, sitting by designation.

Colm F. Connolly United States Attorney Edmond Falgowski Leonard P. Stark (Argued) Assistant United States Attorneys Chase Manhattan Centre 1201 Market Street, Suite 1100 P.O. Box 2046 Wilmington, DE 19899-2046

Attorneys for Appellee

OPINION OF THE COURT

WARD, District Judge:

This is an appeal from the district court’s judgment imposing a condition of supervised release, which requires appellant to submit to random polygraph examinations at the discretion of the probation officer. Because we conclude that the condition does not violate appellant’s Fifth Amendment right and the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the polygraph condition, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

I. BACKGROUND

Appellant Albert Lee was arrested on February 15, 2000 for knowingly transporting child pornography by computer. On March 14, 2000, he was charged in a two-count indictment, alleging transportation of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. S 2252A(a)(1) & (b)(1), and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. S 2252A(a)(5)(B) & (b)(2). The Grand Jury returned a second indictment on March 28, 2000, charging Lee with travel for purposes of having sex with a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. S 2423(b), and enticing a minor by computer to engage in sex, in violation of 18 U.S.C. S 2422(b). On April 11, 2000, the Grand Jury returned a three-count indictment, superceding the original indictment returned on March 14, 2000. The superceding indictment charged Lee with transportation of child pornography; possession of

child pornography; and enticing a minor by computer to engage in sex.

On November 30, 2000, pursuant to a plea agreement, Lee pleaded guilty to all three counts in the superceding indictment returned on April 11, 2000, and Count One of the indictment returned on March 28, 2000 (travel for purposes of having sex with a minor).

At the time Lee committed the offenses involved, he was over thirty years of age. He met female minors via an Internet Relay Chat channel entitled "#0!!!!!!!!GirlsandOlderGuys." Through online conversations, Lee met a fifteen-year old girl; he later met her in person and engaged in sexual acts with her. He also attempted to meet other minors online in order to induce them to perform sexual acts with him. In addition, Lee transmitted child pornography online.

The district court committed Lee to the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia for a psychological evaluation to assist the court in sentencing. An evaluation was conducted on May 15, 2001 and a report was mailed to the court on May 21, 2001. On July 25, 2001, the district court advised the parties that it was considering an upward departure with respect to Lee’s sentence. Lee had Doctor Timothy P. Foley perform a psychological evaluation on September 14, 2001, the results of which were provided to the court. The district court informed the parties on October 31, 2001 that it was still considering an upward departure. On the sentencing date, December 11, 2001, the parties executed an Addendum to Memorandum of Plea Agreement, stipulating to increase the offense level for transportation of child pornography by two points to Level 23. Inasmuch as appellant’s Criminal History Category was I, the Guideline Sentencing Range was 46 to 57 months. Lee was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration on Count One, and 46 months each on Counts Two and Three of the superceding indictment and Count One of the indictment returned on March 28, 2000, all terms to be served concurrently. Upon release from imprisonment, Lee was to be on supervised release for a term of three years. The court set additional

conditions of supervision, one of which was the following: "The defendant shall submit to random polygraph examination, examination to be administered by a certified examiner, at the direction and discretion of the United States Probation Officer." (Appendix at A-8). Lee appeals this particular condition of supervised release. 1

II. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. S 3231, which grants the district courts jurisdiction over all offenses against the laws of the United States. We have jurisdiction to review the district court’s judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. S 1291 and 18 U.S.C. S 3742(a). The district court’s decision to impose conditions of supervised release is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Loy, 237 F.3d 251, 256 (3d Cir. 2001). _________________________________________________________________

1. Although Lee is not appealing the other conditions of supervised release, they include, inter alia, the following:

4. The defendant shall participate in a mental health treatment program which may include urine testing at the direction and discretion of the probation officer.

5. The defendant shall not own or use a personal computer with Internet access in his home, except for work, nor shall he possess any other electronic device that is capable of transmitting child pornography.

6. The defendant shall be prohibited from having in his possession any type of obscene materials.

7. The defendant is to have no unsupervised contact with a juvenile under the age of 18 years old, and is prohibited from patronizing any establishments or events frequented by minors . . . .

8. The defendant shall register as a convicted sex offender with local and state authorities as required by state law. . . . (Appendix at A- 8).

4 III. DISCUSSION

A. Constitutionality of the Polygraph Condition

1. Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self- Incrimination

Appellant argues that the polygraph condition of supervised release violates his Fifth Amendment right due to the potential for self-incrimination. According to Lee, the examiner could ask the appellant about prior uncharged offenses or other potentially incriminating conduct.

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