Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00813/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00813-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:881 Forfeiture Property-Drugs

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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

United States Attorney

KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN

Assistant U.S. Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916)554-2700

Attorneys for the United States 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 25818

BURDA LANE, NEVADA CITY,

CALIFORNIA, NEVADA COUNTY,

APN: 60-380-02, INCLUDING ALL

APPURTENANCES AND

IMPROVEMENTS THERETO,

 

 Defendant.

2:12-CV-00813-WBS-EFB

STIPULATION TO STAY FURTHER

PROCEEDINGS AND ORDER

[PROPOSED]

The United States and Claimants Ethan Lee Stuart and Jamie Crantelle

Merenda (hereafter "claimants"), by and through their respective counsel, hereby

stipulate that a stay is necessary in the above-entitled action, and request that the

Court enter an order staying all further proceedings in this civil forfeiture action until

the proceedings in the related criminal case, United States v. Sean Farrell, et al.,

2:12-CR-00076-WBS, have concluded. The parties request this stay for the following

reasons: 

1. Claimant Ethan Lee Stuart filed a claim on May 3, 2012 and answer on May

17, 2012. Claimant Jamie Crantelle Merenda filed a claim on May 21, 2012 and

1 Stipulation and Order for Further Stay

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answer on June 14, 2012.

2. The stay is requested pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and 981(g)(2). 

The United States contends that the defendant property was used to facilitate the

cultivation of marijuana. Claimants deny these allegations. 

3. The United States intends to depose claimants regarding their ownership

of the defendant property, as well as their knowledge and participation in large scale

marijuana cultivation, including the marijuana grow at the defendant property. The

United States also intends on deposing others involved in the marijuana grow at the

defendant property (and nearby properties) in October 2011. If discovery proceeds at

this time, claimants will be placed in the difficult position of either invoking their Fifth

Amendment rights against self-incrimination and losing the ability to pursue their

claims to the defendant property, or waiving their Fifth Amendment rights and

submitting to a deposition and potentially incriminating themselves. If they invoke

their Fifth Amendment rights, the United States will be deprived of the ability to

explore the factual basis for the claims they filed with this court.

4. In addition, claimants intend to depose the law enforcement officers 

involved in the criminal investigation. Allowing depositions of the law enforcement

officers at this time would adversely affect the ability of federal authorities to

investigate potential criminal violations in this case and others associated with the

marijuana grows uncovered in October 2011. The same is true with respect to written

discovery that could be issued by the United States and claimants.

 5. Accordingly, the parties recognize that proceeding with this action at this 

time has potential adverse affects on the investigation of the underlying criminal

conduct and/or upon the claimants' ability to prove their claims to the property and

assert any defenses to forfeiture. For these reasons, the parties jointly request that

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this matter be stayed until the conclusion of the criminal case. At that time the parties

will advise the court of the status of the criminal case and will advise the court

whether a further stay is necessary. The Scheduling Conference date of January 22,

2013 is hereby vacated.

Dated: 1/3/13 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

 By: /s/ Kevin C. Khasigian 

KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Dated: 1/2/13 /s/ Carolyn M. Hagin 

CAROLYN M. HAGIN

Attorney for claimants

(Signature retained by attorney)

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this action is stayed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §

981(g)(1), 18 U.S.C. § 981(g)(2), and 21 U.S.C. § 881(i) until the conclusion of the

criminal case, at which time the parties will advise the Court whether a further stay is

necessary.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 3, 2013

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