United States v. Temple

261 F. Supp. 3d 971
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedAugust 4, 2017
DocketCase No. 4:15CR00230 JAR
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 261 F. Supp. 3d 971 (United States v. Temple) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Temple, 261 F. Supp. 3d 971 (E.D. Mo. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

JOHN A. ROSS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

This matter is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge John M. Boden-hausen (ECF No. 327). On January 6, 2017, Defendant Temple filed a Motion to Dismiss Counts Two, Four, Five and Six of the Superseding Indictment (ECF No. 224). Magistrate Judge Bodenhausen recommends the Court deny Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Counts Two, Four, Five and Six of the Superseding Indictment.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.. § 636(b), these matters were referred to United States Magistrate Judge John M. Bodenhausen, who filed a Report and Recommendation on July 17,2017 (ECF No. 327). Defendant Temple filed objections to the Report and Recommendation on July 31, 2017 (ECF No. 334). The Court finds that the Magistrate Judge’s conclusions are supported by the evidence and Defendant Temple’s objections are not persuasive.

The Magistrate Judge recommends that the Motion to Dismiss Counts Two, Four, Five and Six of the Superseding Indictment (ECF No. 224) be denied. After de novo review of this matter, this Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge [327] is SUSTAINED, ADOPTED, AND INCORPORATED herein.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion to Dismiss Counts Two, Four, Five [974]*974and Six of the Superseding Indictment [224] is DENIED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE—MOTION TO DISMISS1

John M. Bodenhausen, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Currently before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss Counts Two, Four, Five, and Six of the Superseding Indictment (“Motion to Dismiss”) (ECF No. 224), filed on behalf of Defendant Jacobi R. Temple (hereinafter “Defendant” or “Temple”). In his Motion to Dismiss, Temple argues that the superseding indictment is multiplici-tous in several respects. More specifically, Temple contends that: (1) Count Two2 should be dismissed because it involves the same, single acf of firearm possession as charged in Counts Three, Four, and Five; (2) Counts Four and Five should be dismissed as multiplicitous with Count Three because each count relies on the same predicate offense (conspiracy to distribute heroin); and (3} Count Six should be dismissed because it charges the same criminal acts alleged in Count One.

Temple filed a detailed memorandum in support of his Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 224) The Government has filed a response in opposition. (ECF No. 266) Temple thereafter filed a reply to the Government’s response in opposition. (ECF No. 298) Although the undersigned held several evidentiary hearings on Temple’s suppression motions, the parties agreed that no evidentiary hearing was necessary to resolve Temple’s Motion to Dismiss. The undersigned will issue a separate Report and Recommendation regarding the suppression motions when those motions' have been fully briefed and heard.

Having fully considered the parties’ arguments-and the relevant case law, and for the reasons stated below, the undersigned recommends that the Court deny Temple’s Motion to Dismiss. (ECF 224)

RELEVANT PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On May 12, 2016, Temple was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). (ECF No. 1) On May 13, 2016, the Grand Jury returned a one-count indictment, again charging Temple with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. (ECF No. 5) On July 15, 2016, the Grand Jury returned a multi-count superseding indictment. The superseding indictment added several, serious charges, as well - as two, co-defenr dants—Demante Syms and Samuel Spires.3 (ECF No. 30)

Count One of the superseding, indictment charges Temple, Syms, and Spires with conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C §§ 846 and 841. Count Two charges Temple, Syms, and Spires with conspiracy to possess one or more firearms, including a Colt .46 caliber semi-automatic pistol, in furtherance of the-heroin conspiracy charged in Count One. Count Two further alleges, among other things, that: (1) in or around August 2014, the three co-defendants entered into an agreement to distribute heroin in the City of St. Louis; (2) from August 2014 until March 27, 2015, they distributed heroin in [975]*975the City of St. Louis; and (3) as part of the agreement, each defendant understood that Temple would be armed with a firearm. Count Three alleges that, on or about March 27, 2015, Temple “did knowingly possess, brandish and discharge one or more, firearms” in furtherance of the conspiracy charged in Count One, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), and in the-course of the violation, Temple caused the death of James Lacey. Count Four alleges that, on or about March 27, 2015, Temple “did knowingly possess, brandish and discharge one or more firearms” in furtherance of the conspiracy charged in Count One, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), and in the course of the violation, Temple caused the death of Paige Schaefer. Count Five alleges that, on or about March 27, 2015, Temple, Syms, and Spires, acting together, “did knowingly possess, brandish and discharge one or more firearms” in furtherance of the conspiracy charged in Count One, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), and in the course of the violation, the defendants caused the death of Tammie Thurmond. Count Six alleges that, on or about April 24, 2015, Temple knowingly and intentionally possessed, with the intent to distribute, heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841.

Counts Three, Four, and Five allege crimes that carry a potential'death penalty, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(j). As a result of that potential punishment, and in consideration of additional factors and with the agreement of the parties, the undersigned designated this matter as a complex case within the parameters of the Speedy Trial Act. (ECF No. 60) On May 31, 2016, the Government filed its notice that it would not seek the death penalty. (ECF No. 125) On October 3, 2016, however, the Government filed an amended notice with the Court, noting that, in view of changed circumstances and additional information, the capital crime review process regarding Temple (but not Syms or Spires) had'been re-opened. (ECF No. 177) On November 8, 2016, the Government filed a notice indicating that it would not seek the death penalty against Temple. (ECF No.

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Bluebook (online)
261 F. Supp. 3d 971, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-temple-moed-2017.