United States v. Venable

416 F. Supp. 2d 64, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8686, 2006 WL 401817
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedFebruary 21, 2006
DocketCRIM.A.00-0038(CKK)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 416 F. Supp. 2d 64 (United States v. Venable) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Venable, 416 F. Supp. 2d 64, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8686, 2006 WL 401817 (D.D.C. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KOLLAR-KOTELLY, District Judge.

Due to the unusual circumstances of this case, which revolves around Defendant’s alleged violation of the terms of his supervised release with less than one (1) month left in his release period, the Court is presented with three questions of first impression within this jurisdiction. Specifically, the Court must determine:

1. Does the issuance of a warrant for a violation of supervised release toll the period of supervised release and/or ensure that the Court retains power to hold a hearing on the violation (“HOV”) after the expiration of the defendant’s supervised release period?
2. Can the Government proceed with an HOV even though it has decided in its discretion not to criminally prosecute the defendant for the conduct that is the sole basis of the violation of his supervised release?
3. When the Government attempts to proceed with an HOV after choosing not to criminally prosecute the defendant for the underlying conduct, does the Form 12A in the United States Probation Office’s petition become moot? If so, is the defendant denied the requisite notice that his conduct may have violated the conditions of his supervised release?

Following determinations on January 9, 2006 and January 11, 2006 by the Magistrate Court that (1) the Government may not proceed with an HOV in this case if it has chosen to dismiss separate criminal charges against Defendant Antonio L. Venable (“Defendant”), and (2) the dismissal of separate criminal charges moots the Probation Office’s Form 12A and ends the Court’s jurisdiction over the conduct, the Government filed its “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings Regarding Hearing on Violation” on January 24, 2006. Defendant, in response, submitted its “Objection and Opposition to Government’s Filings of Objections to Magistrate Findings Regarding Supervised Release” on *67 February 7, 2006. The Government then submitted its “Response to Defendant’s Objections to Government’s Filings of Objections to Magistrate Findings Regarding Supervised Release” on February .16, 2006.

Upon a consideration of these filings, the relevant case law, and the entire record herein, the Court finds that: (1) the issuance of a warrant for a violation of supervised release, tolls the period that the Court may hold an HOV, such that an HOV may be held after the technical expiration of a defendant’s supervised release; (2) given the different standards of proof involved, the Government may proceed with an HOV despite choosing not to criminally prosecute the defendant for the conduct at issue; and (3) the Probation Office’s Petition and Memorandum, along with its Form 12A, contained sufficient descriptive information that Defendant was provided adequate notice that his conduct could constitute a violation of the terms of his supervised release. Because the Court finds that the relevant documents are not moot and that it retains jurisdiction with respect to Defendant’s alleged violation of his supervised release, the Court shall set a date of March 2, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in order to hold an HOV regarding Defendant’s alleged conduct on November 19, 2005. Both parties should be prepared to present all appropriate witnesses, including the arresting police officers, live at the hearing so that the Court may make a fully informed decision as to the merits of Defendant’s alleged violation.

I: BACKGROUND

A. Defendant Allegedly Violates the Terms of His Supervised Release

Defendant Antonio L. Venable was arrested on January 4, 2000 for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Person Previously Convicted of a Term of Imprisonment Exceeding One Year, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Defendant’s initial appearance was on January 5, 2000J and he was held'without bond, after probable cause was shown in a preliminary hearing and a bond hearing, by Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson (“Magistrate Judge Robinson”) on January 19, 2000. Defendant was convicted at trial, and on August 9, 2000, was sentenced to thirty-three (33) months incarceration, followed by three (3) years supervised release by this Court. Defendant’s supervised release began on December 2, 2002, and was scheduled to expire on December 5, 2005.

While on supervised release, on November 19, 2005, Defendant was arrested by Metropolitan Police Department officers in front of 3831 9th Street, SE, Washington, D.C., at approximately 5:25 p.m. On November 21, 2005, Defendant was charged by-criminal complaint with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Person Previously Convicted of a Term of Imprisonment Exceeding One Year, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, in Magistrate Criminal Case No. 05-0627M. In Magistrate Criminal Action No. 05-0627M, Defendant was presented to Magistrate Judge Robinson on November 21, 2005, at which time the Government requested his detention. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §. 3142(f)(1)(C) and 18 U.S.C. § 3142(d)(l)(A)(iii). Magistrate Judge Robinson granted the Government’s request, and continued the case for a consolidated preliminary and detention hearing on December 2, 2005.

In the interim, on November 29, 2005, a Memorandum and Request for Course of Action was filed by U.S. Probation Officer Matthew Warboys. See Def.’s Opp’n to Gov’t’s Filing of Objections to Mag. Find *68 ings Re: Supervised Release (“Def.’s Opp’n”), Ex. 1 (Warboys Mem. & Req. for Course of Action). Probation Officer War-boys’ filing was accompanied by a Form 12A, which included the “Statement of Alleged Violations of Supervised Release.” Id. (Form 12A). In full, this Statement noted:

Mr. Venable has engaged in new criminal conduct. On November 19, 2005, Mr. Venable was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department for the District of Columbia, and charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year and one count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, case number 05-627M. (Standard Condition).

Id. (Form 12). The accompanying Memorandum described this conduct in greater detail, stating:

Mr. Venable has engaged in new criminal conduct....

According to the arrest report received from the Metropolitan Police Department, on November 19, 2005, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), were on patrol in the 3800 block of 9th Street SE, Washington, D.C., when they observed the defendant, Antonio Venable, reach into his pockets, empty the contents and walk away in the opposite direction of the officers.
Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
416 F. Supp. 2d 64, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8686, 2006 WL 401817, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-venable-dcd-2006.