Source: http://dc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180511_0000628.DDC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-03-21 10:38:00
Document Index: 671586032

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3161', '§ 1951', '§ 924', '§ 3161', '§ 1951', '§ 924', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161']

DAVID LEE THOMAS, Defendant.
This matter is before the Court on the government's motion for exclusion of time under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161. See Dkt. 9. For the reasons that follow, the Court will GRANT the motion.
On October 17, 2017, Defendant David Lee Thomas was charged by indictment with one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Dkt. 1. On October 20, Thomas was arrested, made an initial appearance, and was arraigned. See Dkt. 3; Minute Entry (Oct. 20, 2017). On October 25, upon the government's motion, the magistrate judge ordered that Thomas be held without bond pending trial. Minute Entry (Oct. 25, 2017); see also Dkt. 5.
At various status conferences over the next several months, the Court excluded time under the Speedy Trial Act from October 31, 2017 through May 8, 2018, finding that “the ends of justice served by” the requested continuances “outweigh[ed] the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A); see Minute Entry (Oct. 31, 2017); Minute Entry (Jan. 19, 2018); Minute Entry (Mar. 15, 2018); Minute Entry (Apr. 6, 2018); Minute Entry (Apr. 24, 2018); Minute Entry (May 7, 2018). During this period, Thomas requested and was granted the appointment of new counsel. See Minute Entry (Mar. 15, 2018).
On May 3, 2018, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Thomas with twelve additional offenses: four additional counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951; four additional counts of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A); two counts of armed robbery in violation of D.C. Code §§ 22-2801, 22-4501; and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense (“PFCOV”) in violation of D.C. Code § 22-4504(b). See Dkt. 8. Thomas was arraigned on the new charges on May 7, 2018. The government now moves to exclude time from May 8, 2018 to June 29, 2018. Dkt. 9 at 56 n.2. Although Thomas has indicated that he would like to proceed to trial promptly, he has not filed an opposition to the government's motion, and, indeed, his counsel has acknowledged that this is a complicated case that will require substantial investigatory and preparatory effort.
The Speedy Trial Act provides that “the trial of a defendant . . . shall commence within seventy days from the filing date . . . of the information or indictment, or from the date the defendant has appeared before a judicial officer of the court in which such charge is pending, which ever date last occurs.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). Certain periods of delay, however, are excluded for purposes of calculating time under the Act. As relevant here, the Act excludes
[a]ny period of delay resulting from a continuance . . . if the judge granted such continuance on the basis of his findings that the ends of justice served by [the continuance] outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.
18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). To exclude time under the “ends of justice” exception, the Court must set forth “either orally or in writing” the basis for its conclusion that exclusion is warranted. Id. Among other factors, the Act instructs the Court to consider
[w]hether the case is so unusual or so complex, due to the number of defendants, the nature of the prosecution, or the existence of novel questions of fact or law, that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the time limits established by this section.
18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(ii).
The government has moved to exclude time from May 8, 2018 (the date on which the government filed this motion) to June 29, 2018, a total of 53 days. Dkt. 9 at 5-6 n.2. According to the government, tolling is warranted because “[t]he volume and nature of the evidence in this case . . . makes it complex.” Id. at 6. At the status conference held on May 7, 2018, the government notified the Court of its intention to file the present motion. Hrg. Tr. (Rough at 11:15). Counsel for Thomas indicated that she did not anticipate responding to the motion and that she “agree[d] that the case is complex.” Id. (Rough at 11:41).
The government's motion and Thomas's counsel at the status conference presented several reasons why adequate trial preparation will require additional time. First, the number of charges in this case and the nature of those charges make this case complex. The fourteen charges in the superseding indictment stem from five alleged armed robberies of businesses and two alleged armed robberies of a person.
Second, the sheer quantity of evidence will require a significant amount of time to review. According to the government, the evidence includes:
DNA data and evidence; extensive cellular telephone extraction and geo-location reports and data; five store surveillance videos; jail telephone calls and visits; hundreds of pages of documents, records, and photographs; 19 law enforcement body camera videos; and Brady ...