IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Robert E. Blackburn, Judge

Criminal Case No. 11-cr-00297-REB

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

1. ERIC SHAWN COPELAND,

Defendant.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW ON THE ENTRY OF A PLEA OF

GUILTY

Blackburn, J.

On November 3, 2011, I conducted a change of plea hearing during which (1) the

defendant, his counsel, counsel for the government, and I formally reviewed and

considered the plea agreement of the parties as stated in Court's Exhibits 1 and 2 ("plea

agreement"); (2) I rearraigned the defendant under Fed. R. Crim. P. 10; and (3) I

formally advised the defendant and conducted providency proceedings under Fed. R.

Crim. P. 11.

Based upon my exchange and colloquy with the defendant under oath in open

court on the record; based upon the representations, remarks, and statements of

counsel for the government and counsel for the defendant; based upon my review of the

file and my review of the written plea agreement as stated in Court's Exhibits1and 2, I

enter the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

That the defendant appeared to be alert and not under the influence of or

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impaired by drugs, narcotics, marihuana, alcohol, medication, or intoxicants;

That the defendant was competent and fully understood the nature,

circumstances, and essential elements of the offense to which his plea of guilty was

entered;

That the defendant understands clearly that the government has the right in a

prosecution for perjury or false statement to use against the defendant any statement

that the defendant gives under oath;

That the defendant understood the direct and collateral consequences that he

may suffer or experience as a result of his participation in the plea agreement, his plea

of guilty, and the resultant felony conviction and sentence;

That the defendant's plea of guilty was made and entered voluntarily, knowingly,

intelligently and intentionally, and was not the result of mistake; misunderstanding, fear,

force, threats, coercion, or undue influence by anyone;

That the defendant's plea of guilty was not the result of any promise or

inducement made by anyone, including legal counsel, except as indicated on the record

and included in the written plea agreement;

That the defendant understood each of his legal rights, including the rights

enumerated at Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(B) and (E), and his right to a trial by jury and

his right to be represented throughout this criminal case by an attorney even if indigent;

and that the defendant freely, voluntarily, knowingly, intelligently, and intentionally

waived his rights and privileges, including the right to trial by jury and his right to appeal

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any pretrial order or ruling of the court, but excepting his right to be represented

throughout this criminal case by an attorney even if indigent;

That the defendant understood the maximum possible penalties, including

imprisonment, fine, and term of supervised release; 

That the defendant understood that in imposing sentence, I must consult and

consider the purposes and goals of sentencing as prescribed by Congress, the relevant

provisions of the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines, any motion for a

sentence departure or variance, and the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a)(1)-(7);

That the defendant understood that the court will not be bound by any

representations by anyone concerning the penalty to be imposed, except as specified in

the plea agreement or on the record; provided, furthermore, that pursuant to Fed. R.

Crim. P 11(c)(1)(C), the parties have stipulated to a sentence to imprisonment of ten

(10) months;

That a factual basis existed to support and sustain the plea agreement and the

defendant's plea of guilty;

That the defendant has been represented at the change of plea hearing and

throughout this case by effective and competent counsel with whom the defendant has

no objection, criticism, or complaint whatsoever;

That the defendant had sufficient time to read, review, discuss, and consider his

plea agreement and to discuss it carefully and thoroughly with his attorney; 

That the defendant read, understood, and accepted each and every term and

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provision within his plea agreement, which he reviewed carefully and thoroughly with his

attorney; 

That the plea agreement conformed in form and substance to the requirements

of law, including The Local Rules of Practice of the United States District Court for the

District of Colorado-Criminal; and

That on the record considered as a whole, I conclude that I may properly accept

the defendant's plea of guilty, which was entered in the context of his plea agreement,

and defer formal approval of the plea agreement as stated in Court's Exhibits 1 and 2,

pending opportunity to consider the presentence report. 

Dated November 3, 2011, at Denver, Colorado.

BY THE COURT:

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