1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2833

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

AT TACOMA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) Docket No. CR05-5828FDB

)

Plaintiff, ) Tacoma, Washington

) March 6, 2008

vs. )

)

BRIANA WATERS, ) VOLUME 18

)

Defendant. )

)

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS

BEFORE THE HONORABLE FRANKLIN D. BURGESS

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, and a jury.

APPEARANCES:

For the Plaintiff: MARK N. BARTLETT

ANDREW C. FRIEDMAN

Assistant United States Attorney

700 Stewart Street, Suite 5220

Seattle, Washington 98101-1271

For the Defendant: ROBERT BLOOM

Attorney at Law

3355 Richmond Boulevard

Oakland, California 94611

NEIL M. FOX

Cohen & Iaria

1008 Western Ave., Suite 302

Seattle, Washington 98104

Court Reporter: Teri Hendrix

Union Station Courthouse, Rm 3130

1717 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, Washington 98402

(253) 882-3831

Proceedings recorded by mechanical stenography, transcript

produced by Reporter on computer.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2834

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008 - 10:10 A.M.

* * *

(Jury not present.)

THE CLERK: This is in the matter of the United

States of America versus Briana Waters, Cause No. CR05-5828

FDB.

Counsel, please make an appearance for the record.

MR. FRIEDMAN: Good morning, Your Honor, Andrew

Friedman and Mark Bartlett for the United States. Ted Halla

is here from the FBI.

MR. FOX: Good morning, Neil Fox and Robert Bloom for

Briana Waters, who's present.

THE COURT: All right. I had sent to you a jury note

that I intend to send to the jury, and the note is asking them

to fill in the verdict form with regard to any count or counts

as to which they have reached a unanimous verdict, and do not

provide any information with regard to any counts as to which

they have not reached a unanimous verdict.

I intend to, with that, take a partial verdict on the

matter. Then after that has been done, I will deal with what

the defense has recommended, that is dealing with the

remaining -- whatever that may be -- as to whether this jury

is deadlocked as to that matter.

That's the fashion in which I am going to do this. Okay.

MR. FOX: May I be heard on that, Your Honor?
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2835

Your Honor, I think that -- I guess the question that we

have is what does the Court intend to do with the verdict

form? Because it is our position that it's not a final

verdict until it's announced in open court and the jury is

polled.

THE COURT: All of that will take place as I get the

partial verdict. The jury will be in the jury box when I do

all of that, and then I will deal with what is left that is

not dealt with on that verdict form. I will deal with that in

terms of the deadlock.

MR. FOX: So the Court is going to have them fill out

the form, come in and announce their verdict on those counts?

THE COURT: That's correct. They are not going to

send the verdict form out. I just want to know if they have

done this in accordance with this. If they have done that,

then I will bring them in and I will ask them the usual

questions I normally ask them.

MR. FOX: It is our position if the jury is going to

return a partial verdict, that they also have to be informed

that that partial verdict is final, that they cannot change

their minds if they go back and deliberate on other counts.

THE COURT: I will poll the jury and I will get that

information. All right.

So what I have given you, I intend to sign that and date

it now; and today, I believe, is the 6th, and the time being
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2836

10:18. I am signing it now. As soon as they indicate to the

bailiff that they have done that, I will have them here. So,

we will take a brief recess and get an answer.

THE CLERK: All rise, Court is in recess.

(Recess at 10:18 a.m.)

THE COURT: All right. You may be seated.

All right. Bring them in.

(Jury present.)

THE COURT: All right, you may be seated.

Good morning to you. All right, it is my understanding

now -- Mr. Martinez, I am speaking to you as the presiding

juror -- that in keeping with my last instruction to you, that

you would fill out the verdict form as to counts that you have

made a unanimous verdict on. That's been done?

PRESIDING JUROR: Yes.

THE COURT: The ones you didn't make a decision on,

nothing has been entered into that part of the verdict form?

PRESIDING JUROR: That's correct, sir.

THE COURT: So the jury now, you've reached a

unanimous verdict, have you?

PRESIDING JUROR: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: As to those partial counts?

PRESIDING JUROR: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: It's a unanimous verdict?

PRESIDING JUROR: Yes, Your Honor.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2837

THE COURT: I am going to have you present that to

the clerk, please.

(Verdict form handed to the bailiff.)

THE COURT: All right. The clerk will read the

verdict.

THE CLERK: United States District Court, Western

District of Washington, at Tacoma, United States of America,

versus Briana Waters, Cause No. CR05-5828 FDB.

Verdict.

We, the jury, unanimously find the following:

Count 5, arson of a building in interstate commerce or in

activity affecting interstate commerce: Guilty.

Count 7, arson of a building belonging to an institution

receiving federal financial assistance: Guilty.

Dated this 6th day of March, 2008.

Presiding juror, Mr. Martinez.

THE COURT: All right. Poll the jury now as to that

count.

THE CLERK: Mr. Rose, is the verdict as read, as to

each count, your verdict and the verdict of the jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE COURT: Read it as to Count 5 and then as to

Count 7.

THE CLERK: As to Count 5?

JUROR: Yes.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2838

THE CLERK: And as to Count 6?

THE COURT: -- Count 7.

THE CLERK: As to Count 5 and 7?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Mr. Gordon, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes, ma'am.

THE COURT: Ms. Penn, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Ms. Stewart, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Ms. Hough, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes, it is.

THE COURT: Ms. Terry, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE COURT: Mr. Rito, is the verdict as read as to
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2839

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Ms. Mezger, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Ms. Coleman, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE CLERK: Mr. Martinez, is the verdict as read as

to each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of

the jury?

JUROR: It is.

THE CLERK: Mr. Spradley, is the verdict as read as

to each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of

the jury?

JUROR: Yes, it is.

THE CLERK: Ms. Kounse, is the verdict as read as to

each count, Count 5 and 7, your verdict and the verdict of the

jury?

JUROR: Yes.

THE COURT: All right.

As to those two counts, those verdicts will be filed.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2840

I have a few more questions for you, and now I am talking

to you about the counts which you did not make any kind of

decision on. Would it do any good now for you to go back and

deliberate and keep working at this; do you feel you could

reach a verdict if that is done?

(Jurors shaking heads.)

THE COURT: Are you saying to me if I leave you here

until God knows when, you will be in the situation you are in

now?

(Jurors nodding heads).

THE COURT: Is that to say you are hopelessly

deadlocked about those other counts that you are called on to

answer?

(Jurors nodding heads).

THE COURT: All right. Well, I think that answers

the question on those counts.

I will hear from counsel. It seems to me that it wouldn't

make a lot of sense to send them back; they have been out for

four days, five days on this matter?

MR. BARTLETT: Perhaps outside the presence of the

jury.

THE COURT: Let me do this. Let me have you folks

step out again for a minute, and then I will have you back in

here and I will tell you where we go from here.

(Jury not present.)
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2841

THE COURT: All right. You may be seated.

I think their answer -- I will have you speak to that --

they have been out a while.

MR. BARTLETT: Your Honor, the United States is not

requesting any further deliberations.

I would ask that the jury -- that the Court ask the jury

to provide us with a split with regard to the remaining counts

which would help us in determining whether or not we will

proceed to a second trial with regard to the counts that the

jury has not reached a unanimous verdict on.

MR. FOX: We would move for a mistrial, which I am

not sure they are opposing.

THE COURT: Tell me what you are talking about,

mistrial --

MR. FOX: With regard to the counts for which they

haven't reached a verdict on.

THE COURT: Okay.

MR. FOX: I am making a formal motion.

THE COURT: All right, but there are no other issues

as to a mistrial. Okay, then let me -- bring them back in.

MR. BARTLETT: Just for the record, we are obviously

opposed to the motion for mistrial, with regard to double

jeopardy claims.

THE COURT: Well, I am not granting anything; the

jury has spoken.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2842

MR. FOX: While we are waiting, I am curious what

this Court's policy is with regard to discussions with jurors.

THE COURT: I am going to deal with that. You will

hear about that as they come in.

MR. BARTLETT: I remind the Court of the local rule

which prevents discussions.

THE COURT: I will deal with that issue.

(Jury present.)

THE COURT: You may be seated.

All right. The Court has decided that it wouldn't make

much sense for you folks to keep deliberating on these

particular counts. So with that, your inability to do that, I

will declare you are deadlocked as to those issues and you

won't be called on to deliberate further.

With that, that is going to bring your services to an end.

You will be discharged to go about your way.

Again, I want to thank you for your services. It's been a

long trial and a lot of things going on. I don't want you to

leave here and think that all the time you've spent is gone.

I appreciate it. I want to personally thank you in doing

that. I want to also advise you of what I am going to advise

the attorneys on. I will do that as I talk to you at the same

time.

Under the local rules I am ordering the attorneys -- and

it reads this way: Counsel shall not contact or interview
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2843

jurors, or cause jurors to be contacted or interviewed after

trial, without having first been granted leave to do so by

this Court.

So, you are not to talk to the attorneys about the case or

anything else. Go about your way. Again, I thank you for

your services. I guess they go back through the clerk's

office. I will have you go back through the clerk's office,

and they will process you out from there.

Again, I thank you and you are discharged.

(Jury not present.)

All right. You may be seated.

The verdict will be filed. The jury has spoken, so now

the issue is, of course, a sentencing date on this matter.

Pat, what date do we have on that?

THE CLERK: May 30, 2008, 10 a.m.

THE COURT: All right. The sentencing date will be

May 30, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

I am now signing an order as to the procedure that we will

use as we work towards that date. If any issues need to be

ironed out requiring a hearing on something, we'll take care

of that.

All right. Now, the other issue, of course, is the

defendant's been convicted. The situation involving her

pending sentencing, is that an issue?

MR. BARTLETT: It is, Your Honor. If I could briefly
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2844

address the Court.

I have a motion that we have prepared, that I will file at

this point in time.

Your Honor, the defendant has been convicted of a crime of

violence. Under the Bail Reform Act, the Court has no

discretion. The defendant must be detained pending sentence.

It is a "shall," not a "may," and we are asking that the

Court follow the law in this case.

THE COURT: All right. Mr. Bloom.

MR. BLOOM: I would like to read this.

THE COURT: Then we'll take a recess to do that.

MR. BLOOM: Very brief recess.

THE CLERK: All rise, Court is in recess.

(Brief recess.)

(Back in open court at 11:00 a.m.)

THE COURT: All right. Mr. Bloom, I will give you a

chance to respond.

MR. BLOOM: Good morning, again, Judge Burgess.

In the end, this decision is really within the Court's

discretion. It is governed by authority from 18 United States

Code 3143. It is also governed by a decision in the United

States v. Garcia, 340 F.3d 1013, a 2003 Ninth Circuit

decision.

I would like to bring the Court's attention -- I am sure

the Court is familiar with the case and the provisions in
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2845

general, that the key here is that indeed it is always within

the Court's discretion whether it be deemed a crime of

violence or not.

And the reality is here -- and there are two key factors,

and I think there has not even been an argument in the motion

or at any time by the government that either Ms. Waters is a

risk of flight or presents any danger whatsoever to the

community or any member of the community.

I want particularly to talk about the issue of risk of

flight. I think not only has she always appeared, and she's

been exemplary in terms of meeting her obligations with the

pretrial people, both in open and here. Most importantly, the

fact that she's here this morning, understanding that the jury

could have come in and sentenced her, effectively, doomed her

to a 35-year mandatory minimum sentence, speaks clearly and

eloquently to the issue of whether or not she's in any way,

even the slightest way, a risk of flight. She has been here.

She will be here for sentence. There's absolutely no

question.

Is she a danger to the community? There has not been any

assertion in the seven years since this incident has happened,

that she has in any way been a danger to anybody. Indeed,

aside from the ten or dozen or so of the character

witnesses -- excuse me, a second, could I get some water --

character witnesses you saw and heard, this is -- whatever may
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2846

have happened seven years ago, this is a person who lives her

life with her daughter, who's just turned 3, with her partner

John, teaching violin mostly to youngsters, volunteering to

help senior citizens, and living really an exemplary life, a

life to which we should all aspire.

So those two key factors -- and those factors are

extremely important as laid out in United States v. Garcia.

The Court in that case talked about -- one of the issues they

talked about, the conduct of the particular defendant, could

it be regarded as aberrational; that is, is it a person with a

prior criminal history, who finally got caught? That's

clearly not the case here.

This is a woman who's never been convicted of a crime, a

woman who is a person of peace. I try not to interject my own

personal observations, but I have known her now for two years,

and this is a woman who lives with love in her life, and that

is the way she relates to everybody, including me.

I have seen it. I have seen her friends. I know her

family. I know her mother. I know her brothers. I see who

she is. And that's one of the factors that is set forth in

U.S. v. Garcia.

It also talks about, is there a prior history of violence

that should be a factor? Needless to say, there is no prior

history of violence.

The next question set forth in Garcia, and that is, is she
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2847

likely to contribute to society if she remains on bail? Well,

I have already addressed that. And it is our view that indeed

she is a person who does contribute to society every day.

Garcia specifically addresses the question of whether or

not the act is a violent act and what -- how the Court in this

case, this Court, should view that. It actually -- the Court

actually and specifically addresses that issue.

The language that it uses, the Ninth Circuit, that even if

the act were a violent act, they do consider the possibility

of the opportunity for discretion for the Court in this case,

even if it was a violent act, if it did not involve a threat

or injury to another person.

Now, it is true that arson by its nature presents a risk

to fire fighters and first responders. It appears that the

people who were responsible for this arson at the University

of Washington did take into account the possible danger to

other individuals. The fire was set at 2:00 or 3:00 in the

morning, or thereabouts. And it appears from the testimony of

the two women -- that would be Kolar and Phillabaum -- that

there was even a discussion of the presence of a bicycle,

would that mean that maybe somebody was present?

So the people who did commit this crime were very much

mindful of the possibility of injuring people. And that is

not in any way to suggest that arson is a good thing; indeed

it's not good at all.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2848

But as the Ninth Circuit contemplated in Garcia, even a

violent act has to be examined and can't be regarded just as a

violent act without examination by the judicial officer, in

this case yourself, as to the nature of the violent act.

There also is the factor set forth in Garcia as to whether

or not incarceration would undermine the result of a

successful appeal. Obviously that translates to, if there are

nonfrivolous appellate issues, keeping a person in to serve

his or her time wherein there is an eventual successful

appeal, very much undermines, completely undermines the

concept of prevailing on appeal.

Garcia also mentions the factor of whether imprisonment

would be unduly harsh for a particular defendant. And it does

mention the fact that Garcia itself -- Garcia involved two

correctional officers in the state prison in California; and

one of them had a cancer diagnosis -- lymphoma diagnosis. And

the Court actually remanded the case to the District Court of

Appeals and remanded the issue to the District Court for

determination as to whether or not under that particular

issue, the illness of one of the two defendants should be

assimilated into the court's decision.

In this case, there fortunately is no physical illness,

but there really is a very important factor here that I would

ask the Court to consider, especially given the utter

reliability of Ms. Waters in terms of appearing, in terms of
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2849

who she is, and whether or not she presents a risk to anyone

in the population.

Her daughter is everything to her, and she is everything

to her daughter. I don't -- this may be addressed again the

end of May at the time of sentencing, but I really urge the

Court to call upon its humanity and understand that the

concept of hardship does and should contemplate the

significance to the daughter and to Ms. Waters and to her

family; and for her to prepare to be sentenced on May 30. I

don't see any harm. There's no harm to the state. There's no

harm to the federal government for her to remain on the same

bail conditions until the date of sentencing at least.

The case cited in Garcia is United States v. Handy,

H-A-N-D-Y, 761 F.2d 1279, at 1280. And it addresses the issue

of whether or not there are substantial appellate issues. And

it essentially defines the term "substantial" as issues that

are not frivolous.

We believe that there are a number of issues that are not

frivolous, and I am not going to go deeply into them, but I do

want to mention some of them.

It is true that the Court has not found, in our motions,

has not found that relief would be required at the time of the

motions. But there are a number of things -- and this is not

an exhaustive list, just what has come to mind last night and

today -- as issues that are not frivolous.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2850

The first one that comes to mind is the -- not just

introduction to the jury in closing arguments by the

prosecutor of a document that was not in evidence, it was not

just a casual mention, that it was very much a part of the

argument that was made by the prosecution in its closing

arguments. And that document would be records of -- bank

records of Justin Solondz. I forget the exhibit number, but

the document was not in evidence. And the thread of the story

was that Mr. Solondz withdrew $200 from his account which

wound up -- from his bank account, which the argument went --

wound up being given to Mr. Corrina, the cousin, whose wife

rented the car.

So even though the Court did give a corrective

instruction, we believe it is a substantial appellate issue.

The second substantial appellate issue involves what we

regard as extremely serious Brady violations, that continue to

this day. That there are issues with regard to --

particularly the interview of Jennifer Kolar on December 16,

2005. We believe that the testimony of Agent Halla -- that

procedurally -- I should say logistically, there exists --

there would exist in the FBI computer records of earlier

versions of the 302s finalized, as he said on February 9 of

'06, that would reflect -- that the earlier versions which are

in the possession today of the United States Government, that

would constitute an extremely serious Brady material.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2851

A third issue that we believe is substantial is the impact

of the fires that were set, I think it was early Monday

morning. And before the Court had the opportunity to address

the jury on those issues, which occurred about -- between

about 9 or 10 a.m. on that Monday, there was very likely

substantial exposure to the jurors as to those fires.

And there were two aspects to it that are of some

importance. One is the explanation and the actual showing of

the bedsheet that had been spray painted, which included the

logo, as it were, "ELF."

The other thing is that at that time, the newspaper

reports all spoke of not just hearing explosions, but it was

clear that timing devices had been used. Again, this is all

before the Court -- before we had the opportunity to bring it

to the attention of the Court and the Court had the

opportunity to address the jurors on. So I am not faulting

anybody at all here. I'm saying the circumstances were such

that this was presented to the jury at an extremely delicate

time. They had deliberated on a Friday; they were resuming

their deliberations on Monday.

It appears now -- and I have something I want to put in

the court file -- a story from yesterday's Seattle Times,

indicating that the reports of the timing devices and

explosions were erroneous.

Now, what in fact happened, the Court did instruct the
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2852

jury: Don't read, don't watch the news and don't listen to

the radio, not just at our request, but I am sure the Court

was going to do that anyway. The practical effect of that is

the corrective aspect that there were no timing devices and

there were no explosions, is something the jury probably does

not know.

So the damaging part they got, I believe, and the, let's

call it more helpful part, they didn't get. All I am saying

is -- I am not asking the Court to make any determination; all

I am saying is we regard it as a substantial and nonfrivolous

appellate issue.

We also believe that another nonfrivolous appellate issue

is the introduction by the government of so many other arsons

that were attributed to, or taken credit for, by the Earth

Liberation Front. Without belaboring it, the Court knows that

we objected to it. We found that -- and we would understand

that, yes, in order to prove up the conspiracy, there had to

be some evidence of that nature, but we feel that it was so

overdone that it inured to the detriment of our client.

As a separate issue, but related, there is this literature

that Jennifer Kolar turned over to the government, at some

time a couple months after she was first questioned. And

according to Jennifer Kolar, it was in a folder that had

Ms. Waters' fingerprint on the folder. None of the literature

had Ms. Waters' fingerprints, although some of it did have
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2853

Justin Solondz' fingerprints.

We believe that a nonfrivolous issue -- that was raised in

that way and another way, and we believe that it was raised to

instill fear in the jury, and we believe it may have been

successful -- is that Mr. Bartlett apparently took a yellow

highlighter, and on his own he highlighted the exhibits and

had a witness read some very inflammatory material from some

of those documents that may or may not have been provided to

Ms. Kolar by Ms. Waters.

Again, without belaboring it, among the issues there were:

We -- presumably the anarchists or the Earth Liberation

Front -- won't stop here. It's going to be the Statue of

Liberty. It's going to be Disneyland. It's going to be, as I

remember, other national historic sites.

We regard that as very inflammatory, unnecessary; and in

short, presents a substantial nonfrivolous appellate issue.

Another -- and the last of these issues that come to mind

now, although there are others -- is some of the impeachment

that was utilized in cross-examining Briana Waters suggesting

that, for example, that she had found a way to make money from

being accused in this case and facing 35 years in prison, was

so over the top and so inflammatory and so prejudicial, that

in itself presents a nonfrivolous issue for appeal.

Similarly, the suggestion that Ms. Waters orchestrated who

comes to Court, and when they come to court, was also
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2854

unnecessarily inflammatory, had no basis in fact, and was

intended to, and we believe may well have, prejudiced the

jury.

I say all this simply to say that we believe that there

are very substantial, nonfrivolous, appellate issues. And

those, taken in conjunction with the apparently undisputed

assertions that we make that Ms. Waters is in no way a flight

risk, is in no way a danger to anyone in the community,

combined with one more factor, that is, Judge, you have seen

Ms. Waters. You have seen her family. You have seen her

friends. We have not brought her child to court because we

thought that would be inappropriate, both for the child and as

an indication that we were seeking sympathy.

The Court has seen what kind of person she is. I ask the

Court to reach into its heart and at least through May --

through the sentencing date, permit Ms. Waters to be with her

child and to be with her family.

Thank you.

THE COURT: All right.

MR. BARTLETT: Your Honor, with regard to the Court's

discretion, I want to be clear the Court does have discretion;

it has discretion in a very limited matter. The discretion

the Court has would be defined that there are exceptional

circumstances that this defendant presents to the Court. I

would suggest to the Court that there's nothing close to
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2855

exceptional circumstances this defendant presents to the

Court.

Mr. Bloom indicated, I believe the quote was, that "She's

lived a life to which we all aspire."

I beg to differ. This defendant is now a convicted felon.

She was an integral part of one of the most serious arsons

ever to occur in this district. She committed an arson that

caused over $6 million in damages. She destroyed the life of

Sarah Reichard.

She has shown not one wit of remorse with regard to her

actions. And in fact, since the day this arson occurred, all

she has shown is an incredible inability to deal with her own

actions.

In addition, to compound her prior felony actions, she

came into this court and committed perjury, not just blatant

perjury, but she cleverly tried to weave a story fitting the

physical records that she had to explain, lies upon lies. I

would suggest to the Court that is not a life to which we all

aspire.

What she has shown is an inability to accept what I

believe was always inevitable: That she would be held

accountable for these charges and she would go to jail for

five years. Today is the first time that she is realizing

this is what's going to happen.

Mr. Bloom has repeatedly told us how devoted she is to her
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2856

child. So I ask the Court to consider, what is she going to

do? She's going away for at least five years. And I would

suggest to the Court it will be substantially more than that

when the government's sentencing recommendation is finally

before the Court.

So what is her choice; to stay here, go away for a number

of years, miss the heart of her child's stuff, or to run, to

flee? I would suggest it's an easy choice for this defendant.

There is nothing Mr. Bloom said, not one thing he said,

that allows this court to say there are exceptional

circumstances.

She is a mother with a child. In fact, that is what many

defendants before this court unfortunately are. In her case,

she's actually more fortunate than most. She has a partner

who is devoted to their child. There is a support group that

exists that will raise the child.

This defendant needs to understand there are not special

rules for Briana Waters.

Congress has passed a law which requires defendants such

as her to be incarcerated, not to be incarcerated at some

point in time, but to be incarcerated as soon as they are

convicted.

We are asking the Court to follow the law.

THE COURT: All right. Now, of course I guess in

anticipation of this particular time as to what could possibly
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2857

happen, the Court has reviewed and looked at 3143, which talks

about this very thing in terms of crime of violence, and of

course it fits that description.

It says that upon conviction the Court shall detain,

unless the Court makes certain findings, and under 3143, it's

not in the disjunctive; the Court must find for an acquittal

or new trial, that the evidence would tend to point to that;

or that the government would recommend no sentence of

imprisonment. We know that's not the case, as she faces under

the statute a mandatory minimum of, as I see it, five years on

this conviction. And then, which is an "and," clear and

convincing evidence that she won't flee or pose a danger.

Now, that's under 3143. The exceptions really come in to

refer to 3145, and these things are not always easy to read,

but they talk about appeal of a detention order. That is, if

she's ordered detained, what she can do there -- and it calls

for exceptional circumstances, or at least reasons --

exceptional reasons as to release; and the case law deals with

that.

One of the cases I have looked at dealing with this very

thing says that this is mandated unless it is done in this

way. Now, what I have heard here, I don't know if I would

classify it maybe as a detention hearing, because I really

haven't heard anything to get into some exceptional reasons or

some proof that would be acceptable to the Court. I don't
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2858

know where those are, but under 3145, she is entitled to what

I have determined to be a prompt hearing on that issue. I

guess that's where this case is.

So in light of all I have read on this and what I know

about this case, and all the things I have considered, she has

appeared; there's no question about that, but I think that the

burden has shifted in terms of all of this.

So I see the Court has no alternative here at this point

other than to order her detained pending sentencing, subject

to 3143, and that would be a prompt hearing as to whether or

not the exceptional reasons can be satisfied, that that can be

done.

So that will be the Court's decision, that she will be

remanded into the custody of the Marshals, and I need to talk

to you now about having this prompt hearing as to exceptional

reasons why she should be released pending sentencing.

I will hear from you on that.

MR. BLOOM: Could we have just a moment, please?

THE COURT: All right.

(Brief pause.)

MR. BLOOM: May I inquire of the Court; I am not

quite clear what the Court has in mind in terms of a hearing,

presentation of evidence?

THE COURT: Other than your allocution, I guess,

something beyond that; I don't know what you've got to say
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2859

here to deal with something that would convince me that it's

exceptional in some way.

I can refer you to a case, if you want to look at that, or

whatever you've got other than -- it seems to say that flight

in and of itself, that issue doesn't always carry the day that

everything has been done up to now in that sort of a way to be

convinced otherwise. Let me refer you to -- and maybe you

might want to look at this case that deals with these issues.

Why don't you take a look at United States v. Schlesinger?

I am not finding the exact cite here on it. It's in the --

let me send that out to you from the law clerk. In fact, I

may just have them duplicate a copy from that; but I want you

to do your own thing as to the things you think I should

consider.

What I guess what I am asking, in terms of the hearing and

giving her that right to have that hearing and present that

evidence to deal with the detention aspect of it --

MR. BLOOM: Could we break for lunch and address the

Court on that after lunch? I would like to look at that case.

THE COURT: All right, you can do that.

Advise my chambers after lunch as to a date.

I will have to round up the attorneys on that. I will

have you all back here and have that done.

As of now, the defendant will be remanded.

MR. FOX: Your Honor, before we break, could I ask
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2860

the Court something else on another subject?

MR. BLOOM: Can I just stay with this for a moment?

MR. FOX: Sure.

MR. BLOOM: Thank you. I am also going to ask the

Court to consider, given that there have been -- I really

reassert that there's zero risk of flight, despite

Mr. Bartlett's claim here, but we have -- if it's possible to

in some way amend the bail conditions so that there's

additional security.

THE COURT: I will hear whatever you have to say

about it. I am trying to give you a chance to tell me when

would be the appropriate time to do that. Do you want time to

look at whatever you have, and then you need to advise the

Court so the Court can set that?

It says prompt hearing, but until I hear something, what

you are saying to me, then I can answer that question.

MR. BLOOM: If we could plan to see you at 1:00.

THE COURT: I have a meeting, so I probably won't be

back here until 1:30, somewhere close to 2:00, but in that

timeframe. You can let my staff know ahead of time. They

will get word to me, but I will be back here in chambers at

least by that time.

MR. BLOOM: Okay.

THE COURT: All right.

MR. FOX: The other quick matter, I wonder, given the
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2861

Court's order, or the recitation of the local rule on contact

with the jurors, we would like permission to contact the

jurors to find out whether they were exposed to the

prejudicial publicity of those fires on Monday morning.

So I am asking the Court now, while we are all here, to

give us the authority to contact the jurors and find out what

they heard and whether it in fact had played a role in their

deliberations.

The only way to do that is by contacting them and finding

out what happened on the way to court on that day.

THE COURT: All right.

MR. BARTLETT: Your Honor, the United States would

object. First of all, the Court polled the jury on whether or

not that had any impact. They indicated it had not.

Second of all, the verdict indicates they were not unduly

prejudiced by any more information.

Third, I think especially in their case, given what's gone

on and what they are probably going to read about on all the

news articles they haven't read over the last couple days, I

think it would be very disconcerting for these jurors to have

defense or defense investigators contacting them at their home

or work with regard to this issue.

I strongly object it to, and I don't think there's any

need for it at this point in time.

THE COURT: I understand the question. You want to
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2862

contact them. You said no.

I will give you my answer when I talk to you folks this

afternoon.

MR. BARTLETT: Thank you.

THE COURT: All right.

THE CLERK: All rise, Court is in recess.

(Court in recess.)

AFTERNOON SESSION

(Back in open court at 2:25 p.m.)

THE COURT: All right. I guess I said I'd come back

out to see where we are in terms of trying to deal with any

hearing if any is necessary. Of course, it's on the defense

to present that.

MR. FOX: Good afternoon, Your Honor.

Two things which relate to the hearing. I would

respectfully suggest that the Court is not required to detain

Ms. Waters until that hearing takes place. The reason I say

that is that if that were the case, Jennifer Kolar would be in

custody right now.

It is not mandatory that someone be detained pending

sentencing. I know what the statute says, but I know also

that Ms. Kolar, who pled guilty to crimes of violence, who is

out pending sentencing, and whether the government has made a

motion or not, isn't really dispositive.

The issue is: Has the Court put her in custody pending
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2863

sentencing, and the Court has not.

So I would ask the Court to release Ms. Waters on

electronic home monitoring, on some heightened level of

custody, until we have a detention hearing.

There's no requirement, given what's happened with the

other defendants, that she be taken into custody today.

In terms of setting the detention hearing, there are

witnesses that we would like to present to the Court. It's

going to take a little bit of time to get that lined up.

So that's why we were looking for a hearing next week some

time.

THE COURT: When would you be talking about? The

Court will be out of the jurisdiction until sometime on

Thursday.

MR. FOX: Well, when we raised possibly next Friday,

Pat indicated that we could have a Magistrate before then.

The government indicated that if we went in front of a

Magistrate that, you know -- they believe that neither side

would be appealing to Your Honor in any case. So I think the

government was requesting that you hold the detention hearing.

We are satisfied with a Magistrate, if we could have a

hearing Tuesday or Wednesday. But if that's not going to

happen, then we would ask the Court to hold it as soon as the

Court can hold it.

THE COURT: Well, I don't think the fact that it's an
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2864

appealable thing from them is the real issue here.

The issue is she's entitled to it and how quickly you can

get it to. So I don't think there's a prohibition as -- it

may add another step, but you deal with the extra step and

that's it.

MR. FOX: Wednesday for us would be fine.

THE COURT: I won't be here Wednesday. I won't be

back in hearing, as far as court, until Thursday.

MR. BARTLETT: Wednesday afternoon after 2:00.

Mr. Friedman has a Ninth Circuit argument, so would not be

available until 2:00.

THE COURT: Like I said, I won't be here until

Wednesday. Do you want it set before a Magistrate?

MR. FOX: Magistrate after 2:00 would be fine.

THE COURT: Now, I need to find their availability in

terms of that. I don't know, we have to find out -- Pat, can

you find out?

It may involve the two-step process, that's all I am

saying. But you have a right for them to -- this is an issue

that they can deal with as well.

MR. FOX: Releasing Ms. Waters on electronic home

monitoring?

THE COURT: I am going to leave it as set until that

hearing.

MR. FOX: Okay.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2865

THE COURT: Then I will hear everything you have to

say. I understand what you are saying. You are asking this

court to also -- and I suppose you will make the same

presentation to the Magistrate Judge. You see no difference

in the situation involving Ms. Kolar as you see this

defendant; that's what you are saying.

MR. FOX: Right.

THE COURT: Now, that of course wasn't involved in

any statute at some time -- I don't remember addressing that

issue in that fashion, but I understand what you are saying.

All right, anything else?

MR. BARTLETT: No.

THE COURT: Anything else?

MR. BLOOM: Excuse me, we do have a couple other

things.

MR. FOX: Other than this issue?

THE COURT: I want Pat to make sure that's available

before we say that's it.

We are looking at Wednesday, March 12, 2:00 p.m.; find out

if that's a go.

All right. Something else you want to present?

MR. FOX: Your Honor, there's still the issue I

raised this morning regarding contact with the jurors,

particularly to find out about their exposure to the arsons in

the media from Woodinville Monday morning.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2866

So we are asking permission to contact the jurors to find

out what they knew and whether this was discussed at all, and

what effect this all had on their deliberative process.

The only way we can do that is by talking to them. We

have no other way of finding that information out.

So, to find out whether or not Ms. Waters's Sixth

Amendment right to a jury trial and her due process rights

under the Fifth Amendment were violated, we have to conduct

those interviews.

THE COURT: All right. I thought about what you

said, but my ruling is the same, not to make any contact with

them; and I say that because I am finding no reason to do

that.

I think my instruction, as I instructed them concerning

that charge, was there, and you saw the results of that. And

I think perhaps the fact that the jury deadlocked on these

other things kind of answered that question in a sort of a way

anyhow. So it didn't impact them that they will say, okay, I

am going to dump this whole thing. That didn't happen.

So my ruling will stand. Okay.

MR. BLOOM: One other brief matter.

Ms. Waters suffers from asthma. She does have an inhaler.

The Marshals were very nice, but apparently the particular

inhaler she has is dated, but the Marshal assures me if they

somehow decide they want to take that from her, they will
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2867

provide a new one.

THE COURT: I would think that whatever issues may be

along that line, they would make that request to the Marshals.

I am sure they will address that.

MR. BLOOM: It can be a serious matter.

THE COURT: I understand, and I would assume she will

keep them up-to-date with a certain amount of forewarning, if

you will, on issues she needs to have in a period of time that

they can react to it.

MR. BLOOM: She's been having trouble breathing since

she's been taken into custody, although it's not cured at the

moment.

THE COURT: I would say she should keep them informed

in some way. They will see about that; that's their job.

MR. BLOOM: So we'll await word?

THE COURT: We need to await word on that. If that's

not a go, then you need to let me know so I will come back

here and we'll do something else. But right now, if they can

take it, one of them, I don't know who that will be. I know

that Judge Arnold is out of town; he's due back Sunday.

THE CLERK: They are both here.

THE COURT: Then find out.

THE CLERK: I will.

THE COURT: All right. We are at recess.

THE CLERK: All rise, Court is at recess.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2868

(Proceedings concluded.)

* * * * *

C E R T I F I C A T E

I certify that the foregoing is a correct transcript from

the record of proceedings in the above-entitled matter.

/S/ Teri Hendrix __________ May 5, 2008

Teri Hendrix, Court Reporter Date