United States v. Leon Binford

818 F.3d 261, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 5870, 2016 WL 1258375
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedMarch 31, 2016
Docket14-1635
StatusPublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 818 F.3d 261 (United States v. Leon Binford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Leon Binford, 818 F.3d 261, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 5870, 2016 WL 1258375 (6th Cir. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION

OVERVIEW

BERTELSMAN, District Judge.

Defendant-Appellant Leon Binford appeals his convictions and enhanced sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of being a .felon in possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). Binford argues that both convictions should be vacated because they were based on evidente admitted in violation of his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. Binford also argues that his sentence should be vacated because it was enhanced based on the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(1), which the Supreme Court recently held is unconstitutionally vague, and because his sentencing-guidelines range was substantially increased based on an identical provision in the Sentencing Guidelines that is also void.

We AFFIRM the judgment of the district court with respect to Binford’s convictions. However, with respect to Binford’s sentence, we VACATE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for reconsideration in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015).

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Search and Questioning of Bin-ford

In the fall of 2012, Detective Paul Kinal of the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) and other NET officers utilized a confidential informant to make two controlled purchases of marijuana from Leon Binford, approximately two weeks apart. The purchases were made in the parking lot of Binford’s apartment building in Southfield, Michigan. On both occasions, Kinal and, other officers searched the informant before the purchase; gave him the money to make the purchase; listened as he called Binford to arrange the purchase; observed Binford leave his apartment and meet the informant in the parking lot; observed a hand-to-hand transaction between the two; and tested the marijuana that the informant turned over immediately after the purchase. Based on the above, Kinal obtained a search warrant that authorized him to search Binford’s apartment for drugs, firearms, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Because Binford had a history of *265 gun-related or violent offenses, Kinal requested and received permission from his superiors to use the Special Entry and Response Team (SERT) to enter and clear the apartment.

On October 2, 2012, Kinal and four other NET officers, approximately ten members of the'SERT team, and a canine team, executed.‘the search warrant on Binford’s apartment. The SERT officers — dressed in black- tactical uniforms and equipped with helmets, handguns, rifles, and some wearing masks — made entry-first by forcing the front door open with a large steel ram. Once inside, the SERT team observed Binford standing naked in the doorway of his master bedroom, .ordered him to the ground, and handcuffed him behind his back. Kinal testified that Binford was “cooperative arid compliant” and that, after officers made contact with him, he “posed no risk of any threat or assault.” The SERT team also found Binford’s. girlfriend and two-year-old child in the bedroom and took them into the living room to sit on a couch during the search. Finally, the SERT team and canine team performed a protective sweep qf the- residence. After the sweep, which lasted no more than five or six minutes, the SERT team exited and Kinal and the NET officers entered to conduct the search of the apartment.

Once inside the apartment, Kinal took Binford into the bathroom attached to the master bedroom while the other NET officers began searching the apartment. Bin-ford had a bed sheet or some other type of covering around him — which had been placed over him before Kinal entered the residence — but was otherwise unclothed and still handcuffed. Kinal, who measures 6T" and weighs 230 pounds, also had his service handgun in a leg holster. However, he never removed it from the holster. Binford is approximately 5'10" and weighs 240 pounds.

• Kinal testified that he decided to take Binford in -the bathroom for privacy and because it was the quietest place in the apartment, citing the noise that is inherent in the execution of a search warrant. Ki-nal also stated that he. planned to speak with Binford about the case and about working as a confidential informant, which needed to be kept between only Binford and Kinal.

Once inside the bathroom, which is a 6' x 5' room, Kinal closed the door and removed a balaclava (a type of mask) that hid his face and was marked “police.” Binford .was seated on the toilet and Kinal stood near the sink. Kinal testified that Binford immediately started apologizing about what was going on, but Kinal, quickly directed him to stop so that he could be given Miranda warnings. Kinal also testified that he moved Binford’s handcuffs to the front of his body after Binford stated that he would act appropriately and pose no threat to Kinal, Kinal then handed Binford a pen.

Kinal testified that he then presented Binford with a typed Miranda rights-and-waiver form and asked Binford if he could read and write. Binford answered in the affirmative. Kinal then asked Binford to read each numbered right on the form and, if he understood that right, to initial the corresponding number acknowledging this , understanding. Kinal read the rights aloud to Binford; however, Kinal did not require that Binford read the rights aloud himself. Kinal witnessed Binford initial each right, and Binford testified that he understood everything on the Miranda form. '' Next, Binford signed the waiver section, and handwrote “yes” ■ under the question asking if he was willing to speak with Kinal and -waive his rights. Kinal testified that he then questioned Binford. During the questioning, Binford admitted that: he sold small quantities of marijuana *266 to pay his bills; he sometimes conducted the sales in the parking lot of his apartment building; there was a pistol in a boot on the top shelf of the master bedroom closet; he bought the pistol on the streets for protection; he knew he was not supposed to have a gun; and there was marijuana in a drawer or on the counter. In total, Kinal and Binford were in the bathroom for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes.

Regarding other details of the questioning, Kinal testified that he could not remember whether he told Binford that he was under arrest or detained; however, Kinal did tell him that he was the focus of the investigation and acknowledged that Binford would not have been free to leave. Further, Kinal testified that at that point he did not have a charge to arrest Binford on and that Binford was detained because “he was the focus of [Kinal’s] investigation based on [Binford’s] history and search warrant on hand.” Kinal clarified that if he used the word “arrest,” it was by mistake and not in line with his standard interviewing technique.

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818 F.3d 261, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 5870, 2016 WL 1258375, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-leon-binford-ca6-2016.