United States v. Phillip Ductan

800 F.3d 642, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 15585, 2015 WL 5132900
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedSeptember 2, 2015
Docket14-4220
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 800 F.3d 642 (United States v. Phillip Ductan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth 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. Phillip Ductan, 800 F.3d 642, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 15585, 2015 WL 5132900 (4th Cir. 2015).

Opinions

Vacated and remanded by published PER CURIAM opinion. Judge DIAZ wrote a separate concurring opinion.

PER CURIAM:

Phillip Ductan appeals his convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (and aiding and abetting the same), and carrying a firearm during and in relation to those drug trafficking crimes, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, 18 U.S.C. § 2, and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). Ductan contends that the district court violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel when it (1) required him to proceed pro se after finding that he had forfeited his right to counsel, and (2) subsequently removed him from the courtroom and chose a jury in his absence.

We hold that the magistrate judge erred in concluding that Ductan forfeited his right to counsel. And nothing in the record supports' the government’s alternate contention that Ductan waived — either expressly or impliedly — that right. Because the error is not harmless, we vacate Due-tan’s conviction and remand for a new trial.

I.

A.

In April 2004, a confidential informant told the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (the “CMPD”) that Ductan had offered to sell him 100 pounds of marijuana. In response to the tip, the CMPD set up a controlled buy at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. When the informant arrived, he was met by Ductan and two other men, Mark Lowery and Landis Richardson, who were seated in a Ford SUV. After Ductan showed the informant a package of marijuana, CMPD officers moved in to arrest the three men, prompting Ductan to throw a firearm on the ground and attempt to flee. The officers discovered other firearms at the scene, as well as a significant quantity of marijuana in Lowery’s nearby SUV. Ductan was charged in North Carolina state court with trafficking in marijuana and carrying a concealed firearm, but the charges were dismissed.

B.

In September 2004, a federal grand jury indicted Ductan and his co-conspirators on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana (in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846), possession with intent to distribute marijuana and aiding and abetting the same (in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 18 U.S.C. § 2), and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)). An arrest warrant issued, but Ductan was not arrested until May 2012.

At his initial appearance before the magistrate judge, Ductan indicated that he had retained attorney Charles Brant to represent him. Brant, however, soon moved to withdraw, citing Ductan’s uncooperativeness, refusal to sign a discovery waiver as a precondition for the government providing written discovery, and lack of communication.

At the hearing on Brant’s motion, the magistrate judge confirmed that Ductan no longer wanted Brant to represent him, and asked Ductan whether he wished to hire another lawyer or have the court appoint counsel. Ductan complained that it was difficult to find counsel while incarcerated, but insisted that he “d[id] not want to consent to having a lawyer appointed.” [645]*645J.A. 28. Ductan also told the judge that he did not want to represent himself.

After the judge explained that Ductan’s options were to represent himself, hire new counsel, or ask the court to appoint counsel, Ductan began making nonsense statements, requesting “a form 226 form” and informing the court that he was “a secured party creditor.” J.A. 29. The judge then instructed the prosecutor to summarize the charges and maximum penalties, but after the prosecutor finished, Ductan stated, “I do not understand what he is saying. I’m only here for settlement of the account.” J.A. 33. The judge twice asked Ductan whether he was “under the influence of any alcohol or drugs,” but Ductan gave nonsense responses. J.A. 34. The judge then told Ductan that he would not appoint a lawyer because “by making nonsense statements,” Ductan could “be found to have waived [his] right to counsel,” although he directed the Federal Defender to appoint standby counsel. J.A. 35.

Following the hearing, the magistrate judge issued an order granting Brant’s motion to withdraw and summarizing the proceedings. United States v. Ductan, No. 3:04-CR-252 (W.D.N.C. Oct. 5, 2012), ECF No. 142. Although the judge noted that Ductan had not “knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel,” he held that as a result of Ductan’s frivolous arguments and evasive responses, Ductan had “forfeited his right to counsel in this matter.” Id. at 2.

A month later, Ductan’s standby counsel Randy Lee moved to withdraw. According to Lee, Ductan did not want Lee “to represent him in any capacity” and also refused to sign a discovery agreement. J.A. 42. Lee explained that he was unable to adequately prepare for the case and would not be ready if asked to assist at trial. Lee said that he would accept appointment as full-time counsel, but was not comfortable continuing as standby counsel.

At the hearing on Lee’s motion to withdraw, Ductan complained that he did “not feel confident that [Lee] would represent [him] adequately” because Lee had spent little time meeting with him. The magistrate judge responded that Lee was merely standby counsel and was not defending Ductan, because Ductan had “waived [his] right to having an appointed attorney” at the previous hearing and was therefore “representing [him]self.” J.A. 49. Ductan replied that he did not want Lee to remain in the case in any capacity, explaining that .he was “seeking private counsel,” J.A. 50, and “d[id] not want to contract with the government at all, as far as counsel’s concerned,” J.A. 57.

The magistrate judge denied Lee’s motion to withdraw. The judge explained that while he understood the difficult position Lee was in, Lee would not have to try the case because Ductan “by his conduct ... had waived his right to appointed counsel[, s]o his option is to hire a lawyer or represent himself.” J.A. 53. Before concluding the hearing, the judge briefly explained to Ductan the risks of proceeding pro se, emphasizing that Ductan was on his own unless he either “hire[d] an attorney” or “allow[ed] Mr. Lee to help.” J.A. 59.

C.

Ductan thereafter appeared before the district court for calendar call. The court advised Ductan on the advantages of professional representation, noting that although Ductan had waived his right to appointed counsel, he was free to hire counsel. In response, Ductan said that he was a “secured party creditor” and was seeking private counsel. Supp. J.A. 41. [646]*646Ductan also stressed that he “could not properly represent [him]self.” Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
800 F.3d 642, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 15585, 2015 WL 5132900, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-phillip-ductan-ca4-2015.