United States v. Warren

971 F. Supp. 1288, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10617, 1997 WL 405920
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Arkansas
DecidedJuly 15, 1997
DocketNo. LR-CR-95-248
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 971 F. Supp. 1288 (United States v. Warren) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Warren, 971 F. Supp. 1288, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10617, 1997 WL 405920 (E.D. Ark. 1997).

Opinion

[1289]*1289MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

GEORGE HOWARD, Jr., District Judge.

The central question in this post trial proceeding is whether the post trial testimony of Delbra Heron of February 28, 1997, that Richard Talley told her after the trial that he was the one who stashed drugs in her garage and that he, Richard Talley, was with defendant in the garage and that after they left, the drugs had disappeared, constitutes newly discovered evidence and is sufficient to support defendant’s request for relief — a new trial.

Delbra Heron had previously testified, during the course of the trial, on October 17, 1996, as a rebuttal witness for the Government that defendant had entered the garage and after he left, the drugs were gone. No mention or reference was made of Richard Talley.

The following constitutes the testimony given by Delbra Heron during the October 17, 1996, trial in response to questions asked by the Government’s attorney:

Q. Was there ever an occasion ... where you found, I believe this is through your son, located some cocaine?
A. Yes, in my garage in some books.
Q. Who actually found that?
A. My son.
Q. What happened, or can you describe for us where it was?
A. It was in my garage ...
Q. Was it white powder?
A. Yes, in some little plastic bags.
Q. What happened to that cocaine?
A. I believe Excel (defendant) took it. Defense counsel objects.
Q. Do you know for sure what happened
A. All I know is it left. I can’t say that I saw him take it, just actually say it, because all I know is it left there.
Q. Where did you leave it?
A. In the book.
Q. Where did you put the book?
A. Back on the shelf in the garage.
Q. Did Excel Warren later come by?
A. Yes he did.
Q. Did he go into your garage?
A. Yes.

After carefully considering the totality of the circumstances surrounding the charges involved in this proceeding, this Court is persuaded that the evidence given by Delbra Heron on February 28, 1997, is newly discovered evidence because the evidence was discovered after trial; and notwithstanding Del-bra Heron’s role as a rebuttal witness called to impeach defendant’s denial of any association with drugs, Delbra Heron’s trial testimony was extremely prejudicial because she was the only credible witness to state, in effect, that defendant had possessed drugs. When she testified, Delbra Heron had not been charged with any criminal conduct, or promised anything by the Government. This fact linked with the jury’s exclusive responsibility of determining the credibility of witnesses in a proceeding where credibility is crucial and pivotal, persuades this Court that a new trial is warranted as discussed more fully herein.1

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Excel Warren was charged in a two count indictment with (1) conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and (2) knowingly and intentionally attempting to possess with the intent to distribute approximately 1/4 kilogram of cocaine.

In support of its ease, the Government called the following witnesses.

Ronald Watson:

On October 15, 1992, Watson entered into a plea agreement with the Government whereby Watson would cooperate and offer whatever assistance that was requested in an ongoing drug investigation. Watson also [1290]*1290agreed, in effect, to refrain from the use, sale, or distribution of drugs in the future. In exchange, the Government agreed to take steps to institute only a two count indictment against Watson charging him with a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and with money laundering; and that upon a plea of guilty to the charges, the Government would, during sentencing, advise the Court of Watson’s cooperation and assistance. However, in June or July of 1993, the Government discovered that Watson had made several distributions of cocaine in violation of the plea agreement resulting in negotiations for a second plea agreement which was made on December 3, 1993, providing that in exchange for Watson’s assistance, the Government would recommend to the sentencing Court a maximum term of five years incarceration in lieu of the applicable term of ten years.

Ronald Watson testified that he had sold Excel Warren cocaine on at least three occasions between early 1990 and early 1992; that during the initial transaction, he delivered four ounces of cocaine to Warren on a “consignment or front” basis worth between $1,000.00 and $1,500.00, but Warren returned two ounces and paid for two ounces; that in 1991, he sold Warren a kilogram of cocaine for $24,000.00 in cash; and that in early 1992, he sold Warren another kilogram of cocaine for $24,000.00 in cash. Watson stated that he acquired his cocaine from Keith Williams who imported drugs to Arkansas from California.

Ronald Watson, at the direction of Sergeant Don Sanders, an Arkansas State Police Investigator assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration in Little Rock, Arkansas, invited Warren to his home, in April, 1993, where a video camera had been installed, and asked Warren to sell him a quarter of a kilo of cocaine. Sergeant Sanders supplied Watson with $6,500.00 cash to pay for the cocaine with instructions to deliver the money only upon actual delivery of the cocaine. The incident was recorded by the video camera. Warren appeared, but did not have any drugs.2 However, Warren tried, but without success, to persuade Ronald Watson to deliver the $6,500.00 to him in exchange for his promise to return within a reasonable period of time with the drugs.

Kenneth Piggee:

Kenneth Piggee, who is married to Tina Piggee — Warren’s former secretary- — testified that he had seen cocaine in Warren’s automobile and office, but stated that he could not be specific because “I don’t really know.” “I can’t remember, it’s been so long ago.” “Six years ago. It’s been awhile.”

Kenneth Piggee also testified that in November, 1990, that he made a trip to Houston, Texas to purchase cocaine for Excel Warren; that while returning to Arkansas, he was stopped by a Texas Highway Patrolman for improper license tags and while being interviewed by the officer, cocaine was discovered on the rear seat of the vehicle. Kenneth Piggee entered a plea of guilty to the charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to a term of five years and three months incarceration.

Kenneth Piggee further stated that after his arrest, his wife immediately contacted Warren and obtained approximately $10,-000.00 with which to secure the services of an attorney and to post a bail bond. The testimony of Kenneth Piggee was received for the limited purpose of showing knowledge, intent, motive, and the absence of mistake or error.

[1291]

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Related

United States v. Warren
16 F. Supp. 2d 1050 (E.D. Arkansas, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
971 F. Supp. 1288, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10617, 1997 WL 405920, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-warren-ared-1997.