United States v. Nixon

894 F. Supp. 285, 1995 WL 376925
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Texas
DecidedAugust 7, 1995
DocketNo. 1:93-CR-80-1
StatusPublished

This text of 894 F. Supp. 285 (United States v. Nixon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Nixon, 894 F. Supp. 285, 1995 WL 376925 (E.D. Tex. 1995).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER ADOPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

JOE J. FISHER, District Judge.

The Court heretofore ordered that these matters be referred to the Honorable Earl S. Hines, United States Magistrate Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this Court. The Court has received and considered the Report of the United States Magistrate Judge filed pursuant to such order, along with the record, pleadings and all available evidence. No objections to the Report of the United States Magistrate Judge were filed by the parties.

Accordingly, the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the magistrate judge are correct and the report of the magistrate judge is adopted. It is therefore

ORDERED and ADJUDGED that defendant is SENTENCED to nine (9) months imprisonment. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is requested to allow defendant to participate in a substance abuse program during his period of incarceration.

HINES, United States Magistrate Judge.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING SUPERVISED RELEASE

Pending is a “Petition for Action on Conditions of Release” filed on May 4, 1995, alleging that defendant John Kennedy Nixon violated terms of supervised release.

I. Procedural Background

On June 4, 1993, defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Aiding and Abetting to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 1000 Feet of a Protected Area, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), a Class B felony. The Honorable Joe J. Fisher sentenced defendant to twenty-four (24) months imprisonment, six (6) years of supervised release, and a special assessment of fifty dollars ($50.00).

On January 20, 1995, defendant completed his term of imprisonment and began service of the term of supervised release, subject to standard and special conditions.

II. The Petition

On May 4, 1995, the U.S. Probation Office filed a “Petition for Action on Conditions of Release” contending defendant had violated the following conditions of supervised release:

Mandatory Condition — While on supervised release, the defendant shall not commit another federal, state, or local crime and shall not illegally possess a controlled substance.
Condition No. 2 — The defendant shall report to the probation officer as directed by the court or probation officer and shall submit a truthful and complete written report within the first five days of each month;
[287]*287Condition No. 7 — The defendant shall refrain from excessive use of alcohol and shall not purchase, possess, use, distribute, or administer any narcotic or other controlled substance or any paraphernalia related to such substances except as prescribed by a physician;
Condition No. 11 — The defendant shall notify the probation officer within 72 hours of being arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer;
Special Condition — The defendant shall participate in a program approved by the U.S. probation Office for substance abuse, which may include testing to determine whether the defendant has reverted to the use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol;
Special Condition — The defendant shall obtain a GED or vocational training while incarcerated or while under supervised release.

Specifically, the petition alleged defendant was arrested by the Beaumont Police Department on April 28, 1995, when he allegedly ran from officers investigating a possible trespassing.

Furthermore, the petition alleged defendant failed to report for scheduled appointments with the U.S. Probation Office on April 20, April 25, and May 1, 1995. He also failed to submit a required written monthly report for the months of January, February, and March, 1995. Defendant also provided urine samples on or about January 30, 1995, and March 28, 1995, which tested positive for cocaine, failed to notify the U.S. Probation Office of his arrest by Beaumont police within 72 hours, did not report to weekly substance abuse counseling as scheduled on March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4, April 11, April 18, and April 25,1995, nor did defendant make any effort to attend GED or training sessions while in prison or on supervised release.

A preliminary examination and revocation hearing was set for June 5,1995. Defendant was ordered detained pending the hearing.

III. The Revocation Hearing

On June 5,1995, the undersigned convened a hearing in order to hear evidence and argument as to whether or not defendant’s supervised release should be revoked or modified. In open court, defendant pleaded “true” to the allegations that he failed to report to the U.S. Probation Office on the above enumerated dates, failed to provide written reports on the above enumerated dates, failed to notify the U.S. Probation Office within 72 hours of questioning and arrest by Beaumont police, provided urine samples testing positive for cocaine on the above enumerate dates, did not pursue his GED or vocational training, and had not maintained enrollment in a drug counseling program approved by the U.S. Probation Office. Defendant pleaded “not true” to the first alleged violation, that is, that he committed another crime while on supervised release. The Government informed the court it would not pursue that violation, and no evidence was introduced.

The court therefore found, by a preponderance of the evidence, defendant had violated the conditions of his supervised release by failing to report to the Probation Office as required, failing to submit a required monthly report, possession of narcotics, failing to notify the Probation Officer of arrest or questioning by the police, and failure to attend drug counseling and a GED/vocational training program. The court did not find defendant committed another crime while on supervised release.

TV. Discussion

Under § 7B1.3(a) of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines, defendant has committed a “Grade C” violation of her probation. Upon a finding of a Grade C violation, the court may (1) revoke probation; or (2) extend or modify the term of probation. United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 7B1.3(a)(l). If defendant is found to have possessed a controlled substance, the court shall revoke the term of supervised release. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(g). If revocation is ordered, defendant has a criminal history category of III, resulting in a maximum term of [288]*288imprisonment of five (5) to eleven (11) months. See U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4(a).

Title 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) provides that in determining sentence, the court shall consider:

(1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant;

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Bluebook (online)
894 F. Supp. 285, 1995 WL 376925, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-nixon-txed-1995.