Source: http://openjurist.org/211/f3d/1355/united-states-of-america-v-daryl-edwards
Timestamp: 2015-09-04 16:44:03
Document Index: 206385268

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 846', '§ 841', '§ 2', '§ 3161', '§ 846', '§ 841', '§ 2']

211 F3d 1355 United States of America v. Daryl Edwards | OpenJurist
211 F. 3d 1355 - United States of America v. Daryl Edwards Home
211 F3d 1355 United States of America v. Daryl Edwards 211 F.3d 1355 (11th Cir. 2000)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff- Appellee,v.DARYL EDWARDS, Defendant- Appellant.
No. 98-3701.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, D.C. Docket No. 98-00193-Cr-T-24E
Before DUBINA and BLACK, Circuit Judges, and BECHTLE*, Senior District Judge.
BECHTLE, Senior District Judge:
Daryl Edwards was indicted and charged in a two count indictment with conspiracy to distribute drugs in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and drug distribution in violation of and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 . Edwards was arrested on June 8, 1998 and, on the same day, made his initial appearance before a magistrate judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Edwards' trial began on July 7, 1998. Edwards was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Edwards contends that his trial was held on the twenty-ninth day after his initial appearance with counsel and arraignment on the indictment (held simultaneously) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(2), thus warranting a new trial. Because Edwards does not show prejudice stemming from the timing of his trial, we will affirm the judgment of the district court. Edwards also contends that he was denied his right to effective cross- examination when the district court did not permit defense counsel to inquire regarding a plea agreement signed by Kenny Eason, a witness who testified against Edwards. Because any such alleged error would be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, we will affirm the judgment of the district court.
On May 14, 1998, a federal grand jury of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, returned an indictment charging Daryl Edwards and Kenny Eason with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base ("crack cocaine") in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and distribution of cocaine base in violation of 21 U.S. C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Eason pled guilty to the conspiracy count.
On June 8, 1998, Edwards was arrested, made an initial appearance with counsel and was arraigned before a magistrate judge. Edwards' counsel sought to protect the trial dates of July 18 to August 8, 1998, due to long standing vacation plans.1 The district court granted Edwards' motion for protection and ordered that the case would remain on the trial calendar for July. Edwards did not object to the disposition of the motion. Edwards' trial began on July 7, 1998 and Edwards' counsel indicated that he was ready to proceed. After a two-day trial, Edwards was convicted on both counts in the indictment. The district court sentenced Edwards to life imprisonment.
At trial, the government presented evidence that Edwards sold drugs on two occasions to an informant. Edwards acknowledged his involvement and presented evidence that he too was acting as a government informant. The government did not dispute that Edwards acted as an informant, but asserted that Edwards was not acting as an informant on these two occasions.
The government's chief witness, Kenny Eason, testified that he bought the drugs from Edwards. Eason testified pursuant to a plea agreement in which he agreed t