United States v. Wood

6 F. Supp. 2d 1213, 1998 WL 216865
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedMay 4, 1998
Docket97-40086-01/02-SAC
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 6 F. Supp. 2d 1213 (United States v. Wood) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Wood, 6 F. Supp. 2d 1213, 1998 WL 216865 (D. Kan. 1998).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

CROW, Senior District Judge.

The case comes before the court on the defendants’ pretrial motions. The defendant Randy Wood has filed: Motion to Suppress Evidence (Dk.31); Motion for Disclosure of 404(b) Evidence (Dk.32); and Motion to Join the Co-Defendant’s Motions (Dk.33). The defendant Jerry Hammond has filed: Motion to Adopt and Join in Pretrial Motions of Co-Defendant (Dk.35); Motion to Suppress Evi *1217 dence (Dk.36); Motion to Dismiss Count II (Dk.37); Motion to Suppress Defendant’s Statements (Dk.38); and Request for Notice Pursuant to Rule 404(b) (Dk.39). The parties presented oral arguments and evidence at a hearing on January 26, 1998, and at a continuation of the hearing on February 5, 1998. The court gave the defendant Hammond additional time to file a supplemental memorandum. The defendant timely submitted a memorandum totaling twenty-six pages to supplement his original five-page motion and memorandum. (Dk.54). Having received and reviewed all matters presented by the parties and having researched the controlling law, the court issues this order as its ruling on the above motions.

INDICTMENT

On October 22, 1997, the grand jury returned a four-count indictment against the defendants for conduct occurring on or about December 16,1996. Count one charges both defendants with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 175 grams of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Count two charges both defendants with attempting to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 175 grams of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Count three charges both defendants with using a facility in interstate commerce with the intent to carry on or facilitate the unlawful activity of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952. Count four charges the defendant Randy C. Wood with possession of a shotgun which has a barrel less than 18 inches in length and which is not registered to him in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d).

RULE 404(b) REQUESTS (Dks. 32 and 39).

Both defendants request notice of evidence that the government intends to introduce against them pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. Rule 404(b). The government responds that it will introduce all factual matters already disclosed in discovery. With respect to the defendant Wood, the government further represents that it considers all material provided in discovery to be intrinsic evidence. With respect to the defendant Hammond, the government further represents that it will provide advance notice of any new 404(b) evidence that was not revealed in the original discovery. At the hearing, both defendants conceded that the government’s ■ response satisfies the notice requirements of Rule 404(b). The court reminds the government of its 'continuing duty to comply with these requirements. The defendants’ 404(b) • request is denied as moot. '

MOTIONS TO JOIN (Dks. 33 and 35).

The court grants these motions upon the express conditions stated in the court’s Criminal Procedural Guidelines, ¶ I. C.

MOTION TO DISMISS (Dk.37).

The defendant Hammond moves to dismiss count two, that charges him with attempting to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 175 grams of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The defendant argues that an overt act is an essential element to this offense and that count two fails to allege an overt act. The government, responds as follows:

Counsel’s motion might have some theoretical merit if this were a conspiracy case under 18 U.S.C. § 371, but this is a drug conspiracy case, and there is no need for the government to allege an overt act, since there is no overt act necessary for the completion of this crime. United States v. Shabani, 513 U.S. 10, 115 S.Ct. 382, 130 L.Ed.2d 225 (1994); United States v. Williamson, 53 F.3d 1500 (10th Cir. 1995); United States v. Johnson, 42 F.3d 1312 (10th Cir.1994); United States v. Savaiano, 843 F.2d 1280, 1284. (10th Cir. 1988).

(Dk.47, p. 1). Because count two does not charge a drug conspiracy, the court does not understand the government’s response.

Rule 7(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires an indictment to be “a plain, concise and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged.” “An indictment is sufficient 'if it sets forth the elements of the offense charged, puts the defendant on fair notice of the charges against which he must defend, and enables a defendant to assert a double jeopardy defense.” United States v. Dashney, 117 F.3d 1197, 1205 (10th Cir. 1997); see United States v. Poole, 929 F.2d *1218 1476, 1479 (10th Cir.1991). The sufficiency of the indictment is not a question of “whether it could have been made more definite and certain, but whether it contains the elements of the offense intended to be charged.” United States v. Debrow, 346 U.S. 374, 376, 74 S.Ct. 113, 98 L.Ed. 92, (1953) (citations omitted). When challenged as lacking an element of the offense, the indictment is sufficient if there are “words of similar import” to the missing element. Dashney, 117 F.3d at 1205. In the Tenth Circuit, it is usually enough for the indictment to track the statute when the statute adequately expresses all of the elements to the offense. United States v. Dunn, 841 F.2d 1026, 1029 (10th Cir.1988). An indictment is held only to minimal constitutional standards. United States v. Edmonson, 962 F.2d 1535, 1541 (10th Cir.1992). Practical rather than technical considerations guide the court in determining the sufficiency of an indictment. United States v. Bolton, 68 F.3d 396, 400 (10th Cir.1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1137, 116 S.Ct. 966, 133 L.Ed.2d 887 (1996).

An act or omission that amounts to a substantial step taken toward the commission of the substantive offense is an essential element to a crime of attempt. United States v. DeSantiago-Flores, 107 F.3d 1472, 1478 (10th Cir.1997), overruled on other grounds, United States v. Holland, 116 F.3d 1353 (10th Cir.1997).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Stowe v. Alford
E.D. California, 2021
Cap Export, LLC v. Zinus, Inc.
C.D. California, 2021
State v. Bierer
308 P.3d 10 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2013)
People v. Pereira
58 Cal. Rptr. 3d 847 (California Court of Appeal, 2007)
United States v. Hicks
59 F. App'x 703 (Sixth Circuit, 2003)
United States v. Quiroz
57 F. Supp. 2d 805 (D. Minnesota, 1999)
People v. Zahn
594 N.W.2d 120 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1999)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
6 F. Supp. 2d 1213, 1998 WL 216865, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-wood-ksd-1998.