United States v. Thomas

766 F. Supp. 372, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7673, 1991 WL 97030
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 30, 1991
DocketCrim. 91-37
StatusPublished

This text of 766 F. Supp. 372 (United States v. Thomas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Thomas, 766 F. Supp. 372, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7673, 1991 WL 97030 (W.D. Pa. 1991).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LEE, District Judge.

Before the Court are the Omnibus Pretrial Motions of the defendant filed out of time on May 13, 1991.

On May 22, 1991, a hearing was held on the defendant’s Omnibus Pre-trial Motions and a Motion for a 90-day continuance for trial. On May 23, 1991, the Court entered an Order continuing the trial from May 28, 1991, to June 3, 1991, and directing the Government to disclose to the defendant all Brady and Jencks materials in its possession or control on or before May 31, 1991, at 10:00 a.m.

Background

On March 20, 1991, the defendant was indicted on one count of conspiracy to steal, conceal and retain with intent to convert to own use government property and to transport same in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314, and three counts of theft of government property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.

On April 3, 1991, pursuant to the motion of the defendant for extension of time to file pre-trial motions, the Court entered an Order extending the time for the filing of pre-trial motions for a period of 30 days to May 3, 1991. However, contrary to the Court’s Order, the defendant did not file the Omnibus Pre-trial Motions until May 13, 1991.

Defendant’s counsel explained that it was the intention of the defendant to request a 30-day extension beyond the initial 10-day period for the filing of the Pre-trial Motions, which would have made the filing timely.

The Court accepted the defendant’s explanation and agreed to hear the Pre-trial Motions for disposition on the merits.

In support of his Motion for continuance, the defendant represented that defense counsel was continuously in trial from January 2, 1991, through April 16, 1991, that he took a vacation from April 29, 1991, to *374 May 8, 1991, and was scheduled to commence a criminal trial on May 30, 1991, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and therefore, required a continuance of 90 days to properly and effectively prepare for trial.

Because the parties were notified of the trial date as early as April 4, 1991, and because the Court found that the defendant had not adequately demonstrated due diligence in his preparation for trial, and further, in view of the Government’s strenuous objection to a continuance, 1 the Court reluctantly agreed to continue the trial from May 28, 1991, to June 3, 1991.

Moreover, the Court directed the Government to contact the Personnel Office at Fort Meade, Maryland, John Gellagos, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Colonel Joseph Fisher of Evans City, Pennsylvania, identified by the Government as the persons who could identify military personnel who worked with the defendant at Fort Meade, Maryland, to request their cooperation in assisting defense counsel in his efforts to obtain the names and telephone numbers of the various witnesses.

In this Memorandum Opinion, the Court will treat the remaining matters raised in the defendant’s Omnibus Pre-trial Motions.

I. Motion for Disclosure of Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) Evidence

The defendant requests that the Government “in the form of a proffer disclose any 404(b) evidence prior to eliciting any testimony or introducing Exhibits in connection with 404(b) evidence.”

In response, the Government asserts that uncharged misconduct is not Brady material which must be disclosed. Moreover, the Government contends that because the Court must make a determination that such evidence is relevant for a purpose other than to show a mere propensity or disposition on the part of the defendant to commit a crime, and whether its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues or possibility of misleading the jury, the Court can only make such a determination during the course of trial in the light of all of the evidence received up until the point that the Rule 404(b) evidence is offered.

The Government further agrees to request the Court to make a ruling on the admissibility of such evidence at the appropriate time during trial if the Government does decide to use such evidence.

Therefore, an Order will be entered directing the Government to request a ruling from the Court prior to its attempt to introduce such evidence during the trial of the case.

II. Motion for Disclosure of Exculpatory Material and Additional Discovery Material

The defendant requests additional discovery items which basically seek discovery pursuant to Rule 16: (i) a list of names of the Government’s witnesses; (ii) Brady material; (iii) handwritten notes of Special Agent Ziegler and Special Agent O’Neil; (iv) records of parts equipment and all persons involved in the redeployment phase of FC-88; and (v) witnesses’ statements, including but not limited to Grand Jury testimony of any witness who was involved with the transportation of United States Army tractor tires referred to in Overt Act 9 of the Indictment.

Disclosure of Brady and Jencks Material

With regard to the defendant’s request for various types of Brady material and the handwritten notes of Special Agent Ziegler and Special Agent O’Neil, the Court has already ordered the Government to disclose to the defendant all such material on May 31, 1991, at or before 10:00 a.m.

List of Witnesses

The defendant requests a list of the following witnesses:

(A) A list of the names and addresses of each and every person who was interviewed by the Government as a prospective, possible or potential witness for the trial in the above-captioned matter.
*375 (B) A list of the names and addresses of each and every person who was interviewed by the Government in the course of its investigation into the above-captioned matter who the Government does not intend to call as a witness in its case in chief at trial.
(C) A list of the names and addressees of each and every expert who the Government intends to call as a witness in the presentation of its case in chief in the trial of the above-captioned matter.
(D) Names, addresses and telephone numbers for all persons involved in the redeployment phase of FC-88, including but not limited to the warrant officer in charge of the supply portion of FC-88, personnel of the First Army and the Directorate of Logistics (DSLOG) for the First Army Lt. Colonel Idiroldi.

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Bluebook (online)
766 F. Supp. 372, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7673, 1991 WL 97030, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-thomas-pawd-1991.