United States v. Noland

367 F. Supp. 571, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10991
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedNovember 20, 1973
DocketCrim. A. No. SA73CR76
StatusPublished

This text of 367 F. Supp. 571 (United States v. Noland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.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. Noland, 367 F. Supp. 571, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10991 (W.D. Tex. 1973).

Opinion

ORDER

SPEARS, Chief Judge.

On this the 20th day of November, 1973, came on to be considered the defendant’s motion for reduction of sentence illegally imposed in the above styled and numbered cause. This motion is governed by Rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

A jury found the defendant guilty of violating 21 U.S.C. § 846, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 426 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); and 18 U.S.C. § 2, aiding and abetting the possession of said substance.

On October 23, 1973, this Court sentenced the defendant to confinement for a period of ten years with a 20 year special parole on each count, the sentences to run concurrently. The defendant was sentenced pursuant to the provisions of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B), which provides enhanced penalties for second and subsequent convictions of the narcotics laws. The maximum sentence which can be imposed under the enhancement provisions of that statute is a term of ten years confinement, a fine of not more than $30,000, and a special parole term of at least four years, in addition to the term of imprisonment.

The defendant’s motion, as stated in open court, alleges that the sentence imposed is illegal and improper under the law, in that the government failed to file an information which complied with the requirements of 21 U.S.C. § 851(a); and therefore, the maximum penalty that could be assessed for either of the [572]*572two counts involved would be five years confinement and/or a $15,000 fine, plus a special parole term of at least two years in addition to the term of imprisonment.

21 U.S.C. § 851(a)(1) states:

“No person who stands convicted of an offense under this part shall be sentenced to increased punishment by reason of one or more prior convictions, unless before trial, or before entry of a plea of guilty, the United States Attorney, files an information with the Court (and serves a copy of such information on the person or counsel for the person) stating in writing the previous convictions to be relied upon. * * * ”

The United States Attorney in this ease did not file the required information with the Court until October 24, 1973, one day after the imposition of sentence. The defendant’s allegation would, therefore, seem to be that no increased sentence can be imposed unless there has been strict compliance with the procedure outlined in 21 U.S.C. § 851(a)(1).

On October 27, 1970, 21 U.S.C. § 851 became effective as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Control Act of 1970, 21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq., and it repealed and replaced the prior enhancement statute, 26 U.S.C. § 7237. In summary, § 7237(c) (2) required that the United States Attorney advise the Court, after conviction, but prior to the pronouncement of sentence, of any prior conviction that would qualify the defendant for punishment as a second offender.

The purpose of 26 U.S.C. § 7237(c)(2) was to allow the defendant an opportunity in open court to affirm or deny that he was the person previously convicted, and thus, to protect the defendant from the effects of a prior conviction incorrectly charged. Baca v. United States, 312 F.2d 510, 513 (10th Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 373 U.S. 952, 83 S.Ct. 1682, 10 L.Ed.2d 706 (1963).

In substance, the two statutes are substantially the same; however, § 851 takes into Account the changes in the law since 1954, and affords the defendant the opportunity to claim that the conviction relied upon was invalid. The defendant in this case does not claim that the conviction relied upon was invalid, nor does he dispute the fact that he is the person who was convicted. His claim is that there was not strict compliance with the procedures outlined in the statute. However, the courts have held that the failure to file an information in strict compliance with the procedure outlined in 26 U.S.C. § 7237(c)(2) was harmless error when the late filing did not result in prejudice to the defendant. Knight v. United States, 225 F.2d 55 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 350 U.S. 890, 76 S.Ct. 148, 100 L.Ed. 784 (1955); United States v. Duhart, 269 F.2d 113, 116 (2d Cir. 1959); and King v. United States, 346 F.2d 123, 124 (1st Cir. 1965). After conducting an exhaustive review of the legislative history of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Control Act of 1970, this Court has found nothing to indicate that Congress intended 21 U.S.C. § 851(a) to be interpreted any differently than the courts construed 26 U.S.C. § 7237(c)(2).

The factual circumstances of this case lead this Court to conclude that the government’s procedural error did not result in the defendant being in any way prejudiced. On April 16, 1973, during the arraignment proceedings at which he was represented by counsel, Mr. Noland was informed by the Assistant United States Attorney of the maximum penalties that could be imposed upon conviction, or a plea of guilty. The penalties recited to Mr. Noland, which he acknowledged that he fully understood, were the enhanced penalties provided for in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) applicable only to second and subsequent offenders. Thus Mr. Noland was at the time of the arraignment put on notice of the government’s intention to ask for enhanced punishment upon conviction.

On May 18th, 1973, at a hearing on the defendant’s motion to reduce the amount of bond, the defendant called his [573]*573mother to the stand to testify in his behalf. Mrs. Noland testified, in her son’s presence, that the defendant had twice been arrested for the manufacture of dangerous drugs, once in 1968, and again in 1969.

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Related

Willie Lee Knight v. United States
225 F.2d 55 (Ninth Circuit, 1955)
United States v. James Duhart
269 F.2d 113 (Second Circuit, 1959)
Natividad Baca v. United States
312 F.2d 510 (Tenth Circuit, 1962)
David King v. United States
346 F.2d 123 (First Circuit, 1965)
Howard C. Good v. United States
410 F.2d 1217 (Fifth Circuit, 1969)
Mitchell v. Myrtle Grove Packing Co.
350 U.S. 891 (Supreme Court, 1955)
Naim v. Naim
350 U.S. 891 (Supreme Court, 1955)

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Bluebook (online)
367 F. Supp. 571, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10991, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-noland-txwd-1973.